Sinulog 2012 -minus the mardi gra

*Warning: This post would document my 'lil' Sinulog 2012 experience. :)

Ohh no, I can't say it was an unfortunate thing that our Sinulog experience was so little. Having less Sinulog 2012 activities was a better and very much welcome consequence of something more important.. and maybe when I would find the right words to say (or write) I would post it here. In the meantime, I am happy to say that despite the turn of events for January (and he is not even through :( ), we did find time and physical strength to still enjoy as a family.

Going back, I know its quite late for this Sinulog post (even for the post prior to this). This, together with the Fish Kebab post were backlogs that have been sitting in my drafts for days and its only now that I found a longer time to sit down and post them.

Saying 'lil' maybe an overstatement. This Sinulog experience post won't talk about the mardi gra or the different religious traditions done during this festivity. I know those were the very essence of Sinulog but (again) I choose not to take part of them for a bigger and more important reason. My lil Sinulog experience all revolved on this recently added but equally anticipated activity -the Fireworks display. I'm not sure if I have mentioned it before but I am an Ayala loyalist, and that fact would at least (hihihi) explain why it was my first time see the Fireworks Contest hosted by SM City Cebu. I knew from my Ayala-Fireworks-Display experience before that people literally overflow in activities like this that is why the spectators that came to SM didn't surprise me. What surprised me though, was the 'condition' of the crowd. The whole Kaohsiung St. (a block away from SM Northwing) was full with parked cars and people watching the fireworks from afar. (Pardon my ignorance, didn't I just mention it was my first time? hehehe) Just see it for yourself.. :)

The crowd was so overwhelmingly excited. You can even hear them counting down as we wait for the next contestant's display. What's funny too was that right after the 8th contestant's display was over, the street became a street again, instantaneously, the vehicles started moving, as if they just stopped because it was Red light -a very long stop for that matter.

So much of the crowd. The Fireworks display was also a cool picnic experience also for our big fam (my parents and siblings were with us too). We decided to buy BBQ and Puso from Mattias, parked Papa's oldie pick-up @ a spot (3rd lane) we luckily found and had our dinner while spectating the Fireworks display. We'll, it was past 8pm already so deadma na sa crowd and off we ate and spectated.

Puso and Chorizo

the 'kalat' (including a shoe, hahaha)

Opps, don't be disappointed, I intentionally drafted this post so the photos of the fireworks would be at the end part as it would surely be a photo-flood. Enjoy!

Photos of the Fireworks display, in no particular order..

xoxo

Copy That!: Fish Kebab

At my old blog's home, I used to have categorize for my food porns and food blogs. I am not sure why it took me this long to revive that here. Categorize (also reads as organizing ;) ) -definitely makes our lives easier.

Anyways, one of my categories was Copy That! .. from the phrase itself, these are recipes i saw on TV or online or food i've tasted at some resto or home that I am giving my own try and touch.

So for today's feature for Copy That! .. ta da.. hubby's Fish Kebab.

Yes, you saw this @ my Paskong Pinoy post

Yes, you read it right. This is not my touch to the recipe but my Sous Chef's (also known as hubby) touch to the Fish Kebab that we tasted at Tambuli last November. After tasting it, we had several talks on how we could replicate the dish and finally, Christmas Eve came, the perfect time to cook the dish 'his' own way. Yes again, you read it right. It was his own recipe and prep (with only my supervision as the Executive Chef hihihih shhhhh, don't let the Sous Chef read this!). I had no intention of posting this recipe since it wasn't mine share, but while he was preparing this dish, he had been proudly saying how sumptuous the dish would turn out and was teasing me na keso, the recipe would be one of my future posts and that I should be taking pictures.. blah blah blah! :) Yeah, I regretted not taking pics of the prep as it would do this post better justification sana (not that it lack it din). So here it is..

You'll Need:
Fish Cubes, preferably white meat (your choice of fish, we used Blue Marlin)
Green and Yellow Tomatoes, cubed
Red and Green Bell Pepper, cubed
White Onions, cubed
Skewers

For the marinade:
EVOO
Lemon Juice
Salt and Pepper

You'll Do:
This is a fairly simple dish to make and with only a few ingredients to prepare.
Start with marinading the fish cubes with lemon juice, olive oil and S&P for minimum of 1 hour. I suggest to marinade the fish first before stacking them on the skewers as its a whole lot easier to marinade them.
After at least an hour, you may stack the fish, together with the cubed tomatoes, bell peppers and onions. Your choice of order too.
Season the tomatoes, bell peppers and onions with EVOO, S&T before grilling them. Grill each side for 2 minutes.

Enjoy!

Also, expect more recipes for this category and the rest of the food categories that I would be bringing in here: Invention and Healthy Eating

Goodbye 2011 and Hello Love!

I went on leave on the first 2 days of the work-year due to reunions and prior commitments so today is officially first day of work for 2012. What a better way to kick-off my working year than be prepared and planned with my Starbucks 2012 Planner. Yes!~ I finally have laid my hands on my 2012 Planner. Weeeee

It's time to say goodbye to my 2011 Planner..

and say Hello Love!

It came as a surprise, as yesterday when I went to get my second to the last sticker, I learn that they have a "buy-one-get-two-sticker" promo. And as mentioned on my previous post, I won Php 300 worth of Starbucks GC.. counting it, I actually got 4 stickers for free. I was lucky!

I got the Spruce one. Now I can say, I am ready for you 2012! :)

You & Starbucks
It's bigger than coffee.


The "buy-one-get-two-sticker" promo is from January 3-5 only, so for those who are a few sticker short from their planners, rush now..

Also, they extended this collection to January 20, 2012. Siguro, less lang ang kumuha, I have a great feeling its due to the design of the planner. hihihi Am still not a fan of it, but I got one and would be using it still. (ironic, I know!)

xoxo

Cheers 2012!

"Fear less, HOPE more; 

Eat less, CHEW more; 

Whine less, BREATHE more; 

Talk less, SAY more; 

LOVE more and all good things would be yours."

The best way to start the year is to be positive! Cheers to 2012!

I am not a believer of New Year's resolution.. anyone can change anytime and period of the year if he aspires to. So warnning, you won't see any New Year Resolutions post in here.

However, as I have said on a few FB status, 2011 has been an unhealthy year for me and my family. So, I Hope and PRAY that 2012 would be healthier for us. It would be my day to day challenge to see to it that it would be!

Happy New Year and may it would be a healthy (in all aspects) year for all of us!

xoxo

~For the love of Coffee

I. Love. Coffee. Yes, admittedly guilty of being addicted to coffee!

That is why, when I saw this FB page weeks ago, without hesitations, I jump in and knew my way to join. Awryt, I guess it mattered too that I know the blogger personally and I could relate to some of her posts -she is a mom, a blogger (she is the face behind the blog Living.Loving.Learning ) and a coffee lover too. Connect, Check!

It was my first time to join a contest hosted by bloggers.. I have been stalking a lot of bloggers and some of them hosts contests like this. But only now that I really found the confidence to join.. AND I was soo happy to win!!! weeeeeeee I am not sure which thought made me happier, the idea that I won or the thought of getting Starbucks coffee for free! :) Admit it, we all love libre.

Weeee, ang saya-saya!!!

Thank you for the Christmas gift Ms Joy! My personalized dedication pa talaga.. sweet~

My Toffee Nut Frap. Nom nom..

weeee ;)

I can't still get over the thought that I won free coffee.. pasensya!

Thanks Ms Joy for making me so giddy and happy! ;)

xoxo

Paskong Pinoy 2011

When you get to have kids and a family of your own you find and give more meaning to every opportunity of family bonding.

"The family that spends Christmas together, stays together." ;)

Our Christmas 2011 was about family. And I indeed felt the warm of Christmas in the company of my own little family, my parents, siblings and my extended family. Sobrang dami kaya sobrang warm! This year, Team Abritz, Team Abritz Sr, Team Lim and Team Garcia decided to have a join Christmas celebration. Dami dba?

Team Abritz

Of course, Christmas is all about my Miguel too. His father and I are excited to start our own Christmas traditions. Finally, this year we were able to actualize it..Miguel acts like a little adult now and we introduced him once more to Christmas (hubby and I attempted that Christmas of 2009 and 2010, but on both instances he just slept, despite the fireworks and noise). It was quite hard to determine who was more excited, Miguel to open his gifts, or me to piktur-piktur. lol

Sa sobrang excitement at para di ma ruin ang moment, we advanced our midnight opening of gifts. It was still 11:00 pm and Miguel was already sleepy (in fairness, he tried his best to stay awake and entertain his grandparents) so we ended up opening his gifts an hour before midnight. Anyways, he doesn't have the sense of time pa naman.

my sleepy bugoy.. 

Oppss..lets backtrack a bit, shall we? I was excited to cook too! I was picturing out myself cooking while sipping a little wine. :)

Hubby's take on Fish Kebab. nom nom! He was super excited to cook the kebab too.. It was a success Sous Chef! :) Congratulations!

Desert section..

tsibog na..

This was my fourth glass I think.. hehehe I had no intention of getting drunk, just feeling the festive mood.

Miguel and Lolo..

Miguel and Papa..

















Now, lets fast forward.. Christmas day -morning, we heard mass at Gethsemane Parish church and after siesta we went to SM for a little strolling-strolling, picture-picture and Dinner at Shakeys.

We capped the long Christmas day off by chilling at IT Park. Miguel had fun with his hotdog on stick and the adults enjoyed popcorn and mango shake. Of course, hindi mawawala ang picture-picture.. Maybe I would have time later on to post my "cam whoring" c/o hubby later after the holidays..

xoxo

PS: whew! It took me 4 days to complete this blog. busy sa work kaya i was able to dedicate a few stolen work-time only..

Fame and 4Tune - Anniversary Party

If not for this post, I wont notice that I have not blogged about work or about the people I work with yet. How ironic, because I usually create my posts when I am at work (sshhhhhh, secret lang to). Oh well, what better way to introduce the people I work with than this post about our Anniversary Party..

Last December 18 (post Anniversary celebration), we had our Anniversary combined Christmas party with the theme Fame and 4Tune. Yes, 4Tune because we turned 4 this year. The place is worth mentioning, not because its nice or of its excellent service or of the delicious food but because of the total opposite! It was a lesson learned for us.. To the management of the The Orchard, rest assured we won't be coming back!

Nevertheless, our Anniversary reminded me of one fact, when and where you spend it won't matter if you are in the company of friends. We had a blast..specially when its video time. hopefully I would find time to post our videos too.. it was super FUN!

You could mistaken our theme as "Mano Po" too, whahahah! 
Our version of the Mano Po poster. (L-R: Ang Legal Wife, Ang Husband, Ang Second Wfie, Ang Eldest Daughter, Ang Ate (Ate Shawie), Si Bunso, Si Tita, Si Cousin) bwahahahah

And since I don't need costume to be Chinese, I went with my casual dress. No effort needed.

It's a tradition that we select Stars of the Night, and this is how we chose the winners this year. The nominees were one by one called on stage and during chow time, we voted.

...and the winners were... Congrats Khenn and Loraine! Bonga ni Khenn, second time na nya to win. Bonga din because the crown ng Best Female Dresser has never left my team.

1st Year: Your's Truly

2nd Year: Michelle Villamor

3rd Year: Sandy Sampang

4th: Loraine Audiencia

Hubby has this cool Cam app in his Android with a feature called China Red. It captures/highlights all things in Red and turns all other else in B&W. 

Kewl dba? I love how it highlighted my Red Lipshook and Nailpolish.

Effortlessly Chinese..

Alin ang naiba?

My kwela Team..

Cam whore moment.. hahaha

Happy Anniversary and Merry Chrismas TM Cebu!

xoxo