donuts are for big girls

There's a new flavor in town and it's called Red Velvet.

It's pretty good but I still think the original glazed is everyone's favorite. But do you see that donut with the holiday sprinkles? That one is deceiving. Grown ups actually love it. Who am I kidding? Grown ups love donut, end of story.

Max Brenner

I had some crazy craving for chocolate the other day. And of course there's only one place that comes to mind if one wants the ultimate chocolate experience...Max Brenner!

Euphoria Peanut Butter Chocolate Fudge Brownie Sundae

In short, chocolate overload! People were looking at us when the server brought this to our table. There's even a lady who started laughing at us. She's probably thinking, "Haha, good luck on that one!" So aside from that huge sundae glass, it also comes with a peanut butter sauce and dark chocolate sauce. We are desert lovers but we gave up on this one. Nevertheless, it was the ultimate chocolate experience that just about satisfied my craving. I love chocolates!

Murakami my love

It finally arrived three weeks ago!

It's almost a thousand pages and I've been delaying reading it so I can make it...last. Haha! I actually ordered it with Patti Smith's Just Kids and I decided to read Just Kids first. That book is phenomenal. Well-written. Nostalgic. I am not in any way an artist but I was deeply moved by the book. I guess it's because I have a lot of artist friends and it made me happy just to have an insight on what's going on in their minds and heart.

I am planning to start reading Murakami this weekend. I read on a Twitter feed that there are mixed reviews about the book. I decided not to read any of the reviews yet and just develop my own once I'm done reading.

Fall/Winter Drink in Starbuck's

Every year, one of the things I look forward to during fall and winter is the Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate from Starbuck's. I get about four months to enjoy this delicious drink. I introduced my eight-year old nephew to this drink last year and it became an instant hit! Oh by the way, do not confuse this to their Salted Caramel Mocha because the latter is caffeinated. More than a month after my drink appeared in the menu, I found this in the holiday gift ideas section in Walmart:

Aaacckk! This made me so happy! I bring this with me all the time now so I can enjoy it at home AND at work! There, I'm sharing with you my secret because this drink is not to be missed! Go try it now!

iPhone 4S

Isn't it a beauty?

I just love this phone! The color makes it so unique too. What I love most about this gadget is...Siri! Wow, whoever programmed this virtual assistant is hilarious a genius! Sometimes when I'm bored I just play with my phone and ask Siri all silly questions. She has answers to almost everything, is funny, and philosophical too! Haha! It was sold out in our city an hour after the shipment arrived

One Year

Thank you for the past 365 days filled with love and laughter.  I can't wait to celebrate it with you. You are my world and my ever after. I love you more.

October

It's my favorite month of the year!!

In a few days, we will be celebrating our first wedding anniversary. I just got done finalizing our special plans for that day. I am too excited I need to calm down. It's just going to be simple but filled with promises of being sweet and meaningful. The day after is my birthday, woohoo! I am looking forward to eating as much meat as I can from the churrascaria (sorry my vegetarian friends).

I hope the weather is getting nicer wherever you are!

1Q84

Murakami is my favorite author and I can't wait to have this in my hand. Pre-ordered today via BN.com.

via Wikipedia

October 25th seems like a lifetime away...

Pop Tarts

Today is a monumental day for me. For the first time ever, I tried pop tarts for breakfast. And they were...heavenly good.  Who made these???  And before you tell me to google it (which I already did), let me remind you that that was a rhetorical question. Seriously though, they taste so good it's quite impossible not to get hooked.  Of course at the back of my mind, I know it's all sugary and unhealthy.  But my golly, if you need to take a break from eating all those healthy foods and want to reward yourself for being good, try pop tarts. I saw in their website that they have a gazillion flavors to choose from. For my first try, I wanted the low fat/low calorie ones but my husband insisted that the frosted strawberry flavor is the way to go. And the sweet-tooth in me couldn't possibly say no. It's a weekend and maybe I'll try them again tomorrow and ignore them during the week. Oh God, please give me the strength...

Japanese characters

Meet our new toys!

Doraemon, Hello Kitty, Anpaman

They are actually cell phone accessories. My husband requested for the Doraemon and Anpaman accessories. He wanted to attach them to his USBs so he won't lose them. He was expecting the usual tiny cell phone accessories. Turns out the latest fad in Japan now are these huge accessories. So there, he'll probably just keep these as part of our toy collection. The Hello Kitty one though is love. I really wish I'd have a daughter to pass this collection on to.

A Message From Karl Lagerfeld

Have a nice weekend!

I got badged!

Today was very eventful for me in terms of work. Well, it's just safe to say that I'm finally moving forward. After three weeks of not hearing from HR, they finally called me yesterday morning to start the hiring process. Yesterday afternoon, I got cleared for background check (no criminal records for me yay!) and received today's schedule. This afternoon, I filled out a two-inch thick paperwork and because it's my first job after two years, took me 45 minutes to finish. By that time, I only had 8 minutes left to get to the next building for badgeing. Oh the relief when everything was said and done. I'm so proud of myself for landing this job. I hope to do well in this opportunity that was given to me. Aaahh so happy!

Printed Books vs Ebooks

I actually like 'em both. I still find collecting printed books very nostalgic.  I like buying books from the bookstore because I have yet to fulfill my dream of having a library at home. I love how my printed books are piled up all over the bedroom. The old books are put on the shelves while the new books are piled on the floor until I have finished reading them.  I also still find satisfaction in turning the pages of my printed books. At the same time, I'm actually growing fond of my Nook Color. I'm always fascinated by the portability of most of my electronic gadgets. Most people like the fact that ebook readers take away the clutter and environmental issues that come with printed books. More than reading books, I like reading magazines in my Nook. With magazines, I don't care much if it's printed or electronic. The best feature though that my Nook offers that I can't have in printed books is the dictionary. One tap on the word and voila, out comes the meaning/etymology/pronunciation. It's the coolest thing. I have to be careful though. Sometimes when I'm reading my printed books and see a new word, I'd touch the page as if it were my ebook. Thank God I haven't had any public incident with that. I know that there is a growing competition between printed and electronic media. I try to support both because losing either one would be very devastating for avid readers like me.

How To Pass Your Driving Test

Are you thinking of getting a new driver's license anytime soon? Do you know of someone who is aiming to become a new driver? If you answered yes to either or both, then read on.

Passing your driving test entails both skills and luck. If you have just one of the two, following these simple steps may just help you bag the coveted prize.

1. Set your appointment way in advance, at least 3 months early. If you need to take your test sooner than that but can't find a free spot, then going on standby is the best way to do it.

2. Practice, practice, practice. Go to a driving school if you must. DO NOT ASK FAMILY MEMBERS e.g. SPOUSE to teach you how to drive. This is for everyone's sake and sanity. You can practice with     them after you've learned all the necessary skills to impress them.

3. On the day of your set appointment, be at the DMV at least 30 minutes early so you have time to mentally prepare for your test. If you're going on standby, be at the DMV by 6am. Yes 6am, don't argue. At this point, your life depends on the examinees who will chicken out at the last minute and won't show up. The

soon-to-be free spot becomes a free for all and is given on a first come first serve basis.

4. Bring a book or any electronic device that you can play with while waiting. Make sure the book is thick enough to last you a day. If you are a fast reader, read slow. Charge your electronic devices the night before. If you are on standby, take note that the tests run from 8am to 4pm and be ready to wait that long.

5. While waiting for your name to be called, DO NOT make friends with other examinees. Just focus on channeling your own positive energy. You don't want their negative energies to rub off on you. If the anticipation is killing you and if you feel like your heart is about to explode, try with all your might to fight

the urge to scream.

6. Observe and check out the examiners for the day. I'm sure they are nice people but don't expect them to be super friendly. If you see a scary looking or intimidating examiner, DO NOT think "Oh God please not him/her." Because the moment you do, you will for sure get him/her.

7. Do a mental run through of all the things you've learned including the initial car test that the examiner will conduct before you drive. The examiner doesn't have the luxury of time to wait for you while you figure out how to turn on the wipers.

8. If and when your name is finally called, SMILE...as big as your mouth can possibly stretch. You have to show the examiner that you're scared confident and excited to take your test.

9. As you walk to the car, make small talks with your examiner. Ask him/her how his/her day's been so far.  Just be ready if they end up ranting. If that happens, give yourself a pat on the back. You've just successfully diverted your examiner's attention.

10. Before you leave the parking lot, SILENTLY SAY YOUR PRAYERS. At this point, your heart will be pounding and you will be sweating big time. Make sure to use an anti-perspirant or deodorant before leaving your house.

11. Some examiners are helpful, some are not. Four things: focus on staying in your lane; red light and stop signs mean FULL STOP; drive in the speed limit: 15mph less than the speed limit will cause you, not earn, points; DO NOT hit another car or a pedestrian.

12. Last but not the least, have fun with parallel parking!! It's going to be a (something that rhymes with witch but starts with a b), and you won't get away with it. And don't even think of using a smart car for the test.  This one really requires SKILLS. So no matter how small your car is, if you don't practice enough, parallel parking might just take up half of your test time.

There you go, may these simple tips help you or your loved ones pass your or their driving test. After going though this experience, I realized that there should be no reason to feel intimidated if you practice hard. It's inevitable to feel scared but it's more of the fear of the unknown I guess.

Oh, one more thing. Practice your poker face for when you come back from the test. Everyone in the room will be watching you and looking for a sign if you passed or not. I say just SMILE no matter what!

Drive safely!

good things come to those who wait

About a week ago, something amazing happened to me. Exactly a year ago, I sent a job application to the Family Services department of our local government. At that time they were looking for a team member to help them with their foster care projects. I never received any feedback, until last month. They probably just got the grant they needed to fund the project. To cut the story short, I went through two interviews and got hired last week. The timing couldn't have been any better. My husband is about to start Nursing school and God probably thinks now is a good time for me to continue with my career. God is so good. And I'm so thankful.

Pearl Harbor Memorial

Our visit to the Pearl Harbor Memorial was a meaningful albeit emotional one. Most tourists actually avoid visiting the site because it depresses them. I like going to historical places though because I love learning new things and acquiring more knowledge about something. When I visited the Hiroshima Memorial several years back, I almost cried. I felt for all the victims and couldn't help but imagine how my ancestors from Hiroshima survived the bombing. Seeing Pearl Harbor brought some light to the questions I had in mind after my visit to the Hiroshima Memorial.

Words are not enough to capture the emotion that I felt during my visit. I will just let the pictures do the talking.

Remember. Understand. Honor.

Missoni x Target

Have you seen the collection??  I sometimes find the patterns too bold but I think there are a couple that I liked from this collection. It is apparently the biggest collaboration to date for Target. I am also loving the kitchen series. That Missoni bike is calling my name. Out loud.

Out this September!

baby rosary

I made this baby rosary as a baptism present for my husband's nephew.

I used an elastic band to string the beads and clippers to attach the Mama Mary and the cross then put it in a matching tiny blue pouch.

 close up of Mary and child

close up of the cross

This is very easy to make and one that can be used and kept forever:-)

Meet Octavia

She hails from Waikiki and is the nicest octopus I've ever known (she's the only one I know!).

She gets a lot of attention and praises whenever I take her out.  She's one of the latest additions to my collection of animal rings. I'll make another post to introduce the rest of them.

Presents from Japan

Three weeks ago, my Japanese best friend sent me a parcel containing the Uni Qlo shirts she had bought for me. The first time the mailman came, I was in deep sleep and missed the door bell. I still get giddy every time I get a parcel. My friend also sent Japanese snacks and cute cell phone accessories. Of course, there has to be something Hello Kitty...

Hello Kitty nori (seaweed)

How can I possibly eat this cuteness??

coffee and sundays

Every Sunday, 11 years and counting.

my father's daughter

We went to the closing out sale of Borders yesterday. It was a bittersweet moment. Though I'm happy to browse through books at cheaper price, I was also melancholic over the fact that another bookstore is folding up. I love books and bookstores are my sanctuary. I decided not to buy any novels as I can buy those through my Nook. I went straight to the cook books section to look for the two books in my wishlist: any barefoot contessa book, and Gwyneth Paltrow's book. I lucked out on the first (totally bummed) and got lucky on the latter.

A few pages into the book so far and it's been a heartwarming read. I can't wait to try all those healthy recipes!