What's In A Bag?

I'm crazy about my Longchamp Le Pliage bag. I don't know why, i just love it. Although it look so simple, it is very versatile. You can use it with jeans, slacks or even with a dress. I got mine in London at Harrods last February and eversince then I use it aaaaaall the time.

"So what's inside your bag?" a friend once asked me. I said, "well everything I need"...

Inside my bag are:

1. My purse
2. Ipod
3. Cellphone
4. Keys
5. Extra car key *yes I have a copy*
6. Pocketbook
7. Bottled water
8. A journal
9. Pen
10. Facial tissues
11. Band-Aid *just in case my feet get blisters from my shoes*
12. Fahrplan *timetable of the train and buses*
13. Hand lotion
14. Hand sanitizer
15. Daily planner
16. "Kikay" kit
17. Eco-bag *just in case I shop and don't have to use those plastic bags- Eco friendly tayo!*
18. Camera *why? i just love taking pictures*
19. Umbrella *german weather can be very unpredictable*
20. A scarf *when it gets cold...*

Hahaha! you must be thinking - "parang ang bigat yata ng bag nya, ang daming laman!" You're right, it is a bit heavy but these are my daily necessities. I'd be lost without these things.

So what's inside your bag?...

Oh Life!

A simple reminder to start your week right:


Be inspired! Enjoy life!

Image: Dazeychic.com

Gohan Ga Dekimashita!

My hubby loves anything japanese. In fact, every year we fly to Japan to have a vacation in his friend's farmhouse. One of the best thing Japan can offer is their food. I love japanese food. Everytime we're in Japan, my hubby's friend's wife *scratches head* a japanese woman, show me how it's done. It's a bit hard and time consuming but the effort is well worth it once you're finished, cos it taste soooo good! *sigh* So from there, I learned everything. And now I'm an expert... hahaha! just kidding.

Twice a week I cook japanese for us. Last saturday, I prepared soba noodles with onigiri and yesterday we had misoshiru with konbu rice. Along with that, I always make green tea.


And last week, I prepared Fish teriyaki with misoshiru...


What's good about japanese food is that it's very healthy. And as you can see, everything is made in small portions, so there's no chance of overeating. And if you are planning to go on a healthy diet, japanese food is ideal. I mean, I've never seen a "chubby" person in Japan while I was there. They are all very slim including men!

Oh by the way, I saved a piece for you...

So before eating, we say, "Itadakimasu!"

She Bangs

I got a haircut last month and I copied Ellen Barkin's hairstyle. I like it because it looks so feminine and easy to style and maintain. This is how it looks like:


As you can see, the bangs are styled sideways and a bit long. The haircutter in London did a good job with my hair. She was able to copy it and I was very pleased. A month after that, my hair got a bit longer. Still, I love my hair. I thought it's getting better. The shape and the style are even more obvious. BUT my hubby disagrees...

Hubby: Schatzi *german for sweety*, your bangs are too long now.
I think you should have it cut.
Me: Cut? What do you mean? I think it looks nice.
Hubby: I don't think so.
Me: You're a guy. What do you know about women's hair? *belat*
Hubby: Yeah yeah ok... *rolls eyeballs* could you at least use a clip to keep it from covering your eyes?
Me: A clip?! do you want me to look like 12 year old? no way!!! *pouts*
Hubby: Ok then *snickers*
(pulled something from his desk, stood up with his hands behind his back)
Me: What are you hiding there Mister?...
(hubby moved fast... ssssswwwwoooooosssshhhh!!!)
Me: What the?! *startled* NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

Got scotch taped!

Hubby: HAH-HAH! *rofl*
Me: YOU'RE SO MEAN!!! GRRRRRR! *lol*

Did anything fun this saturday?...

Image: Google

Don't Forget...

Just a friendly reminder...

Have a nice weekend!

Image: Anna Spiro via Absolutely Beautiful Things

Old Wives’ Tales: Fact or Folklore?

Have you heard about these before?...

Before modern medicine and technology, women were the keepers of medical information. They delivered babies, healed the sick, and were considered experts in nutrition, children, folk medicine, herbs, and death. The “old wives” of these tales were most likely just wise village women—grandmothers, mothers, midwives, and healers. Perhaps once rooted in truth, now old wives’ tales are synonymous with unsubstantiated traditional beliefs and urban legends. They exist for everything from health to pregnancy to forecasting the weather. Some old wives’ tales are just silly superstitions, but some may just have a nugget of truth.

Eating Bread Crusts Will Make Your Hair Curly
Diet cannot make your hair curly (or straight, in my case). The bread crust myth is thought to have originated in Europe about 300 years ago, when many people lived on the brink of starvation. Curly hair was seen as a symbol of health and prosperity, as well as an indicator of youth. Those who had enough to eat (including bread) were generally healthier, so bread became associated with healthy, curly hair. Crusts actually tend to be the most nutrient-dense and healthful parts of bread. They contain more fiber and antioxidants than the rest of the loaf, so while eating them might not give you ringlets, it might make your hair shine a little brighter.

Swallowed Gum Takes Seven Years to Digest
Nope, not even close. Humans have chewed on plants and other natural substances for thousands of years and this specious claim might have been made up by mothers who were tired of hearing their kids make smacking noises all day, or who thought that gum chewing was low-class. Gum doesn’t break down in the digestive system, but it passes through like anything else. If you’re regularly swallowing wads of gum, then they could meld into a giant blob in your stomach and cause some problems, but the occasional swallower of gum has nothing to worry about.

If You Pluck a Gray Hair, Two More Will Grow Back in Its Place
Gray hair can proliferate quickly, so it’s natural that once you see one gray hair, you start noticing them all over your head, as if they’ve multiplied overnight. But follicles produce one strand of hair, no more, no less. Plucking a gray hair won’t cause more to grow. Actually, plucking can cause you to lose hair, since yanking can damage the follicle or destroy it completely. It’s okay to tweeze the occasional stray gray, but if your hair is already thin or thinning, getting it colored might be your best bet.

Touching Toads Will Give You Warts
Toads aren’t exactly the cuddliest animals, so maybe that’s why the old wives were so spooked by them. But contrary to popular belief, they can’t give you warts. Warts in humans are only spread by the human papillomavirus, or HPV, and reptiles do not carry the virus. This fallacy may have originated because toads do have bumps on their backs that slightly resemble warts and people could have been sufficiently freaked out to believe that the toads were the cause. In fact, those bumps aren’t warts at all. They’re glands that store toxins to protect the toads from predators. So handling a toad won’t give you warts, but the toad might release a poison and teach you not to pick up toads anymore.

Don’t Swim for an Hour After Eating, Or You’ll Cramp Up and Drown
Just think of all the time wasted in the summer, waiting poolside for your lunch to digest. Mothers have been warning their kids not to swim after eating since at least the 1950s, despite the fact that there is not a single recorded instance of someone drowning after suffering a cramp. If you eat and then start rigorously exercising, the blood that should be rushing to your stomach to aid in digestion gets diverted to your arms and legs, causing a cramp or stitch. Cramps don’t usually happen to kids who are just splashing in a pool though. You’d need to be doing laps or seriously exerting yourself in order to be at risk, and even then, cramps are pretty easily ameliorated. This tall tale may have originated with overprotective parents who wanted an Adult Swim.

Eat Carrots for Better Eyesight
Carrots do contain beta carotene, which is important for eye health among other things, but eating copious amounts of carrots doesn’t improve vision. There is some evidence that vitamin A and beta-carotene can reduce the risk of cataracts and macular degeneration, but a person would have to eat about 370 baby carrots per day and I don’t know anyone who loves carrots that much. Some say that in World War II, the English wanted to conceal their use of a new air radar system, so they claimed that Royal Air Force pilots ate lots of carrots, which is why they developed superior vision. It’s unclear whether or not this story is true. Although there’s no harm in eating lots of carrots, excess consumption can turn your skin an orange hue.

Chocolate Will Give You Acne
It’s possible that this myth originated when scientists discovered that overactive sebaceous glands produce a fatty substance called sebum, which can lead to acne. Chocolate is high in fat, and sebum is high in fat, so the thinking was that if you ate a lot of chocolate, more sebum (and acne) would be produced. It was a pretty big jump to a conclusion that’s given grief to teenagers for years. Chocolate does contain fat, but not the same type that’s found in our skin. The only way it can cause acne is if you rub it onto your face.

Even though many old wives’ tales have been debunked as superstitious myth, their origins as folk medicine remain important. Luckily, we know that we don’t have to be so superstitious. Go ahead, have a candy bar, take a dip in the pool, and pick up some toads.

Source: Divine Caroline Images: Google

Today I Love...

... or I would love, to eat at Jollibee! I'm craving for their sweet spaghetti, yummy palabok fiesta and big champ. Just the thought of it makes me drool *sigh* Why oh why there's no Jollibee here in Europe? I'm so envious of those Filipinos in the US, who can go anytime to Jollibee whenever they want to *pouts* I tried to cook filipino style spaghetti the other day but it didn't turn out great. I guess the tomato sauce here in Germany are way too sour. I have to add sugar and honey pa, just to make it a bit sweet. Funny how all filipino stores here don't sell filipino style spaghetti sauce. I mean, HELLO! - filipinos love to eat their own spaghetti! It's like, a part of our diet, isn't? Anyway, I'm just lucky that London is just a plane away *one and a half hours i think?* There they sell all kinds of filipino stuffs. I get crazy when I'm there. I don't know what should I buy and cook first. I mean they really have everything! My older sister who's living in London, cooks for me whenever I visit her in her apartment *big grin* She would always ask me, "so what do you want to eat today?" and I would go like, "I want to eat Pork Adobo, Filipino Spaghetti, Palabok, Lumpiang Sariwa, Caldereta etc..." *hehehe!* It's like filipino food heaven! *daydreams* And oh, she's a very good cook *sipsep!* Believe me, the table is always overflowing with food and there were just the two of us, akala mo may fiesta *takaw! hahaha!* Oh I would love to go back there again. *drools*


So are you craving for something too?...

Image: Matthew Marco via Flickr, Annamatic3000 via Flickr and Mang Maning via Flickr

Infatuated

I love to read. In fact I'm a book addict. I have all kinds of books at home. From language books to travel books to cookbooks, comic books, reference books, decorating books, romance novels, mystery novels, you name it, I have it. I have always dreamed of having a big library full of books, where I could get lost and read every single day. Wherever I go, I always bring a book with me. It's like my wedding band, without it, I'd feel naked. No kidding!

Right now, I'm addicted to suspense/mystery novels. My new favorite authors are Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child. They are like tandem writers and they have written at least 15 (?) pocketbooks together. I just love their style. Their stories are like Micheal Crichton's but much much better. They have created a character that I find so interesting, he's called "Agent Pendergast". He's a mixture of James Bond slash McGyver slash Robert Langdon slash Sherlock Holmes slash Harry Houdini etc. I don't know exactly how I could describe him, all I know is that he' s excellent and extremely intelligent! It's like he's indestructible! They made a trilogy about this character and 3 more (or 4?) other pocketbooks which i think are all very well written and very exciting. Too bad I've already finished reading all of them, so It's kinda sad... but I've heard that there will be a new one coming out in May *yay!* Can't wait for that one.


How about you? Do you love to read? And what kind of books do you read?...

Image: Tussenpozen via Flickr

Why?...

Let's just say I'm very sad right now and how I wish I could turn back the time. Well that's life. Who says good things last forever?...

Image: Alt Photos

About You Tag

Okay, here are the rules:

1. Respond and rework: answer the questions on your Blog, replace one question that you dislike with a question of your own invention.
2. Tag seven other bloggers who would love to learn more about

My added rule to the game, do this IF you want. If you don't want to, no worries! We are busy and have our own thing. But it is fun to read about you and it helps us learn a bit more about what goes behind your blogging genius!

What is your current obsession?

Diet and exercise! I'm trying to get in shape for summer!

What is your weirdest obsession?

I'm obessive complusive. I always check everything twice or thrice!

What are you wearing today?

Pink top and plaid pink boxer shorts

Why is today special?

No no nothing special today. Maybe just the weather.

What would you like to learn to do?

Become a nurse, to paint and to play the piano

What's for dinner today?

I don't know yet. Maybe just salad. We're on a diet!

What's the last thing you bought?

Shoes from ZARA *again!*

What are you listening to right now?

No music. Just the sound of the birds chirping in the garden.

What is your favorite weather?

No brainer here... sunny, light breezy weather. I'd say about 20 degrees.

What is your most challenging goal right now?

Prepare for my Citizenship Test. I have to learn and memorize all 300 questions about Germany.

What do you think about the person who tagged you?

Nobody tagged me.

If you could have a house totally paid for, fully furnished anywhere in the world, where would you like it to be?

Either here in Germany, around the Rhine area or in Bas Rhin, France or on the outskirts of London.

Favorite vacation spot?

I love having a vacation in Japan. Everything there is unique and colorful. Also in London, where you can get everything you like *fashion and food* There are some places that I'd love to visit that I haven't had the chance yet like Australia, Jamaica, South Africa and the US.

What would you like to have in your hands right now?

A plane ticket to the Philippines.

What would you like to get rid of?

Global warming, discrimination, hatred, war, my extra weight and some body fats *hehehe!*

If you could go anywhere in the world for the next hour, where would you go?

To the Philippines.

Which language do you want to learn?

Japanese, French and Spanish.

What did you dream of last night?

I cannot remember anymore.

Who do you want to meet in person?

It would be nice to meet Oprah Winfrey and Martha Stewart in person. I think they are both exceptional women. I could learn so much from them.

What's your favorite part about the city you live in?

It's a relatively small village completely surrounded by nature. It's so peaceful and comforting here.

What's the favorite piece of clothing in your own closet?

I hate all of my clothes right now. The only thing that i really like are my shoes! I need to do some shopping.

What is your dream job?

Anything that has to do with kids, traveling or research.

If you had $150.00 now what would you spend it on?

New clothes! *yipeeee!*

Fashion pet peeve?

Just because they have it in your size, doesn't mean you have to buy and wear it!

Do you admire anyone's style?

I like Jessica Alba's style.

Describe your personal style.

Comfortable and very feminine.

Who's fashion show would you want tickets to?

New York Fashion Week.

What interior designer would you like to spend a day with?

Change of question...

New Question: Which fashion designer would you like to spend a day with?

Diane von Furstenberg.


Feel free to snag this!

Today I Love...

...to lie down on the grass and read. After 3 days of bad weather, today we have a wonderful sunny weather. I wish it would stay like this the whole week *sigh*

Image: BBC

Hello Gorgeous!

Some days we all need a little lift so if you see someone you think looks really great today make sure you tell them as it will be sure to make their day...


Image: Anna Spiro

Funny Things To Do When You're Bored

1. Cut out photos and paste them on Popsicle sticks and have a puppet show.
2. Laugh out loud.
3. Learn how to fake an accent.
4. Make up poems or songs about your boredom.
5. Spin until you're dizzy.
6. Dress in something silly and laugh at yourself.
7. Go through the English dictionary looking up really long words like discombobulated.
8. Learn to peel a banana with your feet.
9. Listen to really hard music and head bang.
10. Play dress-up with all the clothes you have in your closet.
11. Pronounce your friends names, backwards.
12. Rent a movie, 2 hours later go back to the same movie store and rent the sequel, 2 hours after that go back and get the third movie.
13. Run around your house as fast as you can and, count how many times you can go without getting tired.
14. Shave your head.
15. Snap your fingers as if suddenly you have a bright idea and see if you get any.
16. Turn on the T.V., put it on mute and make up dialogue.
17. You and a friend pick your noses and see who has the biggest boogers.
18. Go dumpster diving and see what you can find.
19. Make faces at strangers to make them laugh.
20. Take your TV outside.
21. Walk around a public park, every so often pretend to trip on a 'invisible' wire.
22. Watch kids play - and then join in.
23. Sit in your parked car with sunglasses on and point a hair dryer at passing cars. See if they slow down.
24. Put decaf in the coffee maker for 3 weeks. Once everyone has gotten over their caffeine addictions, switch to espresso.
25. Skip rather than walk.
26. When someone says, "Have a nice day," tell them you have other plans.
27. Put your toddler's clothes on backwards and send him to school as if nothing was wrong. *that's kinda mean...*
    
28. Write checks with Roman numerals.
29. Make up a language and stop someone to ask for directions.
30. Write a short story using alphabet soup.

Still bored yet?...

Source: KeepandShare

Gloomy Friday

It's back to normal again in Germany. Das Wetter ist schon wieder grausam *english: the weather is terrible again* For me weather like this makes me feel sad and lazy. I feel like doing absolutely nothing. I mean, just take a look at this picture *taken from the balcony* Don't know why i feel sooooo tired *zzzzzzz...* What shall I do? Oh well, mag-mo-movie marathon na lang ako. Perhaps a Harry Potter movie marathon? *nerd tee-hee!*

How about you? How do you spend your time?

Spring - Summer Colors for 2009

Have you found the right colors for your wardrobe this Spring and Summer? If not, take your pick here:

Chic Color Trend: Nature and Earth tones


Classical Color Trend: Vivid and Saturated colors


Casual Color Trend: Concrete colors


So what are you waiting for? go out and shop now! *winks*

Source: TFL

Jeans Trend: Boyfriend Jeans

This is one 2009 fashion trend that I'm still really hesitant about. I don't know whether I'm going to get it right or not - meaning not looking like a paper bag when I wear them.


There are a few simple rules to follow such as:

• Rule 1: Look for a straight leg. Bootcut or flared jeans will not be flattering for this trend.
• Rule 2: Turn them up at the bottom. Turn them just above the ankle.
• Rule 3: Pair your boyfriend jeans with an overall feminine look. Or you could also pair it with a tight fitting tee. Always remember, whatever your top is, make sure that they are tight. So that you'll avoid looking mascular or looking like your boyfriend *hehehe*
• Rule 4: Boyfriend jeans go well with flats. They make the whole look more feminine and cute.
  

So girls, do you love it or hate it?...

Beautiful Warm Wednesday

Pictures from the garden today. Oh how i love spring! I wish you could all see this wonderful view.


That's all for today und einen schönen Tag noch!

Penmanship Tag

Here are the instructions:

Answer these:
- your name / username / pseudo
- right-handed or left-handed?
- your favorite letters to write?
- your least favorite letters to write?
- write “The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.”


Feel free to snag this!

D-Day

Today is the day, ang start ng aming DIET. My hubby and i bought lots of fresh fruits and vegetables yesterday. I told him, i would only make fruit salad this week. And of course, he was overjoyed. Then i warned him, "you should stick to this diet, or else!"... Or else? wala lang... hehehe! So i took out this big tupperware and laid out all the fruits on the table and started peeling. Grabe ah, it took me longer than 30 minutes just to peel and slice all the fruits! *phew* I think we bought 7 different kind of fruits just for the salad. Ano nga ba mga yun? Teka... apple, banana, strawberry, grapes, orange, pineapple at papaya! Imagine lahat yan binalatan ko at hiniwa-hiwa.


Me: "Schatz, *german for Sweety* is this ok?"...
Hubby: "Yeah, that's fine but i have to add something..."
He went to the kitchen and brought with him a sugar bowl.
Me: "What's that?"...
He took a spoon and scooped out 3 tablespoon full of brown sugar at binuhos sa fruit salad.
Me: "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!"
Hubby: "Why? i like it a bit sweet!"
Me: "What's the use of fresh fruits? You could have just bought one of those fruit salads in a can!"
He turned around, went back to the kitchen laughing...
Me: "GRRRRRRRRR!"

The next thing i did was , i mixed his salad, placed it in the refrigerator and took out the chocolate pudding *devilish grin* I placed the pudding on a small plate and heated it up in the microwave. After 2 minutes, "TING!" - came out this sweet delicious aroma.


Me: "Wow smells good."
Hubby looked in my direction, wondering...
Me: "I think I'm going to postpone my diet today and start tomorrow. I want to treat myself first a nice chocolate pudding... hmmm yummy!"
Hubby stood up from his work desk and went to the kitchen...
Me: "What are you doing?"
He came back with a small fork and without a word, took my small plate and sliced the pudding in half!
Me: "What the?! I thought you're on a diet!"
Hubby: "Not today, do you think you're going to eat this alone? NOPE!"
Me: "That's miiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiine!" *pouts*

So he ate half of my pudding and went back to his work. Well, so much for my small revenge *sigh*

The So-Called Diet

My hubby announced the other day that he wants to loose weight.

Hubby: "I want to loose weight!"
Me: "Why? you're not fat..."
Hubby: "Yes I am! I weigh 98 kilos today!"
Me: "Don't be silly! You're a big guy. Actually you should weigh more than that!"
Hubby: "No! I want to weigh 85 kilos!"
Me: "That's impossible! *slapped my forehead* Try to be realistic. Let's say, you wanna weigh 95 or 94 kilos."
Hubby: "Ok 90 kilos."
Me: *humming*
Hubby: "From now on I'll just eat fresh fruits and salad!"
Me: "As you wish..."

Well of course he didn't get his wish that day. I had my menu plan prepared *smirk* I want to eat stir-fried vegetables, so i asked him if he could postpone his diet and he just said ok *hehehe* So i made stir-fried vegetables in Oyster sauce with fried potatoes. And what do you know? He ate everything and completely forgotten about his so-called diet.

Picture Game

Got this tag from my sister...

The Rules are:

Use Google Image to search the answers to the questions below. Then you must choose a picture in the first page of the results and post it as your answer. After that tag 7 people.

1. Date of my birthday2. The place I'd like to travel to
3. A favorite place4. A favorite thing

5. A favorite food6. A favorite color
7. The city I live in
8. The city I was born in
9. A nickname I had
10. A college major
11. Name of first lover
12. A bad habit


13. A hobby

14. Current three wishes




Had fun doing this! Anyone who wants to try this can grab this tag. Enjoy!