My new favorite snack

Healthy, non fattening, fiber rich, with an incredible crunch. Been munching on these for weeks now and I have happily converted many!

I'd like to equate its cost to a bag of Lay's – without the calories!

Available at S&R (P99) and at Hypermart and Shopwise (P100). But I believe the ones in S&R are fresher and therefore crunchier.

Go try them now, hunny bunnies!

Copco Eco-First Acadia Mug

Take a disposable idea and turn it into a recyclable one – that's what this Copco mug is all about. Inspired by those iconic Starbucks paper cups, this awesome mug is made of BPA-free plastic and is washable, microwavable, reusable, affordable and most definitely... lovable!

Found at Bed, Bath & Beyond.

When in Tokyo...

My fight to the US had a brief stop over at the Narita Airport and it was enough to get me excited. My friend had fallen asleep throughout the flight from Manila and had completely missed all her meals, so she wanted to grab a bite at McDonalds. I was mortified at the thought and insisted on getting a 'proper' Japanese meal. After all, it was going to be my first meal in Japan... it's got to be the real deal, kahit fast food lang noh!

My Chirasi up close.

And on top.

A wrong order mistakenly served to my friend.

My friend's Japanese steak.

I spent the rest of the three hour-stop over ogling at Japanese goodies and marveling at the intricate origami... photos in the next post!

I bagged it!

I didn't like it that I had to wait till my last day in the US to go to Barnes & Noble. Sadly, a trip to the bookstore was not on the priority list of my companions. But I could not leave without visiting one. And so I kindly asked a good friend to take me. And I was not disappointed.

I scream

...for an ice cream maker!

I got this on my recent US trip, packed it in a balikbayan box and is now on its way to my kitchen! Been wanting this for the past five years. I can't wait!

Now I badly need to get a copy of David Lebovitz' The Perfect Scoop.

The Ukay-Ukay Adventures of the Shopaholic Twins

It all began with Candy Magazine. Their friend Jasmine came out in several spreads  in the July issue. Jas, 15, a student in Melbourne and younger sister of actress Anne Curtis, was Budget Babe, with clothes scored for P100 from a Cubao ukay - ukay.   Inspiration! Lust! Envy!

And so Cara nagged me endlessly to take her and shopping twin Bea there. After a night of surfing for Cubao ukays, we finally knew where to go. Sus, dun lang pala. Off 'thrifting' we went – as Jane of seaofshoes calls this fascination. 

(Senior shopaholic's note: these juniors have recently discovered the highs of shopping and together can be a very dangerous combination: so full of energy yet so nonchalant about cost, oh well, they knew it was dirt cheap anyway.)

A strange, musky smell greeted us the moment we entered the cavernous hall – literally filled to the rafters with previously owned clothes. And bags. And shoes.
The girls had a single-minded search objective: boots. They attacked the racks and were quickly disappointed to discover that absolutely no pair fit their gigantic feet (size 9 for Cara and 10 for Bea). And so they vented their passion on the jackets instead. 

One hour and four stores later, we had a haul of eight jackets and sweaters, 1 hoodie, 1 blouse and one bag among the three of us – everything for less then three thousand pesos. 

The most fab find of the day – Bea's cropped red leather jacket: P250 from Fashion Delight.

Cara's Gossip Girl top: P250 from Dezibel.

Now, bring out the Lysol :-)

The Sampalok Tree – a story of giving back

Rewind.  On my first trip to Bangkok in 2002, I brought home a few kilos of sweet and juicy sampalok for my Mom to enjoy. I remember the sharp look I got when I offered some to my Titas. "Akin yan," her eyes firmly said. 

Fast Forward. Seven years later (and six years after my mother died), I am almost surprised to see a graceful sampalok tree standing right by her old bedroom window. Unknown to me, she had planted a seed from that bunch, and it has grown and propagated not just the fruit, but the memory of that day, her joy and her generosity as well. 

Pause. Seven years ago, I brought my mother a pasalubong. Seven years later, she gave it back to me.