I just got home from a fun afternoon of shopping at the Manila Sundance Bazaar at Metrotent in Ortigas with Rica and her fiancé‎ Eric and I am so happy with my loot! My wallet will need some time to recuperate but it's okay, no regrets.

(●´∀｀●)

It's the last day tomorrow and the admission fee is only P50 so I highly encourage you to go! If I can't convince you, I'm sure the following photos will.

Rica and me with Marika, Manila Sundance Bazaar's Creative Head. She also made the MSB poster of us featured bloggers! View mine here. Behind us is Nudo Swimwear's booth. Buy One Take One on all swimsuits!

I liked this top from Butternut Fashion Boutique. I now regret not getting it, tsk.

Biggest letdown of the day: the black Sabrina I wanted from Tutum Shop is not available in my size anymore. :(

I was eyeing the Hello Kitty satchel on top and the floral bag at the bottom but I got two new bags just a couple of weeks ago, so, no. Self-control, y'all.

We also looked around the many different shops offering floral wreaths in preparation for Rica's bohemian-themed wedding in October. Exciting times ahead!

She went a bit wild for these accessories from Zafeera Boutique, LOL.

I regret forgetting to go back for this ring as it looked perfect on my finger!

I got over the disappointment soon enough after a visit at Strings Manila...

because I got the Batman top I swore I'd get when I first saw it on my Instagram feed!!! #BatFan

With String Manila's owner, Paulina

I also made sure to get one of these pretty ear pins from Arajera!

Spotted my blogger friends Aisa and Tin

... and Niche ♥

Thanks for coming with me, Rica and Eric! I really enjoyed this day! Would you guys like to see my loot?

I get a different kind of high from scoring pretty fashion finds at bargain prices ♥

This nautical high-waist swimsuit is a gift from Nudo Swimwear. I can't wait to wear it!

How do you like the blue and white prints of this collared dress? I'm excited to wear it with my red wedges! Follow Butternut Fashion Boutique on Instagram for more.

I love the knot detail of this top. Not really a The Simpsons fan but my friend Ed is. I am going to wear it when we finally push through with our catch-up lunch hee. I got it from Hey Jaimie Girl for only P200!

My favorite find: my Batman top I got from Strings Manila for P450.

My *sweetest* dress to date ♥ My dessert-filled dress I got from Maru for P500.

My Sun, Moon, and Star ear pins from Arajera. I am so happy I finally have one of these! Ara is selling them for P600 per pair but I got it for only P500 because Rica got a lot of stuff from her store.

A gray polka dot bustier dress I got for P450 from Bermuda Fashion. I was deciding between this and a camo skater skirt but I figured I am not really into trendy pieces and that I will get more wear out of this. :)

A pair of baby pink pointed flats from I am Shoe. This is not mine; it belongs to my friend Niel who gave me money so I can pick something up from the bazaar for her.

I regret not going back for some pieces I liked, but I guess I would just visit their shops online. The -ber season is already here so you might want to drop by for an early head start on gifts for your family and friends. Several online stores have also started their Christmas campaigns already! (Do you feel the chill in the air I feel? Christmas is near!) Visit Zalora's Online Christmas Rush Bazaar by clicking this link to get awesome gift ideas. (^_-)☆

So, are you convinced yet? The Manila Sundance Bazaar in Metrotent, Ortigas will be open until tomorrow, 11 AM to 10 PM. Go and visit, I'm sure you won't leave empty-handed!

You already know that I travel a long journey to and from Makati every day for work, yes? I am not complaining about this setup though because unlike the 5+ hours I used to waste in commuting via MRT and buses before, going to the office has become much easier and convenient now that I have a morning carpool already. When I go home, I just ride one of those Ayala-Malabon vans and alight in C4 and then take a jeepney or tricycle. Quick and easy-peasy, and I don't have to worry about having any of my stuff stolen in public utility vehicles.

Having super cool travel buddies is the luscious cherry on top of this decadent cake of awesomeness. It's hard to believe it has only been just a year since I first met them!

Some of my travel buddies have also become my breakfast buddies. Some days, we eat breakfast. Some nights we eat dinner, too. Every time, we take photos. Today is one of those days.

It was Chum's birthday yesterday so today's breakfast in Max's was her treat. :) Thanks, Chum!

After work, Mike, Ralph, and I were supposed to go home already but there were no vans available yet so we decided to eat dinner first. The other two ladies weren't able to join us because Chum still needed to finish something at work while Sheila went home early.

I don't really know why, but Mike treated us to dinner. Thanks, Mike! The "congratulations!" part is a little inside joke hee.

Chum was able to join us in the van ride home. It was great because we all had many different stories and jokes to share with one another. :D When we were dropped off at C4, we wanted a little nightcap at first but then decided against it because Chum had to go home for another birthday dinner. In the end it was just me and the guys and our much more wholesome nightcap of choice: milk tea.

LOL I love you guys. Thanks for making the heavy traffic jams more bearable! Congratulations!

#stillwaitingfortheeffectsofmilkteatowearoffsoIcanfinallygotosleep

A dose of Berocca, paracetamol, and a full and uninterrupted seven hours of sleep after, and I am still not feeling like my usual chipper self. Right now all I want are either a back massage or a relaxing yoga session and a quick stopover at Tokyo Tokyo for a hot bowl of ramen and gyoza.

Last month, we made a special trip to Tokyo Tokyo in TriNoma to launch the Ramen Bar. Tokyo Tokyo has more than 50 branches offering Japanese cuisine at affordable prices in the Philippines but their Ramen Bar in TriNoma is the first of its kind. 

Did you know that Tokyo Tokyo’s Research and Development team worked closely with a Japanese ramen master to discover ways to deliver authentic Japanese flavors? That's commitment, I tell ya. The end result was three exciting ramen flavors – Braised Pork, Spicy Chicken, and Tempura Miso – and I really cannot decide what I like best.

The tonkotsu broth is slow-cooked for at least 24 hours in Japanese hagamas, extracting every single drop of flavor from the base ingredients. Ramen noodles are freshly-made, giving each mouthful just the right amount of bite. Premium-quality toppings, such as tender pork cutlets, succulent chicken cuts glazed in a spicy-sweet teriyaki sauce, and delightfully crisp prawn tempura, serve as a focal point for other traditional flavors. Even the restaurant’s gyoza, Ramen’s most familiar pairing, is made according to authentic standards: soft, savory, and chewy with a delightfully crisp underside.

You'll love the prices, too. A snack-sized bowl costs P99 only, while a full serving costs P150. And, for only P200, you'll get a full-sized bowl with three pieces of gyoza and Tokyo Tokyo's signature red iced tea. Sweeet.

Right now Tokyo Tokyo Ramen Bar is located at Trinoma; SM Southmall; Net Lima, The Fort; SM Megamall; People Support Ayala; Greenbelt; Market Market; SM Baguio; SM Fairview; SM North EDSA Annex; and opening soon at SM North EDSA Main, SM San Lazaro, SM Manila, Greenhills, Harbor Point Subic, Robinsons Pioneer, Ali Mall, Festival Mall, SM Dasmarinas, and SM Bicutan. I am particularly drawn to the TriNoma branch though because I have fond memories of eating there with my friends Mich and Poly after shopping.

This is how the venue was dressed up for the launch:

So prettyyy ♥ 

Far and me with the event's host, Justin of 99.5 FM

And Justin and me with Tokyo Tokyo's endorser Daniel Matsunaga He looks like a Ken doll! No kidding!

Have you tried Tokyo Tokyo's Ramen? What is your favorite among the three?

Hey eveyone! I think I caught a bug and I feel like I am going to go down with the flu but I am hoping this gets away soon as I've been looking forward to this coming weekend for so long. (´∩｀。) 

My palms and wallet are feeling tingly because the Manila Sundance Bazaar will begin at the Metrotent in Ortigas tomorrow! 

If you love fashion, food, and music, then you're in luck because all three will be celebrated at the bazaar this coming weekend. I have been on a shopping binge for so long (umm, more like two weeks) so I'm super excited to visit the many booths that will be there! One of the booths I am excited to see is Tutum Shop, and I'm feeling pretty positive that I will go home with a pair of these Sabrinas as it was love-at-first-sight for me when I saw these babies on my Instagram feed LOL. Perfect timing, too, as it might be time to start scouting for Christmas gifts for my family and friends already. (^_−)☆

And hey, I was advised posters like this will be on display there as well:


Can you tell how giddy I am to be one of the bazaar's featured bloggers? Hee. This was made by Marika, and she's really good! Check out her online portfolio here.

There's a minimal admission fee of P50 and don't forget, it will run from tomorrow until Sunday only. I will be there on Saturday with my friend Rica. Let's go and shop! Tweet me! I will be updating my Instagram with my finds while I'm there so follow me there as well.

Visit Manila Sundance Bazaar's Facebook page for more details. You may also check out the many different booths that will be there on their Instagram.

After my first foray into the wonderful world of blog tours, I realized I enjoy participating in it. I love sharing my thoughts about books I've read and forcing my friends to read them, too you see, and being able to do that while showcasing and promoting books by independent Filipino authors and discovering new blogs to add to my to read-list make joining even more fun so I signed up immediately when Dia of Book Junkie Blog Tours asked for volunteers. This time, for the All Fair in Blog and War + Well Played blog tour, I decided to review the former. Click here to check out the different stops of this tour!

Five Cuevas @5travelsThree guesses to where I'm going next. Starts with an M. Ends with a U. Has a lechon named after it. #travel

Twenty-something travel blogger Five thinks she has hit the jackpot when she gets invited to glittering Macau for an all-expense-paid bloggers tour. Think majestic old churches, sparkling casinos, exhilarating bungee jumps, and the world's most unforgettable egg tarts. The trip is practically perfect, except for one little glitch. She gets assigned to be travel buddies with Jesse, the world's most infuriating photo blogger, and it's definitely war at first sight.

Will Five let Jesse turn her dream vacation into a total nightmare? Or will falling in love be on the itinerary?

Like most chick-lit stories go, Five and Jesse's love story did not begin on a positive note. It was more like hate-at-first sight on Five's part that started with an elevator button heh. Unlike other chick-lit stories though, our protagonist is independent and doesn't take any crap from anyone else. I like that she is able to stand up for herself yet is also quick to bow down when she knows she's in the wrong.

This book is part romance-part travelogue. I haven't been to Macau yet and the book doesn't have any photos in it but the author's descriptions - through Five's point of view - of the places they visited were so vivid that they made me feel like I was also in this bloggers' trip with them - taking photos, tasting local delicacies, and laughing along.

Aside from Jesse's character, I think my favorite part of this chick-lit novella is its language. I especially liked that the chapters were written like hashtags, and they're funny, too! Cases in point: Chapter 2 is #HowDoYouWakeUpOnTheWrongSideOfTheBedIfYouHaven'tSleptYet while Chapter 11 is #InsertBrokenHeartedPlaylistHere. I love it. I'm sure the selfie generation would also be able to relate easily with the dialogue. It's a quick read; at less than 200 pages, it tells us everything we want and need to know about Jesse and Five, and I have to say they are perfect for one another. MFEO, literally.

I think it's also cute that the All's Fair in Blog and War experience doesn't end when you finish the book as Five and Jesse are both on Twitter and you can interact with them for real!


I may be biased here because the author used one of my favorite media of self-expression: blogs. But really, you should get your own copy as it's a great pick-me-upper. :)

About the Author
Chrissie’s first trip to Macau was in the summer of 2010. Like her main character, she fell in love there. Unlike her main character, she didn’t fall in love with a guy; she fell in love with egg tarts. An advertising copywriter in her past life, she now spends most of her time writing, taking photos, cooking and babysitting. She tweets about food and writerly things here and here. For thoughts longer than 140 characters, she blogs here. She still plays with dolls and she thinks that bacon is the answer.

This is her first novella.

Instead of going to TriNoma for a haircut, I ended up staying at home the whole day yesterday. Aside from getting the rest I needed, I also got to scratch the itch to make new stamps ｡◕‿◕｡ I have built quite a humble rubber stamp collection already and I think the most logical next step is to want to create my own.

I used the new carving tools I got from Create by truelovefound. I am so happy I finally got to apply the things I learned from the Stamptabulous workshop I attended in CraftMNL back in March!

Disclaimer: I suck at drawing. Aside from singing and moving gracefully, it is a skill I never learned. Please don't laugh at my amateur drawings.


First, I sketched a few ideas on paper. You can see a Batman logo there, an umbrella, a mochi with a face, and a cupcake there. I decided to work with the cupcake. After tracing it on a piece of tracing paper, I transferred the design to the rubber eraser.


And then it was time to slice, gouge, and carve!

I am a little sad because I didn't think the final product looks like a cupcake (╯︵╰,) But I'd like to thank my online friends for saying otherwise!

I used it together with my loopy handwriting and polka dot stamps to make a birthday shout-out for my friend Nikolett ♥（ﾉ´∀`）

Feeling pretty inspired after, I then made a mini tribute to my fictional character counterpart - Ted Mosby.

I am both happy and sad that How I Met Your Mother is on its last season. I want to continue watching them forever, yet I am happy for Ted.

While watching me work on these stamps, my sister joined in on the fun and made this stamp of a poop with a face.

I don't understand why this poop had to have eyebags and eyelashes. Well, come to think of it I don't even know why it had to have a face.

These are all very amateur-ish so I am hoping to get a lot better after a few more tries. Wish me luck! ♥

After using my carving tools, I keep them and all my other stamps and carving essentials in an old Human Nature cardboard box.

Some of my stamps: alphabet letters, fairies, different patterns, and the stamps I made yesterday and during the Stamptabulous workshop; ink pads and ink pens; Speedball Lino Cutter and blades; and lots of rubber erasers to work with.

Cutting mat, tracing pad, pencil, and Dong-A Hexaplus color pens

No carving for me today though as my plans to get that haircut is finally pushing through. Hope you're enjoying the rest of your weekend, too!