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

Young at Heart

It was my friend's 30th birthday celebration with a cartoon character theme. Since I didn't have any costume ready, I just made use of borrowed and some owned resources to create my look.

I decided to go as Minnie Mouse since it's one of the easiest characters to dress up as =)

To get the look, you would need:

A Minnie Mouse headband from Disneyland HK (borrowed from Bessy)

A Black Blouse (own)

A red and white polka dot skirt. 

But since it's hard to find one, I just improvised. =) From a plain red skirt which I bought for P100 from ukay, I added white dots by using masking tape. I used a drilling gauge to draw circles and I cut it out one by one. After the party I just have to remove the dots so I can use the skirt =P

White Socks and Doll Shoes

Minnie mouse wore yellow shoes but I just put on doll shoes to get a childish look haha.

Minnie Me

With the birthday boy -- who looks 18

With Annie/Goldilocks

With other kids at heart 

The night was filled with super naughty and super fun games. I was laughing so hard because the hosts (including the celebrant) were hilarious! Too bad I left early and I missed a lot of funny moments.
Lucky for Chris, he does not look 30. I think his jolly personality sustains his high energy and that subtracts the years from his real age. I guess the true secret to look and feel young is by being happy. You would no longer need beauty creams nor plastic surgeries just to keep your youthful glow. A happy heart would truly reveal itself with how a person looks. It’s a natural anti-aging treatment which is really effective. Happiness doesn’t stop the age but it could slow the process of aging. So stay happy and don’t count the years =P

Happy Birthday Chris =)

A Dash of Bling

Some lovely accessories I bought at Greenhills to glam up my daily wardrobe.

1. Aqua Ring (P50) from Regina's Shoppesville

2. Antique Key Necklace from Girlshoppe (P100)

3. Pearl with Stud earrings (P120) from Girlshoppe

4. Studded Floral (P120) from Girlshoppe

5. Wrapped Leaves Ring (P50) from Regina's Shoppesville

5. Circled Gem Necklace (P299.95) from Amanda's Place Shoppesville