Weight Gain During the Holidays

Before you go looking for the best weight loss pills or chugging smilling teas, do take in mind that the weight gain didn't happen overnight, so neither should the weight loss. Sure, it may have happened over 12 days (or a month, depends how early you started merrymaking) but it will always be healthier to do it naturally first.

Start with eating more fruits and vegetables, and ridding your body of toxins.

Drink plenty of water.

Stop slouching.

Engage in more activities.

And start reducing the sweets, the salty, the fatty in your diet.

If you did not gain that much to start with, it shouldn't be a problem losing the gained weight. And until then, you can always dress up in ways that create the illusion of a slim silhouette.

Colonial Experience at Villa Tortuga in Taal

Looking for a different kind of date? What about a cute pre-nuptial photoshoot idea? Wondering how it was in Spanish times? Then, Villa Tortuga's Colonial Experience might just be what you are looking for.

Taal is a whole town of Spanish heritage waiting to be revisited. One of its more prominent attractions is Villa Tortuga which offers the splendor of Spanish times via decor, costumes, accommodations and meals.

The itinerary usually goes as follows:

Departure from Manila
10:00 AM Estimated time of arrival in Taal,
Meeting place will be at the Basilica of St. Martin de Tours and tour begins here in the Basilica proceed to Marcela Agoncillo - the flag maker
11:00 AM then from Agoncillo, proceed to Villa Tortuga for costume pictorial and lunch
12:00 AM lunch at Villa Tortuga,
1:00 PM Our Lady of Caysasay,
1:30 PM Sta. Lucia Well
2:00 PM Proceed to Leon Apacible Ancestral House - the cabinet member of Gen. E. Aguinaldo
2:30 PM Proceed to Galeria de Taal - collection of old cameras and rare pictures
3:00 PM Villavicencio Ancestral House- 100 pesos extra charge to visit the house
3:30 PM Shopping at the Market - the only World Bank funded market
4:00 PM Departure for Manila

The tour costs P1,500 per person for a minimum of 4 people. They also require advance reservations and a 50%DP at least 3 days before the reserved date.

Also note that there is a donation of P100.00 as entrance to the Villavicencio House. Villa Tortuga can also work with you if you need something extra arranged, like a small anniversary cake that you have ordered as a surprise to your special someone or whatever you may have planned.

How cute would it be to dine in those outfits?!

Heck, it would even make teaching your kids about the Spanish times more meaningful and fun if they can see you play pretend in those outfits. Haha. Yes, I am obsessed with the possibility of dressing up in costume.

Know more at http://campsuki.com/ or contact Lito Perez @ 0917824-6900/ 0927-975-1683.

(Personally too, I think now is the best time to do this since it isn't THAT hot. Imagine wearing period costumes in the heat of summer!)

Gifts for the Season

If you're still thinking of what to give to your beloved, why not just play to the season's cooler/cold/frigid weather? Consider giving Dan Post Boots, a multitude of scarves (there are some designs that are reversible, and you can just DIY some too by just buying fabric and sewing it into a tube to make infinity scarves), gloves, heavy jackets or coats and extra pairs of socks.

If you're not comfortable giving clothes, think of warming oils, eucalyptus/peppermint essences, scented candles and lip balm.

You can also order gourmet coffee or special cocoa mixes. All these are sure to be appreciated and used this season and may be given with a note that says, "hope this helps keep you warm."

Enjoy shopping!

Review: Kitchen Treasures Catering

How do you avoid a mass-produced quality to food at a birthday party without getting the services of the really expensive caterers? Get Kitchen Treasures to cater to you instead!

We loved their food at a baptism we went to and guests loved the food we served them at my sons' party.

Miss Mylene Sediaren was very easy to talk to (although it sometimes takes days before she replies to an e-mail). The staff was a little late setting up (based on the agreed time, not the party). They asked me if they could set up as early as 11 AM for my 3:30 PM party but arrived at the venue at 1:00 PM instead since they were caught in traffic. That was stressful, but the staff humored all my requests and was set up in time for the party. They even offered to chop the lechon and put that on a heated serving dish (no extra charge).

And really, the guests LOVED the food :)

We got this menu from them:
Beef Salpicao
Orange Chicken
Fillet Of Fish With Cream of Tartar Sauce
Pasta Marinara
Vegetable Medley
Buko Lychee With Gelatin
Assorted Pastries
Pandan Rice
Iced Tea

And for the kids:
Spaghetti
Chicken Lollipop
Corn Dog
Butterscotch Bar
Orange Juice

Some of the assorted pastries were just ok but some were really great. I think it was also a mistake that we got pasta marinara for the adults (which looked like spaghetti) and spaghetti for the kids, because everyone thought they were the same pasta. Both pasta dishes were great though.





the centerpiece that comes with the package


orange chicken


vegetable medley

;
pasta marinara


fillet of fish


beef salpicao


chicken lollipop


spaghetti


one type of the assorted pastries


corn dog

As of November 2011, their rates are P300/head (plus 10% service charge) and the selection of menu is as follows:

KITCHEN TREASURES
Unit 904 PYP Mansion II 78 I.S. Diaz St., Cubao, Quezon City
Tel. No.: 927-5330 ; 782-6450 Mobile: 0920-932-6682; 0922-8239109
e-mail: maisediaren @ yahoo . com
____________________

LUNCH / DINNER BUFFET MENU at Php 300.00 + 10% Service Charge

AMENITIES
Buffet Table With Attractive Centerpiece
Individual Chairs With Seat Cover
Food Attendants
Trained Waiters In Uniform
Flower Centerpiece For Guest Tables

SET A
Roast Beef With Mushroom Sauce
Chicken Alexander
Prawn Butterfly With Sweet Chili Sauce or Grilled Prawns
Lasagna or Spaghetti Putanesca or Baked Zitti
Assorted Vegetables With Quail Eggs or Green Salad With Crabsticks
Fruit Salad
Assorted Pastries ( Mini Sansrival / Cream Puff / Brownie Bars )

SET B
Lengua Ala Champignon or Grilled Pork With Creamy Mushroom Sauce
Boneless Chicken Teriyaki or Chicken With Ginger Onion Sauce
Fillet Of Fish With Mustard Sauce or Cream of Tartar Sauce
Chicken Baked Macaroni or Tuna Primavera Pasta
Vegetable Continental
White Salad
Fruits In Season

SET C
Beef Salpicao
Orange Chicken
Stuffed Prawns With Chili Coriander Sauce
Spaghetti Putanesca or Pasta Marinara
Vegetable Medley
Buko Lychee With Gelatin
Assorted Pastries

SET D
Continental Beef Roll
Chicken Pastel With Pastry Puff or Baked Chicken Relleno With Gravy
Baked Fish With Spinach Cream Sauce
Lasagna or Baked Zitti or Spaghetti Putanesca
Buttered Vegetables
Assorted Pastries
Fruit Salad

SET E
Beef With Oyster Sauce & Young Corn
Chicken Cordon Blue With Mushroom Sauce
Creamy Pasta With Shrimps & Chicken
Creamy Dory In Olive Oil & Garlic
Assorted Vegetables With 3 Kinds of Mushrooms
Fruits In Season
Banana Crepe

SET G
Beef Caldereta or Kare-Kare (Ox Tail & Tripe)
Boneless Chicken BBQ or BBQ Spareribs
Fresh Lumpiang Gulay With Lettuce Cups or Lumpiang Ubod In Egg Wrapper
Grilled Blue Marlin With Lemon Butter Sauce
Korean Chap-Che Noodles
Buko Pandan Salad
Leche Flan or Banana Con Yelo

SET H
Chinese Style Pok Asado
Fish Fillet In Black Tausi Sauce
Chopsuey
Birthday Noodles
Chicken With Lemon Butter Sauce
White Salad
Assorted Pasties

SET I
Baked Chicken Relleno With Gravy
Roast Porkloin In Fruit Cocktail Glaze or Callos Madrilena
Feticinne Alfredo
Prawns With Sweet Chili Garlic Sauce
Mixed Vegetables With Quail Eggs
Fruit Salad
Assorted Pastries

SET J
Beef Morcon
Chicken Pastel With Pie Crust
Korean Chap Che Noodles
Baked Fish With Spinach Cream Sauce
Sauteed Vegetables With Hoisin Sauce
Fruit Platter
White Salad

PACKAGE INCLUSIONS
Pandan Rice
One Round Ice Tea
Purified Water
Ice

TERMS OF PAYMENT:
50% Down Payment Upon Confirmation of Order
(Non – refundable if cancellation is made)
50% Full Payment One Week Before The Function

NOTE: Four (4) hours function time, additional Php 500.00/hour for succeeding hours.

I really highly recommend Kitchen Treasures and we cannot wait to get their services again (uhm, after 3 years? haha).

Review of Dazo Hall in Philam Village, Las Pinas

I raved about Dazo Hall back in 2008, when we held my son's first birthday party there. The space and the ventilation is still good to great but I think it's in need of another paint job.





It's not so visible from these pics but the front/stage area was an eyesore with all its little markings. I guess, if metal buildings can rust over time, event halls like Dazo will also show the wear and tear from numerous parties held there.

It was a good idea for us to have a big tarpaulin to cover that area. Future patrons would be well-advised to do the same as well as get their decorator to put huge balloon arrangements and other such stuff in front.

Rental fee is now almost P6,000 (because we also paid for electricity charge for bringing in a sound system, as well as extra hours for setup) with a bond of P3,000 which you can refund a week or two after.

Dazo Hall
Earl Carroll Avenue, Philamlife Village,
Pamplona Dos, Las Pinas City
(871-2285, 872-3596)

Shop Smarter and More Safely this Christmas

On my way to Divisoria last week, a man sat beside me in the jeep egging the driver to go faster. It turned out, he was trying to get away from the man he snatched a cellphone from.

Cases like this are rampant during the Holidays as even the poor and the sinful are intent to give themselves a Merry Christmas. I know, it's not like people will be shopping with gold bars
in bag, but here are some tips for everyone to shop smarter and more safely:

1) Have a separate coin purse for the transport fares so people don't see the thousand peso bills in your wallet.

2) Don't keep all your eggs in one basket, in case you lose a wallet or someone picks your pocket.

3) Leave valuables behind when going into crowded places.

4) If you can, go on leave on a weekday to do and finish all your shopping. Less people about so even the lines at the cashier will be shorter too.

5) Use your debit/credit card instead, if you're not going to flea markets, bazaars, etc so you don't need to carry cash.

6) Try to shop early, when attendants are still alert and fresh. Shopping in the evening when all store clerks are already exhausted may result in wrong change, left purchases and poorer customer service.

7) Think of a theme so you need only go to one or two places for all your gift-giving needs.

8) Don't shop alone, so that someone will always have your back. Or...

9) Divide and conquer with a friend/partner, so that someone else can already get other things in your list.

10) Keep a watchful eye and err on the side of caution.

Prevent more stress from coming into your life this Holiday season.

Wellness Party Before Christmas

How do you prepare yourself for all the partying and merrymaking this Christmas? By attending a Wellness Party, of course.



Take advantage of the free medical and nutrition consultation as well as the foot/back massage. Come with a friend for a chance to win a raffle prize. First 10 early birds also get a surprise.

Mark your calendars... Dec 17, 2011 at One Esplanade at MOA, 9:00-12:00. After the event, you'll be refreshed to shop again!