Photo of the Day

Chicken Shish Kebab and Couscous Salad from Leylam Shawarma

Another FIRMOO Sunnies!

Well, lookie lookie! My second pair of Firmoo sunglasses, this time I got by joining a giveaway from My Red Hot Reviews.

Lenses are two-toned; giving a gradient effect

This comes in 2 colors; lemon and tortoise. I wanted the lemon frames at first, but I figured that it’s too summer-y and summer is now about to end, while the tortoise pair is fitting for any of the seasons. It has a groovy luxurious style, and it's size remind me of Rachel Zoe. 

I super love the details!

What I like about wraparound sunglasses such as these is because they're huge enough to cover the delicate areas around the eyes from the harmful rays of the sun. Also, because of its size it gives the illusion of a smaller face. This one was for sale at $44.90 and imagine I got this for free! Good thing I chose this because the manufacturer phased this out not long afterwards. I'm a lucky girl.

This is my second pair already and yet there are still so many sunnies from Firmoo I want to have – all stylish and elegant. Check out their collection here and order your pair now!

Photo of the Day

Mango Crepe from The Mango Tree Restaurant

Summer Girls

Who doesn't enjoy doing photo shoots?

We definitely can't get enough of it! And this is the second part of our summer photo shoot, held on the same day with the same photographer, same models, just with a different theme.

And yes, I did our make-up. When will my next make-up adventure be? Excited!!

Photo of the Day

Ensaimada, pancho, cheese bread and pudding from Pizzaro

It's Always Tea Time

I love drinking tea even before this milk tea came into frenzy. I feel good about it because I know it flushes away the toxins in my body, helps in digestion, and even makes my skin more healthy-looking! So when most people my age despised the bitter taste in tea - they ignored ordering it from coffee shops like Starbucks and Coffee Break - I usually settle and stay happy with my tall cup of chamomile tea.  Then suddenly milk tea became a trend and boom! Tea is now everyone’s favorite.

One of the more famous milk tea kiosks in Manila is Mang Cha-a, and we have one here in Iloilo located at Robinson’s Mall. It is just right in front of Greenwhich where I was having lunch, and I knew I just couldn’t skip grabbing a cup.

Prices are from Php50 – Php65 only which is definitely a great deal! I ordered Blueberry Milk Tea with pearl (Php55), while my friend got Coffee Jelly Milk Tea (Php50) in reminisce of her favourite coffee jelly from Jollibee which got phased out.

Flavor syrups in crystal pump bottles

Like most tea shops you can choose the sugar level desired from no sugar, slight sugar, less sugar, regular sugar to sugar overload. Even though I picked slight sugar, my cup tasted really sweet, probably because of its blueberry flavour. I can’t complain because it tastes real good. It definitely fills the stomach, but there’s no guilt feeling because you know it’s made of – well, milk and tea!

Coffee Jelly Milk Tea and Blueberry Milk Tea with Pearl

If you’re one of those who wonder what is it about milk tea that people are now going gaga over with, then Mang Cha-a is a good place for you to start. With its friendly price and great-tasting drinks served in tall cups, it leaves you with no reason for regret!

Your Favorite Fish Ball Sauce

Filipinos are fond of eating street food. For most of us, it’s a part of our lifestyle. 

Back when I was in grade school and high school, my after-class habit was rushing to my favourite stall outside of our school to buy one or two servings of my favourite kwek-kwek (quail eggs) and fish balls. And during some time when I was older I bought a pack of frozen fish balls and cooked it at home. But the problem was the sauce I dipped it in was some sweet and sour sauce bought straight from the grocery. It is not remotely the same as the sauce they have on the street-side. That was the kind of sauce that I have been looking for.

Have you ever wondered what that was made of? Well, I did. And now I’m here to share it with you!

It’s so easy to make that I can memorize all of the ingredients. Here they are:

1 tbsp. vinegar

2 tbsp. soy sauce

7 tbsp. sugar

2 tbsp. cornstarch

1 cup water

All you have to do is mix all of the ingredients in a saucepan. At first it will appear like plain liquid in gravy color, but don’t freak! You have to wait a few more seconds because the cornstarch is at work and will make your sauce thicker. From brown gravy color, it will slowly turn dark and transparent.

You can add a tablespoon of hot sauce but that’s optional. What I did was separate the first half of the sauce into a bowl, and added hot sauce to what remained in the saucepan, so I have two sauces at the same time! You can continue stirring in as desired to achieve the right thickness.

So dig in! Experience the street food delight at your very home.