I want...

a SMEG fridge for my little kitchen,

or any vintage-looking one just like Rachael Ray's

these trunks (pbc's photos from the tPF site)
Anyone knows where I can make pagawa here?

Neverfull MM in damier

Lisa George's (Dirty Sexy Money) bag.
I hate Lisa but if there's one reason for me to like her, it's this bag.

Grumpy.

Someone's grumpy today...

It must be the

My Comfort Food.

mc d's french fries. with mayo. yum.

Starbucks' hot green tea latte.
Friends say I'm weird for liking it. They're wrong. I love it! =)

What's yours?

Alice Blue Candle

As I was walking along Glorietta early this evening to "visit" Charles & Keith, I saw this booth of scented candles called Alice Blue Candle and next thing I knew I was having a hard time deciding which scent to pick. I bought two votive candles from their bestsellers: Berry Crumble and White Tea & Ginger. What also got me which is important to note is that Alice Blue candles are made from soy wax, which, unlike paraffin wax candles are biodegradable, produce less soot, and are extracted from a renewable source (soybeans).The candles smell so great even when not lit, I swear! But of course I lit one candle and as I am typing this, my room has DELICIOUS written all over it, it smells so yummy! I'm coming back tomorrow to get MORE!

Great book buys!

National Bookstore is on sale and I love my recent book buys:

The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene

from P609 to P487.25

Style A to Zoe at about P500+.
Available on paperback only.



3 books by Dave Pelzer
@ P200+ each


P220

Gone in 60 Seconds...

I finally tried the Delimondo corned beef...

My verdict: DELICIOSO!

I never got the chance to take a photo of it because it was literally gone in sixty seconds, with Aj leading the "race".

It's priced at P120/can and it's relatively expensive compared to other local canned corned beef in the country, but it's worth it.

Back to Nokia

So I got a new phone...

I originally wanted a Nokia 6500 Classic but since the E51 I got is cheaper by a few hundred bucks and is definitely a better buy, I opted for the E51.

Reasons for buying:

1. I got a good deal with Allied Bank's promo.

2. I miss Nokia's U smiley.

3. The Sony Ericsson I've been using for my Globe (which I got for free) is really really old now. =)

4. I don't want to use my iPhone as phone yet (but I bring it with me everyday). I treasure it so much, afraid to lose or scratch it (haha). For now, I'm contented just using it as iPod. Besides, it's hard using it for SMS.

I am officially back to being a Nokia user. I haven't used it but I love that it's sleek and SMS-friendly plus it has wi-fi, too!

Hydroxydase

This mineral water from France promises to help one lose up to a kilo a week by increasing one's metabolism, combat fatigue, prevent heart disease and strokes by augmenting magnesium levels, and eliminate bad cholesterol.

But actually, it does only one thing - It detoxifies, eliminates excess fatty acids through the presence of Magnesium. Because Magnesium has been studied as one factor to inhibit the spread of diseases...

Who has tried this thing? I am interested and would love to get feedbacks first before buying...

"Amazing Race Makati"

I had an "amazing" race in Makati this evening!

and it's all because of this:

You see, bloghopping and joining forums have brought me to places I never thought I would be, made me discover and experience new things, kept me up to date on the latest trends and gossips, brought out the "shopaholic" in me, helped me earn a little extra, and more! That makes me slightly dependent BUT eternally grateful to the power of the internet.

So after reading ravings about this corned beef by Delimondo to which they claim as the best-tasting corned beef in the country, I got a little curious and was convinced to try it. I read they are being sold at Petra and Pilar in JAKA Building so off I went with PP. We got to JAKA in Ayala but didn't see Petra and Pilar in there so we asked the guard. This guard had no idea what I was talking about (I went as far as talking about this corned beef!) and suggested we go to JAKA II in Legaspi Street instead. I never knew there was JAKA II. We got to JAKA II after a couple of minutes and surprise, surprise there wasn't a Petra and Pilar in sight. I still didn't give up. I was panting as I was talking to the guard and boy, I never expected there are actually 3, yes three JAKA buildings in Makati and yes this popular Petra and Pilar is not in JAKA II. We got the wrong address. That moment, out of shame and hunger, I lost hope of bringing home the corned beef (haha)! We went to the nearest resto we could find and settled for these:

grilled porkchops (HUGE!)

chicken

at Dome beside Makati Medical Center.

After having my batteries recharged, do you think I will give up? I knew we were close to the target so we asked the waiters if they know where JAKA Centre is (thanks DD!). Good thing there were med reps inside who pointed us to the right direction. It's actually in Pasong Tamo!

I haven't tried it yet but after what we've been through, this MUST be good!

Here is the exact address:

Petra & Pilar
Ground Floor JAKA Center Building
Exportbank Drive corner Chino Roces Avenue (formerly Pasong tamo),
Makati City
Near Buendia and Pasong Tamo intersection.
Open from 11am to 11pm

On Poetry...

Literature is one of my favorite subjects in highschool. We used to memorize and recite several poems in class. Who could forget Browning's How Do I Love Thee? or Henley's Invictus?

I know it's funny but right now I'm *crushing* on Pablo Neruda's poems. He is one of my favorite poets, aside from E.E. Cummings.

Thought bubble: I will try to read this to PP later. Nyahaha!

If You Forget Me
by Pablo Neruda

I want you to know
one thing.

You know how this is:
if I look
at the crystal moon, at the red branch
of the slow autumn at my window,
if I touch
near the fire
the impalpable ash
or the wrinkled body of the log,
everything carries me to you,
as if everything that exists,
aromas, light, metals,
were little boats
that sail
toward those isles of yours that wait for me.

Well, now,
if little by little you stop loving me
I shall stop loving you little by little.

If suddenly
you forget me
do not look for me,
for I shall already have forgotten you.

If you think it long and mad,
the wind of banners
that passes through my life,
and you decide
to leave me at the shore
of the heart where I have roots,
remember
that on that day,
at that hour,
I shall lift my arms
and my roots will set off
to seek another land.

But
if each day,
each hour,
you feel that you are destined for me
with implacable sweetness,
if each day a flower
climbs up to your lips to seek me,
ah my love, ah my own,
in me all that fire is repeated,
in me nothing is extinguished or forgotten,
my love feeds on your love, beloved,
and as long as you live it will be in your arms
without leaving mine.

Now if he replies with a poem, it's going to be the creep! :D

What is your favorite poem?

Excited...

For over a year now,
I've been meaning to buy Fisheye 2 lomo camera
but for some reason haven't bought one.

Until...

YAY!!!

Signs that I'm getting old

I stumbled upon D's blog about the signs of getting old. Here's my personal take on the matter.

Signs that I'm getting old:

1. I prefer staying home and sleeping in over partying out with friends.

2. My interest in magazines change from Cosmopolitan to Real Simple, from InStyle to Oprah, from fashion to interior designs.

3. I drink less coffee (!!!) and more tea nowadays.

4. When I go to beauty stores, I notice there is a separate rack for moisturizers for age 20+ and 30+. Do I have to remind myself and announce to the whole world which rack I go to? Geeeezzz.

5. I drink vitamin supplements more than ever. My mom recently shared with me a bottle of fish oil. Good thing she didn't give me calcium supplements or else... :D

6. People ask me if I went to see the concert of Rick Astley and George Benson/Al Jarreau who performed here in Manila recently. What the...?! Haha. I honestly wanted to see Benson and Jarreau's concert but forgot to make earlier plans for it.

7. The subject of "age" and "weight" is seriously becoming an issue. People, ever heard of EQ? =)

8. When I had to say "Just because..." when people ask why I read the Twilight saga. What's more, they even had to say "Di ba pangbata yan?!"

9. Fashion-wise, I now prefer Plains & Prints over Bayo and Kamiseta.

10. I dread Christmas holidays because it means gastos.

11. Reunions become frequent. (highschool, college, batchmates...)

12. I take care of my folks more than they take care of me. Hey, I'm not complaining.

13. I reminisce about the good old days and then people younger than me become clueless!

14. I mention my crush and people say, "Nagkakacrush ka pa?!" Mean people! :D

15. I'd have to agree with D when she said: when moving out becomes a reality. Finally!

To my peers, this world is mean to our generation haha. I say, live and let live!

To the young ones, tatanda din kayo!!!

Sandy's Pizza

This has been all over the blog world and it got me really curious so when I happened to see the place after I had my nails done at Nail Loft, I promised myself that I will go there one of these days.

And finally went there last Friday night!

Yummy!!!

We got The Sampler - any four flavors of our choice and had White Pizza, Tuyo in Olive Oil, Pizza Margherita and Meatzerella. I love everything! Next time I'll have it delivered. Can't wait to try the other flavors!

Check out Sandy's site here.

My AI Bet

The moment D shared youtube's link to this American Idol contestant on his rendition of the song Billie Jean, I was blown away. Of course, you already know him by now. His name is David Cook (D, careful how you read it!).

I also love his Always Be My Baby performance. Can't wait to watch him perform tomorrow (Manila time).

I Miss...

If there's one person in the world that I'm terribly missing right now... it has to be my Nanang. I was reading my old Xanga entries about her and I can't help but cry.

I.miss.her.

Worth the Wait

FINALLY!!!
The long wait is so worth it!
Thank you!!! (you know who YOU are!)

26 Positions of Bikram Yoga

Here are the 26 positions of Bikram Yoga and their benefits:

1. Pranayama - standing deep breathing

• Good for lungs and respiratory system
• Helps with mental relaxation
• Helps high blood pressure
• Relieves irritability
• Good for detoxification
• Exercises nervous, respiratory and circulatory systems

2. Ardha Chandrasana with Pada Hastasana - half moon pose with hands to feet pose

• Works into the whole skeletal and circulatory systems
• Opens shoulder joints
• Good for frozen shoulder
• Reduces or eliminates pain in the lower back
• Good for abdominal obesity
• Improves and strengthens every muscle in the central part of the body. Increases the flexibility of the spine
• Tones the spinal nerves and abdominal organs improving the working of the bowels
• Increases flexibility and strength of rectus abdominis, gluteus maximus, oblique, deltoid and trapezius muscles
• Helps with sciatic problems
• Alleviates anxiety and reduces mental stress
• Stimulates pituitary gland
• Exercises colon, pancreas, kidneys, muscular, skeletal, respiratory and glandular systems
• Firms and trims waistline, hips, abdomen, buttocks and thighs

Ardha Chandrasana - back bend compression of spine

• Stimulates proper function of the pancreas, kidneys and liver
• Stretches and stimulates the thyroid and parathyroid glands
• Regulates hormone production
• Relieves back pain
• Improves and strengthens every muscle in the central part of the body
• Increases the flexibility of the spine
• Corrects bad posture
• Increases flexibility and strength of rectus abdominis, gluteus maximus, oblique, deltoid and trapezius muscles
• Good for frozen shoulders
• Good for abdominal obesity
• Helps with sciatic problems
• Stimulates digestion
• Firms and trims waistline, hips, abdomen, buttocks and thighs

Pada Hastasana - hands to feet pose

• Works into the whole skeletal and circulatory system
• Lengthens the spine making it supple and elastic
• Increases flexibility of the spine and the sciatic nerves
• Improves flexibility of tendons and ligaments of the legs
• Strengthens the biceps of thighs and calves
• Strengthens rectus abdominis, gluteus maximus, oblique, deltoid and trapezius muscles
• Firms and trims waistline, hips, abdomen, buttocks and thighs
• Opens shoulder joints
• Good for frozen shoulders
• Relieves lower back pain
• Good for abdominal obesity
• Greatly enhances concentration
• Helps with sciatic problems
• Stimulates pituitary and pineal glands
• Exercises colon, pancreas, klar systemsidneys, muscular, skeletal, respiratory and glandular systems

3. Utkatasana - awkward pose (in three parts, see pics below)

• Improves overall body strength
• Opens pelvis
• Strengthens and tones leg muscles
• Relieves menstrual cramping
• Reduces fat pocket under buttocks
• Aligns skeletal system
• Good for arthritis conditions
• Good for digestion
• Relieves joint pain
• Relieves sciatica
• Improves flexibility in toes and ankles
• Exercises liver, intestines and pancreas

4. Garurasana - eagle pose

• Works into twelve major joints of the body

• Good for central nervous system
• Facilitates lymphatic function, improving immune system
• Improves mobility of hip joint
• Improves balance
• Strengthens legs
• Good for varicose veins

5. Dandayamana-Janushirasana - standing head to knee pose

• Builds mental strength
• Improves concentration
• Unifies mind and body
• Uses all major muscle groups
• Exercises digestive and reproductive organs
• Good for diabetes
• Strengthens back muscles

6. Dandayamana-Dhanurasana - standing bow pulling pose

• Stimulates cardiovascular system
• Increases circulation to heart and lungs
• Opens diaphragm
• Opens shoulder joint
• Helps frozen shoulder conditions
• Improves spine elasticity
• Improves strength and balance
• Reduces abdominal fat
• Helps regulate ovaries and prostate gland

7. Tuladandasana - balancing stick pose

• Increases cardiovascular circulation, especially to the heart vessels
• May help clear blocked arteries
• May help prevent future cardiac problems
• Creates a total spine stretch. Relieves stress from spine
• Good for varicose veins
• Builds strength in legs
• Exercises pancreas, spleen, liver, nervous and circulatory system

8. Dandayamana-Bibhaktapada Paschimottanasana - standing separate leg stretching pose

• Increases circulation to the brain and adrenal glands
• Centers nervous system
• May be good for depression
• Good for constipation
• Helps reduce abdominal obesity
• Helps with diabetes and hyperacidity
• Releases lower back
• Exercises muscular, adrenal and reproductive systems

9. Trikanasana - triangle pose

• An excellent cardiovascular workout
• Intensely stretches each side of the body
• Opens and increases flexibility of hip joints
• Reduces saddle bags
• Good for kidney, thyroid and adrenal glands
• Opens shoulder joint, good for frozen shoulder
• Strengthens and tones legs and buttocks
• Helps regulate hormone levels
• Works all muscular groups simultaneously
• Helps conditions of constipation, colitis, low blood pressure, appendicitis, spondylitis, menstrual disorders

10. Dandayamana Bibhaktapada Janushirasana - standing separate leg head to knee pose

• May be good for depression and memory loss
• Reduces abdominal obesity
• Good for diabetic conditions
• Balances blood sugar levels
• Assists in regulating pancreas and kidneys
• Works endocrine, digestive and reproductive systems

11. Tadasana - tree pose

• Assists in correcting bad posture
• Increases hip and knee flexibility and mobility
• Stretches spine
• Releases abdominal tension
• Relieves lower back pain
• Tightens gluteal muscles
• Good for circulatory problems, arthritis and rheumatism

12. Padangustasana - toe stand

• Creates balance and focus in body and mind
• Strengthens stomach muscles
• Strengthens joints (hips, knees, ankles, toes)
• Helps relieve arthritis in all leg joints including hips

13. Savasana - corpse pose

• Returns cardiovascular circulation to normal
• Slows heart rate, reduces blood pressure
• Teaches complete relaxation
• Stills and focuses the mind

14. Pavanamuktasana - wind removing pose

• Massages ascending, descending and transverse colon
• Regulates and normalizes hydrochloric acid levels in stomach
• Improves and may cure conditions of constipation, flatulence and hyperacidity
• Relieves lower back pain
• Improves flexibility of the hip joints
• Firms and tones muscles of the abdominal wall, thighs and hips
• Increases peristalsis in the gut

15. Sit-up

• Strengthens and tightens the abdomen
• Open mouth exhalation stimulates diaphragm and eliminates toxins from lungs

16. Bhujangasana - cobra pose

• The arching of the spine increases flexibility and strength
• Rejuvenates spinal nerves enriching them with a rich blood supply
  
• Improves flexibility and tone of spinal muscles, massages, works and tones back muscles
• Helps relieve and prevent lower backache
• Helps cure or relieve lumbago, rheumatism, arthritis and menstrual problems
• Helps cure loss of appetite
• Stretches the thoracic region and expands the rib cage bringing relief from asthma
• Gentle pressure on the abdomen massages all organs and improves their function
• Strengthens deltoids, trapezius and triceps
• Compresses and opens spine
• Relieves cervical spondylosis
• Improves concentration
• Helps to relieve many utero-ovarine and menstrual problems

17. Salabhasana - locust pose

• Same benefits as cobra pose and even more effective in helping conditions of slipped disc and sciatica
• Firms buttocks and hips
• Increases spinal strength, flexibility and circulation
• Improves flexibility and tone of spinal muscles
• Helps relieve and prevent backache
• Helps cure or relieve lumbago, rheumatism, arthritis and menstrual problems
• Helps cure loss of appetite
• Improves sluggish digestion
• Increases abdominal pressure and regulates intestinal function
• Strengthens the abdominal wall
• Helps correct bad posture
• Improves function of liver and spleen
• Strengthens shoulder, arm and back muscles
• Compresses and opens spine
• Relieves cervical spondylosis and back pain
• Encourages concentration and perseverance

18. Poorna-Salabhasana - full locust pose

• Firms muscles of the abdomen, upper arms, hips and thighs
• Increases spinal strength and flexibility
• Improves flexibility and tone of spinal muscles
  
• Helps relieve and prevent lower backache
• Helps cure or relieve lumbago, rheumatism, arthritis and menstrual problems. Helps cure loss of appetite
• Helps correct bad posture
• Improves function of liver and spleen
• Strengthens deltoids, trapezius and triceps
• Compresses and opens spine
• Relieves cervical spondylosis

19. Dhanurasana - floor bow pose

• Increases circulation to heart and lungs, improves oxygen intake
• Opens diaphragm and expands the chest region - improves respiratory conditions
• Opens shoulder joint and helps frozen shoulder conditions
• Increases spinal strength and flexibility and tone of spinal muscles
• Revitalizes spinal nerves by increasing circulation to the spine
• Strengthens, compresses and opens lower, mid and upper spine
• Improves strength and balance. Reduces abdominal fat and strengthens abdominal muscles
• Helps regulate ovaries and prostate gland
• Helps cure or relieve lumbago, rheumatism, arthritis and menstrual problems
• Improves digestion
• Helps correct bad posture
• Strengthens concentration and mental determination
• Develops internal balance and harmony
• Improves function of kidneys, liver and spleen
• Strengthens deltoids, trapezius, rhomboids, latissimus dorsi and triceps
• Relieves cervical spondylosis

20. Supta-Vajrasana - fixed firm pose

• Helps conditions of sciatica, gout, varicose veins and rheumatism in the legs
• Slims and tones thighs, firms calf muscles and strengthens the abdomen
• Strengthens and improves flexibility of lower spine, knees and ankle joints
• Lubricates and increases circulation to joints
• Strengthens and lengthens abdominal muscles
• Creates a great stretch into hip joints and diaphragm
• Relieves lower back pain

21. Ardha-Kurmasana - half tortoise pose

• A rejuvenation pose providing maximum relaxation
• Assists in relieving digestion problems and constipation
• Stretches lower part of the lungs, increases lung capacity
• Excellent for respiratory conditions
• Increases circulation to the brain
• Firms the abdomen and thighs
• Increases flexibility of hip joints
• Improves mobility of shoulder girdle and associated muscles (scapula, deltoids, triceps, latissimus dorsi)
• Relieves stress and migraines
• Helps with insomnia
• Increases flexibility in hips

22. Ustrasana - camel pose

• Compresses spine, relieving back problems
• Opens rib cage, lungs and digestive system
• Stimulates nervous system
• Great for lungs and many bronchial problems
• Strengthens back and shoulder muscles
• Improves flexion of neck
• Stretches throat
• Flushes fresh blood through kidneys
• Helps eliminate toxins

23. Sasangasana - rabbit pose

• Provides maximum longitudinal extension of the spine
• Stretches the spine to increase proper nutrition to the nervous system
• Improves the mobility and elasticity of the spine and back muscles
• Stimulates thyroid and parathyroid glands through compression, helps balance and regulate metabolism
• Balances hormones
• Improves flexibility of scapula and trapezius
• Improves digestion, glandular problems and helps improve conditions of the sinus, common cold and chronic tonsillitis
• Helps insomnia, depression

24. Janushirasana with Paschimottanasana - head to knee pose with intense stretching posture

• Head to knee pose helps balance blood sugar levels and the metabolism
• Improves flexibility of sciatic nerve and ankle, knee and hip joints
• Enhances kidney function
• The intense stretching pose increases circulation to liver, spleen and pancreas
• Stimulates thymus gland, digestion and immune system
• Increases flexibility of the trapezius, deltoid, erectus femoris and biceps muscles, sciatic nerve and last five vertebrae of the spine
• Stretches and strengthens pelvic girdle, hip joints, shoulder joints and spine
• Powerfully massages all the abdominal organs
• Stimulates and tones the digestive organs, increases peristalsis, relieves constipation and other problems
• Regulates function of the pancreas, assisting those with diabetes or hypoglycemia
  
• Mobilizes joints and increases elasticity in the lumbar spine
• Relieves compression of the spine and sciatica
• Strengthens and stretches the hamstrings
• Improves concentration and mental endurance

25. Ardha Matsyendrasana - spine twisting pose

• Compresses and stretches spine from the bottom to the top
• Increases hip and back flexibility
  
• Improves digestion
• Firms the buttocks, thighs and abdomen
• Improves elasticity, flexibility, circulation and nutrition to spinal nerves, vessels and tissues
• Increases synovial fluid of the joints
• Removes adhesions in the joints caused by rheumatism
• Tones the roots of the spinal nerves and sympathetic nervous system
• Detoxifying
• Opens bronchial muscles and rib cage
• Helps prevent slipped disc
• Relieves lower back pain
• Helps sciatica and arthritis of the knee
• Massages kidneys, liver, gall bladder, spleen and bowels
  

26. Kapalbhati in Vajrasana - blowing in firm pose

• Detoxifies and cleanses body by removing stale air and toxins from lungs
• Brings mental clarity
• Strengthens abdominal organs and wall
• Normalizes bowels
• Energizes body
• Improves oxygenation to the body
• Improves cardiovascular and respiratory systems
• Good for high blood pressure