Sweet Serenity

Moving On...

I have moved on to a new blog site,
I have created a new blog,
Sweet Serenity.

being young at heart

In three weeks time I would be turning a year older. Through all these years I have grown to be a more mature and strong woman. Though there are still times and certain situations wherein I am not. I'll be 3 years away from being 30. Being surrounded by little kids specially my own children makes me feel young. I don't think I will outgrow the child in me inside.

I remember when I am in my teen years I love pink so much. I love Hello Kitty. Now that I am married and have kids of my own, I am still fond of disney characters, disney princesses, barbie, dora the explorer and a lot more. I love buying character items and clothes for them. It makes me happy and it makes my kids so happy too.

this time I won't cry

No I won't cry, no tears will fall.
I really don't feel good. Again, I felt a sense of regret last night before I go to sleep. There's no sense talking about what happened as nothing would change.

Won't let your words put me down.
I've heard hurtful words from you. I know I am not selfish, I have my reasons. Just because I don't want you to stay there means that I am selfish. Don't ask me who they are. What if I ask you, who I am and who the kids are for you?

I would just let it all go.
Forget it all. Pretend that this is just one of our misunderstandings. Something that we can't agree with. It would happen again, we both know it. And I would feel this way again, and I would hear those hurtful words once more.

I need to be strong. I'll always be.
I would face whatever would happen now. I don't want a time to come that the kids would ask and I can't think of a right answer. I won't let them feel what I had been feeling, knowing that they too would find it hard to understand.

I won't cry this time.
And I won't let tears fall.
No.

Mall of Asia: Restaurants

Photos coutesy of Manila Daily Photo and Yuga's Photo gallery.

SM Mall of Asia is the largest shopping mall in the Philippines. It has many luxury stores and dining establishments. It's main attraction is the IMAX theater. I've only been there once though. Here's a compilation of some restos and dining places at SM Mall of Asia. All these reviews are from the forum at Female Network. I know I won't be able to eat at those restos I decided to just compile their reviews here in my blog for my own personal use.

Pomodoro Verde - pastas range from Php 160-250, pizzas Php 160-200 (large sizes Php 400+), salads Php 200-250, starters are below Php 250

Bedscene - the place has nice decor. Entree is around Php 300

Pink Pepper - cozy ambience. Must try is their Spicy Ribs

Gumbo - New Orleans foods (spicy foods and lots of seafoods). Big servings, pricey but worth it. Recommended dishes are the Grande Ribs, Jambalaya and Buffalo wings. Must try are the family feast, Black chicken, Honey glazed chicken, Cheesy baked oysters, Rockefeller oysters and crabcake. Minnesota mud pie with one block of ice cream for dessert is good.

Mojito Bar - their Mongojito is good and also affordable

Gram's Diner - good American food. Each meal consists of an entree, soup, coffee or tea. Good sandwiches, great shakes and great dessert (around Php 140 choco cake with vanilla ice cream)

Oki Oki - good Japanese food. Tempura is around Php 250, sashimi with wasabi, oyakodon around Php 170

Juanbambu - Asian food. Prices is less than 200 pesos, some combo meals. Good bagoong rice and cha gi, good green tea

Tandoor king - watered down indian food. Prices are less than 200 pesos. Good chicken kare and beef kofta

Kalye Juan - Pinoy foods. The foods are yummy but the place is small, have to wait longer to be seated

Crazy Roll - maki and sushi with a twist. Reasonably priced

Lamesa Grill - Good interior and concept. Must try is their platter of shrimp kebab, ribs, chicken and fish. Bread pudding dessert is good. Poor service. Small servings for the food

Burgoo - more spaceous compared to other restos

Bangus - good food, generous servings. Set menu (rice, sinigang, pork, 2 kinds of bangus is around Php 650)

Azul - Filipino-Spanish resto. Nothing to rave about their food. Paellas and other dishes are good for 2-3 persons, salads for 1-2. Poor service. A budget of Php 500/person will suffice.

Cafe Breton - they have the best epresso, but their Cafe mocha is too sweet. Firewall and Eden crepes are fine. Poor service.

Chocolat- great Deep dark choco cake Php 43/slice, Sugar Free Choco Mousse Php 54/slice. Must try plain choco, Bailey's choco, Carrot cake topped with choco icing. Lemon squares are also good.

Stars and Stripes - good food, price is worth it. Their platter of chicken, pork, beef, and shrimp is affordable. Must try House Special Steak and old-fashioned thick vanilla milkshake is good.

Perks Coffee Shop - good pizza for only Php 150 (8 slices, thin crust)

Kaya - limited menu food choices. Good French toast and coffee

Plato Platina - Italian resto and wine bar. Good Carne Calzone (baked fresh), Salmon Pie, and Seafood Stroganoff. Good service

David's tea house - typical Chinese cuisine. Good dimsum

Tempura Japanese grill - interiors are bright and modern. They have a smokeless grill where you could grill your own food. Good and affordable Japanese food. Food choices: sukiyaki Php 200, kani salad Php P88, kani sushi Php P60, mix maki Php 140, sake (salmon) sashimi Php
140, ebi bacon furai Php P165, gomoku chahan (fried rice) Php P41, ebi bacon maki Php P160, california maki (4 pieces) Php P55, mango shake Php 46, watermelon shake Php 46, green tea ice cream Php 40

HAI - good and must try lotus rice Php 180 good for 3 persons. The place has a videoke room

Tokyo cafe- good pizza

KKK restaurant- good Filipino food. Must try is their sinigang na lechon and bagnet

Lamesa grill - nice ambiance and good food

Good Earth - Chinese Cuisine with a Western Twist. Excellent flavor, presentation and service. Their landmark is the big Terracotta Warrior. Nice place and conducive for a good conversation. Their appetizer are compliments of the resto. Must try are the dimsums

Sushi Bar - food is served differently as their sushi/maki are placed in a carousel so you could just grab a plate while you are seating

Pupungs - reasonable price and good food

Tanabe - good food. Must try usuyaki beef. Yummy green tea ice cream

Mandarin Wok - hefty servings and cheap price. Nothing to rave about

Aruba - review isn't good. Poor service. Seems like all the food tastes the same

Highlands Steakhouse - very pricey

my cup of tea

Recently, I am fond of drinking my cup of green tea after taking my lunch. It removes the after taste of what I had taken. I don't know if its really healthy for my body, but then I've done a little bit of research on this.

This is what I've read about green tea:

• Green tea is a drink made from the steamed and dried leaves of the Camellia sinesis plant, a shrub native to Asia. Black tea is also made from this plant, but unlike green tea, it is made from leaves that have been fermented.
• Studies suggests that the antioxidants may reduce the risk of cancer, prevent cavities, fight the flu virus, lower high blood sugar, lower blood cholesterol and provide an antibacterial action against food born illnesses. Studies also shows that green tea contains antioxidants, polyphenols, theanine, as well as a wide variety of vitamins and minerals.
• There is a new research study that indicates women who consume two or more cups of tea per day, over a period of time, may reduce their risk of ovarian cancer by 46%.
• Green tea is also effective against diarrhea and upset stomach, while boosting mood and energy. Used as a mouthwash, it fights cavities and plaque. There's also increasing evidence of its ability to fend off certain types of cancer, particularly cancer of the stomach, small intestine, colon, rectum, breast, lung, and pancreas.
• Drinking green tea is safe though some people may develop allergic reactions and should stop drinking it. Too much caffeine can lead to nausea, trouble sleeping, and frequent urination. Pregnant woman should also limit drinking tea.

Well, I just love drinking hot green tea!

fleeting moments

Having so much fun

Playing with the organ

Listening to its sound.

Bringing you

Smiles and laughter.

These moments are so fleeting

Definitely worth capturing

starting to compute

I love shopping and giving gifts to people I love. Christmas season is almost near and I can't wait to buy and wrap presents. Well, I just received my share in our office coop and my money earned 11% in 9 months time. Not bad considering that bank interest only ranges from 1-3% annually.

What I had planned to do with the money:

• 20% buy things for me and the kids
• 50% deposit in the bank foy my baby's birthday next year
• 30% for the check-up and vaccination of my kids (it really cost that much!).

And, I am also waiting for out 13th month pay which I hope would be given by first week of December. I won't be receiving that much as I had my maternity leave this year and it would lessen the 13th month pay that I would get to receive.

Compute. Compute. Ok, we won't have any savings this year.

sweet dreams baby

Sleep tight little one
Watching you sleep
So peaceful. So sweet.
I wonder what your dreams are made of
May the angels guard you
May you woke up with a smile on your face

loving my princess

Time had been too fast

I can't believe how much you've grown

You're more beautiful that I had ever dreamed

More precious that I had imagined

No matter how old you would be

You will always be loved

You will always be our princess

You will always be my baby

in my kids eyes

Sacrfice... that's what I always have to do.
I need to be strong... to protect them from their fears.

For 2 months, my kids are being taken care of stay-out caregivers. they would come to our house at 7 am and leave at 7 pm. Today is the last day that my kids would get to see their caregivers. It would be so hard as my kids have been accustomed to be with them everyday.

Again, fears and pain enveloped me. Situations which I had hoped would not happen. My kids would again have to adjust and be comfortable to a new caregiver that my mom would get for them. I know it would be hard to trust strangers to take good care of them. In their eyes, I could feel their fears upon the facing another stranger.

In pain, wishing that I would be there at all times. Yet I know I have to work to help support financially. The only thing I could do is remind them that they would be fine. I also have to release these fears in me. Praying at all times that nothing would harm them. Leaving my kids, while working in the office is not easy. Yet this is one thing that we have to live with.