Bizarre Bazaar

Welcome to MSCI's first ever bazaar. This encouraged entrepreneurs in our office to showcase their own products and at the same time help raise funds. Even though I was only able to attend the first day, I'm glad I was able to try a lot of delicious food. =)

There was a booth that offered packed lunch but unfortunately I wasn't able to try it. It sold out after a few minutes before lunch time =P There was also a booth that offered cool shirts for men =)

 

Another sold out booth is Jaja and Sunny's "Yummy Treats". Good thing I was early and I got the chance to try their yummy red velvet cupcakes and their cheesecake bars =)

My favorite booth would be Tippi's corner, which had polvorons and the ever famous Blondies =) A lot of fanatics were already waiting for her delicious pastries before she even arrived.

That's Tippi or commonly known as Trish. Not only did she sell sweet pastries but it was also sweet of her to donate the proceeds to the victims of the recent 'Habagat'. 

Just before lunch time, a booth opened to sell different kinds of pasta. Since I was a pasta freak, I really wanted to try all (takaw lang). Since I know I couldn't finish everything, I just decided to try the penne and it was really good. =)

Congrats to the organizers for a successful event! Happy Shoppers and  Happy Sellers =) Looking forward to MSCI's future happenings =)

My 2 Scents

I usually spray on tons of baby cologne right before I leave the house. By the time I get to the office, the scent has already evaporated and I would spray some on again. This has been a very tiring habit that's why I bought new fragrances that would last longer without spending so much.

Introducing Zen Zest's Earth and Fire (P270 for 50ml). These scents are perfect for everyday wear as they are light, fresh and it's not too strong. For me I liked Earth better because it smells like citrus. Fire has a floral smell and is perfect for evening wear. Sometimes it's hard to find the right type of perfume. You have to do a lot of trial and error to identify if it reacts well with your skin and to know it's staying power. For both scents,  I think it lasted around 6-8 hours which is far longer than the usual colognes I wear. 

Try to drop by the nearest Zen Zest branch and check out what's the right scent for you.

They also have a wide range of Eau de Toilette and Eau de Cologne fragrances to choose from. =)

Weekend Eye Candy

Colored chandeliers at 50th Avenue Robinsons Galleria

Mediterranean Diet

For all the weight watchers out there, I'm sure you've heard about Atkins Diet, South Beach Diet and Vegan Diet. But do you know about Mediterranean Diet?

This diet is a modern nutritional plan patterned from the fusion of dishes coming from the countries surrounding the Mediterranean sea such as Greece, Spain, Italy, France, Turkey, etc. The main component of this diet is the use of olive oil which is believed to be high in monounsaturated fatty acids and is actually considered a good kind of dietary fat. (Warning: olive oil may also be high in calories so it should be also used in moderation). This diet also highlights vegetables (as evidenced by the abundance of their salads), whole grains, beans, fruits and red wine (who knew drinking could also be beneficial?=P). Most of the meals are fresh and rarely processed which makes it healthier as it is low in sodium and saturated fat. The only con about this diet is that it's quite high in salt content mainly because of the cheese, olive, anchovies etc which give their food a lot of flavor. This diet is not really a strict eating pattern but a lifestyle for those who live along the Mediterranean sea. They not only focus on nutrient-rich foods but they also make it a point to enjoy leisurely dining and physical activity which makes it more effective. This diet is not just watching what y you eat but is also based on what you do (daily activities). It promotes the combination of healthy food choices and being active which is the perfect equation to be fit. According to some research, following this diet can lower the risk of heart disease, obesity, type 2 diabetes and even Cancer.

Inspired by my discovery of this Mediterranean Diet, a friend and I decided to go to "Cafe Mediterranean" at Greenbelt and tried some of their dishes:

Our first dish was Spinach (ispanakli) Borek (P285). Borek is the general Turkish term for filled pastry. It comes in different variety but it is generally made up of thin layers of flaky dough called phyllo, stuffed with chopped vegetables (usually parsley or spinach), sometimes with meat and feta cheese. I absolutely loved this appetizer. Even though it was only spinach and cheese, it had a strong flavor like that of enchilada. I also loved the shepherd's salad on the side. I'm quite picky with vegetables but this salad got all my favorites (cucumber, tomatoes, onions and parsley) mixed in olive oil. It's simple and very refreshing.

Our main meal was Beef Kebab with pita - (P345). Kebab is a meat dish which originated from Persia and was later on adapted in countries such as Turkey and ---. On the side it had tabbouleh and we had pita bread instead of rice (for a low carb meal). The meat was tender, well-cooked and it wasn't dry. With 1 pita  with kebabs and half of the borek, I was already so full.

You would also love the interiors. From the terracotta walls, to the dark wooden furniture, tiled flooring and patterned tiles, to the mosaic doors, everything else was purely Mediterranean.

The Mediterranean diet is something different and it's not something that would keep you away from your favorite meat dishes. It's a total balance of carb and protein. Just make sure to keep an active lifestyle as well to make it more effective. OPA!

Funky Find: Starry Starry Belt

A gray belt filled with stars from Genevieve Gozum only for P60.00 =)

What Would 'Eye' Wear?

I was watching the movie “This Means War” and saw this scene with Reese Witherspoon entering the office and I noticed her eye wear. I just loved it! It’s not too thick, it had design and she still looks classy and stylish. 

I’m wondering how some people wear those big eyeglasses without looking nerdy. Even famous celebrities are sporting that look but they still look fabulous. 

Anne Hathaway in Gucci Eye Wear

Image Source:  http://www.eyeglasses4u.org/celebrity-eyewear/celebrity-eyewear-anne-hathaway-vs-gucci-oversized-glasses.html 

Ashley Benson, Demi Lovato, Lucy Hale & Leighton Meester

Image source: http://www.gurl.com/2012/01/25/girl-celebrities-wearing-glasses/

I’ve been wearing my normal red eye glasses since my old one got broken and I think it's making me look older or geeky. (Teacher Mgx?)

Looking geeky at Hong Kong Airport

I know I can buy contact lenses but eye glasses seems more practical and convenient especially being in front of the monitor the whole day. I want to try those big nerdy eye glasses since it's quite big to cover the entire eye area and it looks really comfortable to wear. Do you think I could pull it off or will it make me look worse? =P

The Lover's Dictionary

All my plans got cancelled today due to continuous rain and flooded areas. This allowed me to finally finish this book which I just discovered this week through a list of best sellers I found online. It's not a typical love story told in chronological order but it's a dictionary with a twist. It was a light and enjoyable read that will put you in different moods.

At first I thought it was a dictionary for terms that are used when talking about relationships and love but surprisingly, they were words that were interpreted based on the experiences of the speaker. Somehow the words are like puzzle pieces that reveal the speaker's love story. It was not in specific order and more like the speaker is telling his story based on specific and random moments from his love life. I had a lot of favorite lines and I would like to share some with you:

Source: All quoted from the book

Note: These are only SOME of my favorite lines. If I would highlight all my favorite lines, the book would end up looking like a coloring book. =P

These lines made me love the feeling of being in love. Also, I think the author was able to put in words some hard to explain emotions or thoughts. It feels as if I'm part of the story because there were instances that made me relate to what he was telling or feeling and sometimes I feel like I'm the other person he was talking to. This book isn't really a reference book but a love story unraveled slowly by the speaker's random memories of the past. It's emotional and romantic but it's not heavy drama. His story isn't the fairy tale type but I would say it's more realistic. He's the typical guy who goes madly in love and experiences the ups and downs of being in a relationship. There were also moments that would crack you up:

macabre, adj.

If you ever need proof that I love you, the fact that I allowed you to dress me up as a dead baby Jesus for Halloween should do it. Although I suppose it would be even better proof if it hadn’t been Halloween.

Whether you're in a relationship or not, I think this book is a must read. It will make you say "awwww" and some lines will make your heart break (especially if you can relate to it). I loved how David Levithan soulfully expressed how he felt at that time and how cleverly found words that would somehow summarize that moment. I highly recommend this to everyone including my guy friends. Unfortunately, I believe this book is for adults only. (Sorry tweens!)

Source: All lines were quoted from David Levithan's book entitled "The Lover's Dictionary" - 2011