Chinachix

5 ways we try to minimize carbon footprint

2011-04-19T20:56:00.019-04:00

The Girl Guides unit at the annual Rattray Marsh cleanup

The hubby and I are huge fans of David Suzuki.

His environmental activism is truly inspiring. It is something that informs many of R's and my major consumer-related decisions. We still have a long way to go in terms of adjusting our lifestyle to be more environment-friendly, but I'd to think that all our baby steps count for something.

So in celebration of Earth Day on April 22, here are five small ways my family and I work at minimizing our carbon footprints in our daily lives:
R's newly-sprouted radish seeds, part of this year's green project

1. We buy local when we can. Yellow Chinese pears or green Bartlett ones? I love the former, but I can't remember the last time I bought one. And they are aplenty at the grocery. From China. Whenever I go shopping, I always look for the provenance of my produce and try to buy local when I can. Granted, some days this is a challenge when I see grapes from Chile or strawberries from California. But we're re-learning to buy in-season fresh stuff. Better yet, we're working at expanding our vegetable garden and growing our own.

2. We use cold water laundry. This is my default setting for on my energy-efficient washer. It works, the clothes come out clean, and its much friendlier to the planet.

3. We carpool. I am grateful that work locations and flextime arrangements have allowed the hubby and I to carpool together. There might be waiting involved on busier days, but overall, I wouldn't trade the gas/insurance savings by having this arrangement. As a bonus, we get alone time together. I can't think of a better companion for days when we're stuck in rush hour traffic.

The Guides hard at work looking for garbage at the shores of Lake Ontario

4. We try to be more involved in our community. When Renee's Girl Guide unit leader sent out an email asking for volunteers for the annual Rattray Marsh Conservation Area cleanup, we were there. I thought this was a great way for her to be aware of environmental issues in her community. We decided to volunteer as a family as well; it was great way to enjoy the great outdoors without leaving the city. The weather was beautiful. Rachel brought her bike and pedaled her way to the Marsh. R (who is a newbie runner), brought along his running shoes and jogged along the Lake Ontario shoreline. All in all a great (and free!) way to a spend a lovely spring Saturday morning.

5. We work at being enlightened consumers. I still shop and covet things, but I am a less excitable consumer these days. Growing up in Manila, where there is a prevalent malling culture, I have become the anti-mall rat. Weekends can go by where the only shopping I do is the weekly grocery run. I find more pleasure thrifting at church sales or going to specific retailers, rather than wandering around enclosed malls. Not only do I like the thrill of the find, recycling someone else's stuff is one less (and often still useful) thing dumped in the landfill. Case in point: I've built a small library of Berenstain Bears book series for the girls for less than the retail price of one book.

If you are looking for more ideas on how you can flex your environmental activism, here are some ideas from the Suzuki Foundation.

The Church Brew Works

2011-04-08T21:43:00.015-04:00

Thinking about trying a new burger place for lunch tomorrow reminded me of a memorable dining experience at a former Catholic church in Pittsburgh a few weeks ago.

The hubby found The Church Brew Works on his Yelp app, and the idea of dining in a church (albeit deconsecrated) intrigued us. We do worship in one after all, so I felt the vaguest sense of guilt at the idea of doing anything but pray at a religious place.

But we the reviews were good, and we had mapped it as a dining destination for our holiday.
Formerly St. John Baptist Church, it opened its doors as a brewpub in 1996. The first thought I had when I stepped inside was that my mother, a devout Catholic, might consider it blasphemous to dine here.

The exteriors have been preserved well enough that it looked like we were stepping inside a church. Inside, it seemed a little strange seeing vats of beer where a crucifix is usually supposed to be. I have no problems with church pews doubling as dining chairs though. I am glad they kept the stained glass windows. They are beautiful, and on a bright spring day, the sunlight streaming through lend an almost peaceful calm over the place. Above: the Shinkasa Cheesesteak, with kobe beef, grilled onions, red peppers, and provolone cheese

The biggest surprise is how yummy the food is . And the great service. Our server was particularly patient with the very curious little people in our group.

One of their microbrews, the Pious Monk Dunkel dark lager, was quite good too. Everyone in the group had classic comfort food and were not disappointed: Seven Onion Soup (which Renee practically wiped out on her own), Chicken Wings, Chicken Pot Pie and Crab Cake, among others. The even have a Chinese 5-Spiced Tofu on the menu. Feedback on each dish was positive, and we left the place satisfied.

If you are looking for a good meal in Pittsburgh, swing by. I know we will.

Planning our vegetable garden

2011-03-30T21:34:00.013-04:00

Baked Andante Dairy goat cheese with garden lettuce, from our memorable lunch at Chez Panisse, farm-to-table pioneer Alice Waters' Berkeley outpost

Used to be that getting dirt under my fingernails was a very alien idea to me. I had grown up on the edges of Chinatown in Manila, amidst a concrete jungle within a stone's throw from an LRT station and a public market. Not exactly conducive to lush vegetation.

But being married to a gardening hobbyist and reading books and watching documentaries about the terrible effects of industrial farming has changed my views about growing my own food. Plus, my new job involves garden supplies and fresh plants. So really, there's no excuse not to develop my green thumb.

About two summers ago, I blogged about kick starting a backyard vegetable garden in an effort to add variety to our usual seasonal harvest of banana peppers and tomatoes.

It took sometime, but this year, the hubby and I are really getting into spring planting mode.
The girls and R checking out the Young Urban Farmers booth

Last Sunday we checked out the Seedy Sunday event in North York to get ideas on vegetable varieties to grow in our backyard this summer.

We met up with our friend Emilie,who gave us San Marzano tomato seeds that the hubby really wanted. A passionate gardener, Emilie also showed us the packet of black Russian heirloom tomatoes that she scored at the seed exchange.Seed exchange

Emilie is a serious seed saver and brought along a bagful of vegetables seeds like okra for barter. In my aforementioned blog post, I wrote about how she gave us vegetable seeds that I didn't even think can be grown in a backyard (gailan/purple beans/choy sum, anyone?).

Seed saving is a relatively new concept to me, but one I am very curious about ever since learning about genetically modified crops through author and food activist Michael Pollan. This has helped spark my interest in backyard farming. I am alarmed that I do not know how or what is in my produce and how they're grown anymore.

And growing my own is a way for me to take back some control on what I eat.

The enthusiasm is there, but a surburban backyard can only fit so much green. So R signed up for a consult with Young Urban Farmers to see the best and most aesthetically pleasing way to convert a portion of our backyard into a veggie garden.
The girls trying homemade mulberry ice cream at Chez Panisse last summer

In the meantime, the tomato seedlings are in the pots and the pea sprouts are shooting up. Emilie sent a Facebook message to R to share more growing tips.

This is as close to farm to table as we can get, and with luck (and lots of sunlight and warm weather), we should be able to harvest some good stuff this year.

Reupholstery project

2011-03-20T22:35:00.005-04:00

I am still recovering from our March Break road trip, but I thought I'd publish this post that I started before going on holiday.

This is one of the mini-renovations projects the hubby and I talked about after seeing the Interior Design Show last January. We've always thought our dining room chair covers were too dark and plain. But it was good at camouflaging yucky food stains that come with having young kids. So we left it as is for a couple of years.
The girls are older now, and with the hubby feeling more confident on embarking this task post-IDS, he decided he wanted to do it. Now.

So he trolled the net, and found an eHow site detailing re-upholstery steps. We looked for fabrics online, and found one we both liked at the IKEA site. It took him at least one hour to work on a chair. We have eight chairs, so that's one chilly Saturday indoors.

The results are quite fantastic, considering its his first time to embark on such a project.

Japan earthquake - how to help

2011-03-15T21:09:00.004-04:00

I've been following the developments of the catastrophic earthquake and tsunami that hit northeastern Japan since Friday morning when my husband woke me up with this terrible news.

The images are truly heartbreaking and horrifying. The video of furious seawater advancing menacingly on the Sendai airport, and destroying everything in its path, has been playing in my head like white noise. Seeing nature's fury and aggression in its most raw is quite terrifying. I keep of thinking of the thousands of people swept away or being swallowed by the earth. I heard on the radio that close to 10,000 people of a town are unaccounted for. Ten thousand. Just like that.

I recall a similar apocalyptic scene in Clint Eastwood's recent movie, Hereafter. I remember being fixated in shock at watching this part in the film (spoiler alert: the scene opens with a major natural disaster). I felt a heavy sense of helplessness just seeing it on film.

And now, a possible nuclear meltdown and a shift in the earth's axis.

Being Christian, I cannot help but reference prophecies of end times with the ongoing events. I also came across some sites in the last few days that link this quake with messages from the Virgin Mary to select believers around the world. I am worried especially for my children.

Indeed, a lot of news have come out about how prepared the Japanese were, and how resilient and civilized its citizens are in face of enormous disaster. But if nature wants to declare war on humans, even the most prepared army is no match for its wrath.

I realize any help from my end is a drop in the bucket to the billions needed by the Japanese to recover from this tragedy, but I hope reaching out will let the Japanese people know that people do care.

If you are in Canada, here is a good website to start if you want to reach out as well.

And may God help us all.

Riverwood Conservancy

2011-03-08T20:55:00.014-05:00

Waiting for chickadees to feed on seeds on their hands

One of my new year's resolutions had been to blog more diligently. But, like some other things on my annual to-do list, blogging has slid down the priority list the last few weeks.

It lags behind supervising homework, planning for weekends, shuttling the girls to extracurriculars and doctor's appointments, trolling the net for design inspiration (this is for another post) and, of course, putting in a full day's work.

The dads with their girls

Still on weekend plans, the hubby and I took the girls to Riverwood Conservancy, a nature park in the city, for Family Day long weekend. We wanted to be outdoors, and do something non-electronic related. The girls made organic bird feeders and were given seeds to feed the chickadees. We capped the morning with cups of hot chocolate. I left the place energized by the cold, and appreciative of how accessible nature is here in sprawling suburbia.

Along the way, I've managed to squeeze in some movie time and fiction. I really enjoyed the Miss Potter, a really sweet and wholesome film based on the life of Beatrix Potter, creator of Peter Rabbit children's book series.

And also, got caught up on one of my favorite sitcoms, Frasier. I never tire of the clever dialogue, dry, humorous quips, and the romantic tension between Niles and Daphne. The Crane brothers are such frightful snobs, but delightfully so.

Right now, I am catching up on my fiction. I just picked up Mona Simpson's My Hollywood, a fiction novel told from the alternating points of view of an American mom balancing work and motherhood and her Filipina nanny, Lola. I am curious about how Simpson, a well-known American novelist, regard the role of nannies and what kind of voice she gives them within Western upper middle-class families. I am also intrigued that she chose to focus on a Pinay nanny, especially since I think they're a less familiar subgroup compared to the caregivers here in Canada. Looking forward to interesting bedside reading.

5 fab finds at the Interior Design Show

2011-02-20T12:12:00.010-05:00

I loved the striped floor and the mural at the Style at Home booth

This is a long overdue post on the 2011 Interior Design Show.

No, actually, this is a long overdue post, period. I wish I have a better excuse than busyness, but not really.

Anyway, I saw lots of exciting stuff, but since I was looking for something realistic or doable in terms of possible home design for this year, here are my favorites:

I like graphic designer Nicole Tarasick's throw pillows, especially the one with the Canadian airport acronyms. They're a very modern take on Canadiana, and the one with the Canadian map reminds me of the wildly popular C2 Collezione Philippines t-shirts.

Who thought toilet paper can be funky and fun? Apparently, the folks at Renova. Already popular in Europe, colored tissue paper were just launched at the IDS, according to the gentleman manning the (very) busy till during the show. I can buy 24 rolls for the price of what I paid for two of each color; these are obviously more an indulgence. But I thought I'd pick up a couple, just for fun and for my friend Nina. She had a birthday dinner that weekend, and loved them as well. In fact, she liked them so much she refuses to put them in her bathroom hahaha.
The hubby and I loved the graphic wallpaper designs at Rollout Surface Design Guild. None of the big, bright floral prints at this booth for sure.
I forgot which booth had Cool Britannia as theme but I remember loving this tablescape. I am a big fan of the farmhouse table, but unfortunately, my dining room is not to scale to own one of these big, homey pieces.

And finally, striped floors (see top photo). This is something I've always been drawn to since I saw them in a magazine sometime ago. My husband disagrees, so I don't think I'd have painted floors anytime soon. But I love the mix of colors and the mural design at this booth. This theme might work for when we redesign the girls' bedroom.

WINNERS: 2nd Free Binondo Food Wok Map giveaway

2011-02-06T08:50:00.003-05:00

Just a short post announcing the winners fort eh 2nd Free Binondo Food Wok Map giveaway:

1. Evelyn Tan Lim
2. C_J_C
3. jenshoppe
4. jinky_tweety
5. teodora1952

Please send me a PM with your mailing address. Thanks to everyone who joined!

Winterlicious at Kultura

2011-02-03T22:52:00.006-05:00

Palak Paneer Naan with truffle oil, jalapeno and peppered honey

Roger Mooking may not be manning Kultura Restaurant's kitchen these days, but whoever is in charge right now deserves a toast for coming up with a great Winterlicious menu.

I was skeptical about Winterlicious-ing at all for two reasons. Last year, the hubby and I went to Marc Thuet's Conviction anticipating to be wowed by his culinary genius (and okay, we were also fascinated by the idea that ex-cons were whipping up dinner). Unfortunately, we left the place unimpressed. It was so underwhelming I can't even remember what we had for dinner.

Second, I read somewhere that if you think that Susur Lee (and other equally accomplished chefs) are in the kitchen plating Winterlicious meals, well, dream on. But whatever. Winterlicious is more a tasting menu, I think. It is the culinary equivalent of a pick-up line to seduce diners to restaurants they wouldn't normally go at prices friendlier to the wallet.

Good food will continue to thrill and fill, even if Mooking isn't in the building anymore. I used to watch his show in Food Network occasionally and liked his dishes and his musical energy (yes, he rocks audio-wise as well).

Mediterranean Chicken Samosa

Which is exactly how I'll describe our Kultura Winterlicious dinner.

For appetizers, we shared the crunchy Mediterranean Chicken Samosa with Asiago, Sage, Spiced Apple Gari Chutney (which we ordered a la carte) and the Palak Paneer Naan. Each dish intrigued me with its yin-yang mix (paneer with jalapeno?) and surprised me with their mix of East/West flavors.

The hubby had the Spiced Miso Flatiron Steak with Honey Glazed Rutabaga, Crisp Okra, Squash Mustard. The steak was really tender, and the accompaniments lent a sublime flavor to the beef. I had the Mushroom Orecchiette with Malivoire Pinot Noir Pear Chutney, Aged Cheddar which I thoroughly enjoyed as well. It was light but creamy and sweet and filling, even if it looked like a child's fistful serving of pasta.

I am somewhat reminded of another memorable birthday dinner we both had while on holidays in Quebec City in the way we enjoyed this meal. Plus, I think the yummy rum cocktail added some happiness as well.

Postcript: You would think with our satisfied burps, this meal will have a Hollywood ending. Unfortunately, the desserts were underwhelming this time around. The Espresso Brule was too mushy, while the Chocolate Torte with Apple Cider Ice Cream and Cocoa Nougat was too cloying and heavy.

Nevertheless, looks like second time's the charm for this Winterlicious experience.

Sarah Richardson's space

2011-01-29T21:27:00.017-05:00

Photo: Outside the entrance to Sarah Richardson and her brother Theo's design space

Just spent the afternoon taking in the sights and sounds and trends at the 2011 Interior Design Show.

I am reporting on the show for a local magazine, and there are lots of good stuff and inspiring finds.

But Sarah Richardson's collaborative design vignette with her brother Theo (of Rich Brilliant Willing design group) is, hands-down, my favorite feature of the show.
The Red Kitchen. As a flea market fan, I love how the mismatched chairs and upholstery is tied in together by the red color theme. Looking at this makes me imagine many cozy and intimate meals (perfect stage for the hubby's culinary delights) with friends. I really like the glass pendant detail, and the oversized photograph of the Summerhill subway station.

And this vintage stroller filled with French bread under the Summerhill photograph made me hungry and cheerful at the same time. I can almost smell its fresh baked scent. Of course, these must be stale by now, but I always associate these loaves with Paris and all its romance.
The mix-and-match extends to the dinnerware and linens. I am totally in love with this iron cabinet. It reminds me of those classic Aga stoves.
The Blue Den. If only my office looks at this, I will be a more prolific writer. Not. My desk is messy, but dang, this is chic organized chaos. And I definitely can use an inspiration board for all the clippings and receipts and paper junk lying around. The white couch will be useful when hit with writer's block and I get the urge to just sleep it off.

I was also just poring through the latest Crate and Barrel catalog that had Marimekko prints similar to the curtains and the throw pillow fabric cover which I am seriously coveting right now.

Definitely keeping these photographs for inspiration if and when the hubby and I decide push through the home renovation project this year. Love, love, and just love the look.

2nd Free Binondo Food Wok Map giveaway

2011-01-14T19:10:00.013-05:00

I have barely packed away our parol when I receive an email alert from my brother Ivan announcing the annual Chinese New Year edition of his very popular Big Binondo Food Wok walking tour.

Rabbit year officially starts Feb 3 2011, which means this is a good time to kick off my Second Binondo Food Map giveaway.

Between now and February 5, I'm going to give away 5 free Binondo Food Wok maps to the first five respondents who can answer the trivia questions below correctly.

Contest is open to residents living outside of the Philippines.

This is a fun guide especially if you are planning a trip to Manila in the near future and want to go on a self-guided food tour of Chinatown.

In Manila, the maps are available for sale (PhP 100) at boutique retail establishments like La Monja Roca (The Crazy Nun) in Intramuros, Silahis Arts and Crafts (Intramuros), Popular Bookstore in Quezon City, and at Bahay Tsinoy museum store and Libros Fiilipinos bookshop at the Filipinas Heritage Library.

As true blue Binondo citizen, Ivan has been taking the curious and the adventurous to this historic corner of this city to sample the best dumplings, the yummiest lumpia and most interesting hopia flavors in the last six years.

And now for the trivia questions:

1. How many kinds of specialty tours does OMW currently offer on its website?

2. Manila Cathedral has been built and rebuilt several times already. The present cathedral is the (fill in this blank) incarnation of this historic church.

3. Ongpin Street, the main artery that cuts through Manila's Chinatown, is named after a succesful 19th century Chinese businessman. What is his name?

Please post your answers on the Comments section and send me a private message as well. Winners and their answers will be posted on this blog when contest ends. Five winners will get Binondo Food Wok maps through Canada Post.

Cong Xei Fat Choi!

Poutine

2011-01-13T21:02:00.006-05:00

On the brunch menu: Oliver and Bonacini Cafe Grill's poutine with Montreal smoked meat

I am not a big fan of French fries, but I feel a lotta love for a fry-based French-Canadian confection called poutine. Imagine stretchy cheese curds and rich brown gravy over piping hot fries. Pure bliss, if you skip the part about it being a caloric and cholesterol nightmare.

But when comfort food craving kicks in, it is hard to say no to a plate of poutine. In fact, this has become so popular many places in and outside of Canada have come up with their own twist.

I remember having poutine with sausages for the first time at Chez Aston, a popular Quebecois fastfood chain, on holidays in Quebec City. Really good, but you can imagine how heavy and rich the meal was. As if that was not filling enough, I ordered it as part of a burger combo. I think I gained ten pounds just looking at my lunch.

In the American Southwest, it is not uncommon to find the Mexican-inspired carne asada fries (topped with sour cream and guacamole all that Tex-Mex jazz) on the menu. And Wikipedia reports that In-N-Out Burger, that iconic West Coast fastfood chain, offer "animal fries" on their secret menu. What it is really is fries topped with cheese, grilled onions and Thousand Island dressing. Had I known about this earlier, I would have definitely ordered this when we went to In-N-Out last year.

On a snowy weekend, I swear everyone on the table got a twinkle in their eyes when our server mentioned that they were serving poutine topped with Montreal smoked meat as part of their brunch menu at Oliver and Bonacini Cafe Grill.

When the fries arrived, they did not look a potato mosh pit drenched in brown and yellow (which is typically how a poutine looks). In fact, it looked quite pretty, with thinly-sliced meat, mustard seeds, bright yellow yolk, and even a bit of arugula lettuce. It was rich and filling, but not the severely artery-clogging variety (or so I think). The downside: at $15, it is easily twice the price of your average poutine.

Decluttering

2011-01-05T22:04:00.012-05:00

Photo credit: Amazon.com

I have five extra large shopping bags filled with never used/retired/seasons old stuff sitting in the minivan right now. I am planning to drop them off at the Christian thrift store not too far from home. This was just the result of a one day's holiday winter editing/cleaning over the Christmas holidays. Phew.

One can only have so much closet space in a half century old house for Santa's loot really. So for every new thing that arrives, something has to go. Editing can be a ruthless business this side of the city.

But decluttering is not just about letting go of stuff. Over the holidays, I expanded my definition of decluttering to include quieting down kinetic thoughts, letting go of dead relationships, and even whittling down my email box to a respectable number of messages (I swear, I had emails from 2004 sitting on my inbox).

A simple lifestyle is an underrated concept I think. Though the hubby and I aspire to it, we are still far from achieving this goal.

We do have a secret pass code that we try to remember before we buy any thing: WWDSS.

Translation: What Would David Suzuki Say? Thinking about this Canadian environmentalist practically works as our spiritual STOP sign when we get bitten by the consumerist bug. Granted, it does not always work, but we welcome the pause. DS makes my love of thrifting almost a noble pastime. See the junk and treasure correlation?

As for dead relationships, well, with not enough weekends and evenings to engage social networks (and no, Facebooking does not count), its a shame to waste it on people who pay lip service to a noble concept called friendship.

Over the holidays, I've been blessed to connect and reconnect with many people in big and small ways. They shared a really precious gift: time.

Whether it was an hour of catching up over long distance with an old friend in Kansas, a long, thoughtful catch-up and gossip-filled email from Manila, the holiday potlucks, or a quiet Christmas get together over homemade Portugese sausages, the sum of all these are together time that never fail to engage and enrich our lives. And when one's always pressed for time, there's no room for anything but.

As for Hotmail or Gmail inboxes burgeoning with excess emails, keeping them is not unlike hoarding old bills/bank statements and other paper junk. In fashion, the general rule is: if clothing is not worn in a year, give it away. Well, I think if an old "friend" has not bothered to be in touch for a year (I mean, not even on birthdays or holidays? Honestly), well, hello Delete button. There are exceptions of course, but still.

Positive energy, come to mama.

Blogging, v. 2011

2011-01-04T21:38:00.008-05:00

Simple pleasures in 2010: The hubby teaching Rachel to skate at our neighbor Z's backyard rink this winter

I fell off the blogging wagon towards Christmas last year. First, it was just because of the holiday rush on top of an already hectic schedule. Then, it was just a matter of rethinking whether to continue the blog at all.

Keeping journals, paper or online, is a commitment. I have many half-filled notebooks to attest to this. I started this blog four years ago mainly as a bulletin to connect with family and friends. At some point along the way, it morphed into a family journal that I hope to share with the girls. Most recently, it became an online map towards a very good cause of a woman I've yet to meet: Angela's milk bag mat project for Haiti. This evolution is a reflection of my continuing journey in my multiple roles as wife/working mother/word hobbyist.

And while the blogging layover over the holidays was most welcome, as 2011 unfolds, I realize that there are still many adventures to take, and write about.

Good tidings for the new year!

Back. Sort of.

2010-11-22T20:32:00.008-05:00

Fall, as seen from our backyard

By the time I write this, most of the leaves in the trees have fallen around our house. I love this photo that I took last month. Fall colors are just incredibly beautiful.

Anyway, the hubby has worked the leaf blower on the backyard over the weekend. We had also spent a good part of the afternoon raking, and piling them on the giant tarp, before carrying them to the sidewalk where they will be vacuumed in a week a two. I think I can get sampalok arms just lugging all the wet leaves.

I am tempted to use busyness as an excuse for not blogging, but even that is an understatement. Many changes going on, primarily work-wise, but in other things just the same. I am excited.

Already, we turn on the Christmas lights when it gets dark around 5 in the afternoon. The days are colder, and the hall closet is packed with winter wear. Christmas is around the corner. More busyness ahead. 'Tis that time of the year after all.

Note to Santa: Can I get more than 24 hours in my days?

Recyling plastic milk bags to mats, update

2010-11-01T21:21:00.005-04:00

Angela shows a mat for Haiti made from plastic milk bags

Last April, I blogged about the milk bag initiative started by my co-worker J.

She was collecting milk bags for someone in her community. Her name is Angela, and she crochets the bags into mats and sends them to Haiti. I thought it was a great initiative. With two young kids, I buy at least two 4L bags a week. Renee even likes milk better than water.

I passed on the info to the moms in my neighborhood, and to my hubby at work. We received enthusiastic responses from both ends, many of whom are parents who are only too happy to recycle their milk bags.

Just recently, J passed on an email update from Angela.

"My main goal is to take 1000 crochet hooks and 1000 pairs of scissors with 2.5 million bags to Haiti and get women there to make mats," she wrote. "With that number of bags, they should be able to make 5000 mats."

Angela also writes that she can only make one mat a week, and the only way many more mats can be made is if the Haitians can make themselves.

"I would love to not only get bags, but work with people on this project," she adds. "I'm just excited about taking something like a humble milk bag and turning it into something people can use for 8 hours a day.

If you are interested to help, you can email Angela directly at drjohnk@rogers.com.

Nostalgic discoveries

2010-10-29T22:17:00.013-04:00

Top to bottom: Antique insect sprayer, the garage doors at the community fire station in Carmel, California, an old apartment building in Buffalo, New York

One of the things I enjoy most about thrifting is the surprise pleasure of finding vintage objects and decor. I like rediscovering things, and sharing this nostalgic pleasure with my two young girls. Found objects take me back to my youth, to childhood memories, books and movies.

The first time I saw a Royal typewriter for example, I thought of Ernest Hemingway and the first time I read "Hills like White Elephants". I couldn't resist buying 50s soda fountain-style ice cream dishes at a church sale because it reminded of Grease and soda fountains. Weird, since it's not like I make fancy banana splits at home anyway.

Of all the things I saw on a recent trip to the Flamboro Antique Market, the one that really caught my eye was an old insect sprayer. No specific media-related reference. I just remember our family having and using one as a kid. I don't think I've seen one in a decade, until now.

The inspiration is not limited to found things. On a morning walk in downtown Carmel, I came across the fiery red garage doors of the Carmel Fire Station. I though the design reminded me of a Dick and Jane era.

And on a cross-border shopping trip to Buffalo, the hubby and I found ourselves driving through an older section of the city. It was quite an exciting detour. It allowed me to look at the city beyond simply having the most convenient Target locations.

Looking forward to more trips to the past.

Filipinos chocolate

2010-10-20T23:42:00.004-04:00

Spotted at a Portugese bakery downtown: Filipinos chocolate. Seeing this brings to mind the grief these confectionery caused to Philippine legislature back in the 90s. No less than then president Joseph Estrada called the brand name an "insult". A formal diplomatic protest was filed against Spain, where the chocolates were sold. I don't think anything happend of it though.

Anyway, I was so amused by this little discovery I forgot to buy one. I like dark chocolate pa naman.

Thanksgiving family activities in Ontario

2010-10-12T21:54:00.016-04:00

Renee and Rachel's sunprint artwork (top photo) at the Harbourfront Kid's Festival in downtown Toronto

Turkey weather this year is unseasonably fabulous, the kind that made me jump at our friend L's suggestion to go on a family hike at the Glen Haffy Conservation Area.

The girls pick a trail; the hubby and Rachel during the hike

We've always enjoyed exploring the little towns and parks around and about the Hills of Headwaters region north of the city, but this is our first time at Glen Haffy. In fact, being the avid golfer he is, the hubby initially thought he heard L say Glen Abbey.

Maybe it's age. Or it could be sitting through many episodes of the hubby and my environmental idol David Suzuki's "The Nature of Things" TV series . Maybe it's just being married to a science geek and avid gardener. But I want to reconnect more with nature lately, and a family hike at Glen Haffy is a one small step towards this goal.

We go on a glorious fall day. We follow the red trail because we want to go to the Lookout Point. But we get lost and end up following the blue trail to the trout pond instead. The girls crunch on dried golden leaves that carpet the ground with their walking sticks throughout the hike. We walk for about an hour, stopping by a small stream, the trout pond, and finally, wide open fields to a picnic area and volleyball net.
The bathrooms are very clean. They are portalets but with with flush toilet bowl and small sink. Not too many people too, which is nice. We stop by one of the family run farms on our way home and pick up pumpkins for the girls, organic arugula for caprese salad, and organic apples and strawberries.
Learning about the different kinds of grains from the Grain Guy
On Thanksgiving Monday, our hiking group head downtown for one of our favorite Toronto festivals: the Harbourfront Kid's Festival. I discovered this years ago, and try not to miss it. It has great outdoor activities and crafts for kids, live performances of up and coming acts, a Lego station. They also give out free Natrel milkboxes ; the Natrel-sponsored man-made pond (where Renee has her first canoeing lesson with hubby) is nearby.

Harvest is this year's theme, so there are activity stations about food. Renee also enjoy participating in old fashioned games like tug-of-war, potato sack race, and hula hoops. But the highlight of the day was sunprinting (see above photo). I can't wait to frame their artworks.

Two more memorable days to be grateful for on this holiday.

Chinese autumn festival in Toronto

2010-09-30T23:03:00.016-04:00

Photos by: Evelyn Tan Lim

Growing up, I've always associated the Mid-Autumn Festival with family reunions over a festive round of mooncake dice game.

This game goes back to 16th century, when Zheng Chenggong, a Ming Dynasty general based in Xiamen invented the game to entertain his troops and relieve homesickness.

Since most of the Chinese in the Philippines trace their roots to Xiamen City and surrounding villages in Fujian province on the southeast coast of China, this tradition has carried on through generations.

However, I found it difficult to keep tradition when I moved to Toronto. Mostly because there didn't seem to be enough Chinoy-Canadian friends who expressed interest in doing it.

I was wistful because having cultural touchstones is important to me. I have a hyphenated background long before I became a hyphenated Canadian, and I look for opportunities for my daughters to be acquainted with my dual history. I hope to share the richness of this identity with them, especially since they still have direct familial ties to the old country.

That is, until some weeks ago when E sent out a FB shoutout about organizing one. Apparently there are like-minded Chinese-Filipino-Canadians who also wanted expose their kids to this small slice of our heritage. I just had to wait for an auspicious full moon.

Anyway, six families (about 30 people) responded quickly and enthusiastically. It does take a village (or a barangay, depending where you're from) to make an event a success.

When someone proposed to make shabu-shabu or hotpot dinner for the get-together, three moms (including this one) immediately volunteered their hotpot cookers, fishing net-style utensils and all. Evelyn and Emilie shopped for prizes. Nette took charge of ingredient shopping. Evelyn's hubby, Calvin, pitched in and printed out large cheat sheet posters of the many dice combinations.

I've been to many potlucks, but the enthusiasm that went into organizing this particular one surprised me. The energy just reading through the FB thread leading to the event is amazing. Everyone looked forward to it.

Basically, each person gets a turn to throw six dices on a bowl. Scores and prizes are given based on the combination.

Traditionally, mooncakes were given away as prizes. E and E got more mom-and-kid friendly fun stuff like Coleman cooler bags, an electric kettle, Starfit storage containers, arts and crafts stuff for the kids.

In my family the first prize is always a hong pao (red envelope) with lucky money. For this one, it was lucky money plus a Yoshi plush for the kids.

The hubby almost won the first prize (and on his first turn, too, see above photo), but ended up bringing home the second prize instead. I won the other second prize, among many other things.

And this was how we rocked on a full moon on a Saturday night.

Afternoon tea at the Fairmont

2010-09-15T23:08:00.012-04:00

I have two little girls, so I host a lot of tea play parties at our house. So when I tell Renee that I will be taking her to a real afternoon tea at a fancy hotel, her jaw drops in excitement.

"Like Tea for Ruby?" she asks, referencing the children's book written by - appropriately enough - Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York.

Needless to say, I was expecting this reaction when my editor first emailed me this writing assignment.

On Sunday, she insists on dressing up nicely for our family tea outing to the Library Bar at the Fairmont Royal York in downtown Toronto. The afternoon tea has been a longstanding weekend tradition at the hotel since 1929.

A parade of three-tiered cake stands filled with tiny savory sandwiches and pastries catches her eye as the server ushers us to our table. The bar is dark even during daytime, and the atmosphere is very hushed. The place is very busy for Sunday afternoon.

The pastries are a hit. Rachel is quickly covered in chocolate icing. The girls like dipping the spreaders -- and fingers too, yikes -- into the little pots of jam and honey. All of us enjoy warm scones with clotted cream.

It doesn't take long for the little one to get fussy though. Good thing Renee is seated in a couch, with enough room for her sister to squirm in when she climbs down from her high chair.

All in all a nice experience, but the school age kid definitely reveled in it more than her sister, who pretty much spent half the time licking yummy honey off her sticky fingers.

BMV Books Toronto

2010-09-08T20:43:00.013-04:00

My favorite photo of Rachel browsing at BMV

Much has been written about Amazon and e-readers, but I still like my books the old-fashioned way, paperback or hardcover, newsprint or glossy pages, preferably pre-loved or secondhand finds at independent bookstores.

This is the thrifter in me I guess. I have bought many books through Bookcloseouts.com. I especially like it when they have their Free Shipping promotion. I discovered Strand Bookstore on my first trip to New York City years ago. I remember being awed by the seemingly endless stacks of books that lined it walls. Coincidentally, it was just ranked on one of the top 10 US bookstores in this article.

In Manila, there is always a great find to be had at Booksale. I couldn't believe when I scored this book for less than CAD $3 on my last trip there three years ago.

Here in Toronto, I try to swing by BMV Books whenever I am in the city. Like last Labor Day weekend. Not only do they offer pre-loved books, they have a great selection of remainders, obscure titles, DVDs, and the occasional luxury coffee table book for much less than retail. Several books in my personal library trace their provenance here. I can spend hours browsing through its shelves. Many say their Yonge and Eglington location offer better choices (especially children's books - which, admittedly, was pretty thin where I went). I usually go to the downtown location for convenience though.

On this trip, one of my finds is this modern version of the Pippi Longstocking series by Charlie and Lola author Lauren Child. My seven year old, who is an excellent reader, is always curious about other little girls her age. I am always looking for feisty and precocious girl characters to encourage her curiosity, her ideas, and to have discussions on friendships and being different. I love how these characters seem more age appropriate in this age of Hannah Montana. So far, we've gone through the Madeline series, the Eloise series, the Adele and Simon series, the Fancy Nancy series.

Now, we're going through the Beezus and Ramona series (which I grew up on and loved), and once we're done, I am excited for us to get to know Pippi together.

Julian Schnabel in Toronto

2010-08-30T22:10:00.017-04:00

Photos: (Top to bottom) (1) Schnabel being interviewed by Canadian media in of Portrait of Rula, (2) Fashion TV host Jeanne Beker in front of Jane Birkin #2, (3) the artist in front of Anno Domini (Maison Caree), (4) Detail of his famous broken plate painting, The Patients and the Doctors

UPDATED

Last Thursday, I attended the media preview of Julian Schnabel: Art and Film, which opens on Wednesday, September 1, at the Art Gallery of Ontario.

It was an incredible experience seeing the artist and his artwork up close. My first initiation to his work was his film, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly. I remember being mesmerized by the subject and the rich cinematic landscape of the film. In this film, I viewed the world through Jean Dominique Bauby’s left eye, and it was quite unnerving and startling visual experience. I found the story heartbreaking and inspiring at the same time.

His latest film, Miral (starring Freida Pinto from Slumdog Millionaire), based on the book written by Palestinian journalist and his partner, Rula Jebreal, is debuting at the upcoming 2010 Toronto Film Festival this September.

His works are larger than life, not unlike the artist himself. He wore plaid on plaid (shirt and shorts) for the preview. He was candid, and disarmed the audience with casual talk. "Is that for me?" he joked when someone's cellphone rang. But also, this is a someone who has been quoted saying that "I'm as close to Picasso as you're going to get in this &^%&$ life."

To walk around the whitewashed expanse of the contemporary gallery at the fifth floor of the AGO and have a conversation with his work is a great way to spend the day.

If you are in the neighborhood, check out his exhibit.

Julian Schnabel:Art and Film ends on January 2, 2011.

Cynthia Rowley diapers

2010-08-22T21:20:00.005-04:00

I love designer collaborations as much as the next shopper, and I like Cynthia Rowley's designs, but I think Cynthia Rowley for Pampers diapers is taking the idea a little too far.

I was amused when I saw this shelf of designer diapers at a Target store in Rochester in upstate New York recently. I didn't realize there is a market of mothers out there who really care how good diapers need to look on their babies. Then I remembered that Huggies also launched limited edition jean diapers not too long ago. That's a lot of fashion for a disposable item.

I remember the only thing I cared about when the girls were younger was how absorbent and how comfortable diapers were (yay, Huggies). And when they go on sale.

Of course, my girls hardly walked around wearing just diapers when they were babies, so really, there's no point in wearing designer ones. Having said this, I think the Cynthia Rowley-designed ones look really fun and funky. But would I have shelled more for the style? Nah, I would put the extra $$$ for the girls' college funds instead.

T & T Toronto Waterfront Night Market 2010

2010-08-07T09:04:00.005-04:00

When J told me about the night market this weekend, I knew this was something the hubby would be interested in. Going downtown and outdoors on a Friday night food trip sounded like a great way to kick start the weekend.

We arrived around 7ish. Parking was already busy. It is $5 at the parking across T & T, but you get $5 worth of coupons to use for future shopping expeditions.

We went straight for the first booth we saw: Lee, owned by famed Toronto chef Susur Lee. His staff was was only making one thing: cheeseburger spring rolls ($5). The hubby immediately fell in line and came back with a paper cone artfully filled with a deconstructed, Asianized treat. I liked the nice crunch of the just-fried roll with lettuce, Vietnamese-style pickled veggies, and cheese sauce.
Top photo, the popular Smelly Tofu (the person who bought this said she waited for over an hour for her turn), below, Teriyaki squid, which Renee wanted to try, but the lines were just too long

Unfortunately, this was to be the only thing we would try for the next two hours.

The lines were 20 feet deep in almost all the food booths. Not a good sign especially if you have young kids in tow. These include vendors selling grilled Teriyaki squid (which Renee was really eyeing), Smelly Tofu, (don't be fooled by its unappetizing name; this is a very popular Hong Kong snack), Taiwanese popcorn chicken, fresh coconut ($2), the kabob-style BBQ skewers, and fresh oysters (8 pcs for $10). Prices were very reasonable, an average of $2 to $10, for the oysters.At the Toronto Reel Asian Film Festival booth, the girls scored popcorn (free!) and the hubby enjoyed his with pork floss and seaweed and dried fish flakes, giving it a very Asian twist.

Waiting in line at FV Foods, lines at other booths were twice as long

Finally, the hubby scored pork bbq ($2) from FV Foods, a Filipino food stall. I liked their marinade, sweet and barbeque-flavored, and found the portion of very good value compared to the usual $1 bbqs sold at other Filipino food stores. One of the owners told the hubby they were very surprised by the huge turnout, and that they were bringing a bigger bbq grill tonight. Hopefully, the other booth operators are probably thinking the same thing, so maybe it'll less lines tonight.

We also bought mango juice ($1) and gulaman at sago ($1), which the owner described as "bubble tea without milk and tea" to a customer. LOL. We also bought pan de sal bread to take home ($2).

At a Caribbean food stall - look mom, no line ups - I overheard a customer saying "ohmygoodness, the lines are terrible, I just want to eat". So did we, and for $2, we had jerk chicken strips and roast corn. Still a pretty good deal.

We capped the evening with a Tiramisu Fruit Plate ($2) at the Korean booth. It was really a rice crisp topped with cream, chocolate sauce and fruits. Very good, and a hit with the girls. We're planning to do this at home.

Even though we spent more time watching the live entertainment - salsa and tango dance demos, a dragon dance - we really enjoyed the evening. I am still dreaming about the Popcorn Chicken though. That, and I want to try the Smelly Tofu next time.

Hotel Monaco DC

2010-08-04T23:10:00.011-04:00

Hotel rooms, especially those of the non-beige decor and double sink variety, never fail to elicit extra attention from the hubby. There is nothing like a comfortable --and well-styled, if I may add --- hotel bed to sink into, especially after a long working day.
But a choice of furry animal print bathrobes? A novelty even for a seasoned business traveller like the hubby. But this was exactly what he found in his room closet at Hotel Monaco Alexandria on a recent trip to Washington DC.
He was so amused, he emailed me a photograph immediately. We had a good chuckle, and talk turned into the Kimpton boutique hotel chain. While familiar with W and have even stayed with the family at an Aloft property , this is my first introduction to the Kimpton brand.

On a side note, although Aloft Montreal Airport had a hip and budget vibe, it was not the most family-friendly lodging we've been.

But back to Kimpton. Based on its website, I am really liking the fusion of art and vintage and the overall eclectic feel of their properties. Very Willy Wonka ang dating. Plus, I notice they have a KimptonKids program too, so maybe they don't think keeping Dr. Seuss books and arrowroot cookies in stock is too uncool?

Coincidentally, I had actually took a photograph of the lobby Hotel Triton, one of their San Francisco properties, on a recent holiday. One minute I was walking down window shopping on Grant Avenue, and then, bulaga, I am greeted by turquoise-colored establishment with all sorts of crazy stuff going on its interiors. It was visually exciting, and I wanted spend more time inside. But since the three-year-old was antsy, all I can do is take a quick photograph for future reference.

Ah well. Some other time, I hope.

Queen Margherita Pizza

2010-07-27T23:50:00.016-04:00

QMP's Funghi pizza
One of the nice things about freelance writing is how I sometimes get assigned to write about Toronto finds. This give us an excuse to head into the city.

Last Sunday, my family and I headed down Leslieville to try Queen Margherita Pizza for an article that I was doing. The last time we were in this part of Toronto was early in this year, when we had brunch at Lady Marmalade. Here is the article.

Lots of people are comparing QMP to Pizza Libretto, which we also tried sometime ago. While that was also a great meal, I'd rather not get into comparing the merits of one Neapolitan pizza place with another.
Looking down the oven at the far end of the dining room
I really like the industrial-meets-rustic 6000-lb domed Neapolitan oven vibe of the place. I also think having large industrial windows looking out to a TTC streetcar train yard is quaint, probably because I'm from the 'burbs. The stainless steel ceiling fans and light fixtures lend a modern feel to the place. The owner's wife says this used to be a noodle factory, among its many incarnations.

We order two pizzas to share, the Funghi ($16.95, with tomato sauce, fior di latte, and mixed mushrooms), and the Bianca ($16.95 with hot sopressata salami, mushroom, oregano, and organic mozzarella). Wine is available, but Ralph and I opt for Cokes instead.

Everyone in the family liked the chewiness of the fresh handmade dough. It's almost bread-like in consistency. We also prefer the Bianca, free of tomato sauce and baked with hot Italian salamis. The pizzas are about 12 inches wide and change daily on the menu. We found 2 pizzas were enough to share among 3 adults and 2 kids. Of course, we only had one male person in our entourage.
A happy bonus is the free Arugula salad with pecans, sunflower seeds, mozzarella and balsamic vinaigrette they were serving diners that day. It was really divine. Renee pretty much polished the whole plate off by herself. Then again, we are huge fans of anything balsamic vinegar anyway.

I heard the place gets really busy at night. With two small kids, a lazy Sunday lunch works better for us though. I wouldn't mind going back.

5 favorites in San Francisco

2010-07-19T21:24:00.011-04:00

The girls frolicking about at the Rodin Sculpture Garden, Stanford University

I'm still on West Coast time zone, but the summer holiday rush is over for now. Back from a long-overdue family trip to San Francisco and the California coast, I swing between feeling exhilarated and deflated. Post-vacay blues, for sure. I still have postcard memories of Carmel-by-the-Sea and the breathtaking coastline drive through Big Sur, to San Simeon. The taste of Spaghetti with Chanterelle Mushrooms, Thyme and Parmesan from Chez Panisse still linger, as do the grilled comfort of an In-N-Out cheeseburger.

Here are five inspiring places/ideas/food from our recent trip to the Bay Area and its environs:

1. Palm Drive at Stanford University - When I visited my friend Jay here in Palo Alto back in the 90s, I remember being left breathless by the expansive space, the stone architecture, and the soaring palm trees that line entrance to university. Ten years later, walking around the quad on a Sunday afternoon, watching life ( a volleyball game, a couple getting their wedding pictures taken, a family going a bike ride) unfold around still inspires.
2. The Lone Cypress, 17 Mile Drive, Pebble Beach - As if driving through the scenic 17 Mile Drive isn't inspiring enough, I wonder how much of time and history this tree has witnessed. Surely, it can spin enough stories for 1001 nights (or more) if only it could talk.
3. Crown and Crumpets Tea Salon - Tucked away at the lower plaza of Ghirardelli Square is a lovely English tea salon with cheerful decor that reminds me of Fancy Nancy (obviously Renee adores her and we read her books too often). When the girls and I swung by, there was a birthday party going on, which made my girls want to just hang around longer of course. No complaints from me, more time to browse the Cath Kidston merchandise and other sweet finds at their retail shop.
4. Far West Funghi, Ferry Plaza building - Because I'm a big mushroom fan, and because the hubby promised to try to make the yummy Spaghetti with Chanterelle Mushroom, Thyme, and Parmesan that I absolutely loved from our memorable lunch at Chez Panisse.

5. 14th Century tapestry, Hearst Castle - When our guide said that this tapestry predated Joan of Arc, I had to pause and let the weight of so much history sink in. This is just one of many treasures famed publishing magnate William Randolph Hearst collected during his lifetime. The place is beyond grand. Makes me want to pick up Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby again.

Niagara trip

2010-07-10T21:51:00.007-04:00

We enjoyed the cheese and sausage platter at Stoney Ridge Estate Winery in the Niagara-on-the-Lake region

Still blogging, but family's here, so the last two weeks have been particularly hectic. Lots of local travel, summer outdoor entertaining, and just simply spending time together. It might take a while, but more blog posts to follow.

2010 World Cup and Filipinos

2010-06-26T20:40:00.008-04:00

A World Cup-themed pop up store at the recent Carassauga Festival.

I can hear my dad and the hubby shouting and screaming as I write this. They are watching the replay of the Uruguay vs. South Korea (spoiler alert: Uruguay won, making their first quarterfinal appearance in 40 years).

I find it interesting how dad seems to glued to the games, especially after reading this article on the Globe and Mail on how Filipinos seem to be the only people not following the World Cup. Basketball totally rules on that side of the world. That, and probably boxing, thanks to Manny Pacquiao.Also spotted at Carassauga: Pacquio sketches

Something wrong in this picture? Well, everyone on this side of the family thinks Filipinos probably can be more competitive on a global stage through soccer. Unlike basketball, soccer is not necessarily a game for the height-advantaged, which Pinoys are genetically not. Look at Japan and South Korea, the hubby says. Like basketball, all you need is a ball and a goalpost (or, a hoop for basketball). But why has soccer lagged so far behind in terms of popularity? I only found out today that the Philippines has been a FIFA member since 1930.

And even though I am not a big basketball fan, I followed enough games played by the Northern Cement Consolidated in the 80s. This same team eventually produced Filipino basketball superstars like Hector Calma, Samboy Lim, and Allan Caidic.

Which is why Rafe Bartholomew's recently released Pacific Rims: Beermen Ballin' in Flip-Flops and the Philippines' Unlikely Love Affair with Basketball should make for an interesting read. The American journalist spent three years living and following the sport in the Philippines. I find it interesting that it takes an outsider (again!) to dissect this aspect of the country's cultural psyche.

Right now, however, there are soccer games (and the oh-so-hot Cristiano Ronaldo and Kaka) to watch.

Happy Father's Day!

2010-06-14T21:33:00.005-04:00

If there's one skill that I hope my daughters do better than me, I hope they learn to cook.

Once a upon a time, I can manage to whip up a decent version of Thai Basil Chicken, or least passable Chicken Adobo, but years of being married to a fabulous chef-hobbyist has all but discouraged me from doing more culinary experiments.

So I staked my claim to the oven --- as opposed to the stovetop --- and I must say, making blueberry cheesecake and chocolate chip cookies is a lot more fun than chopping onions.

Which is not to say I don't appreciate the many yummy dinners the hubby has whipped up over the years. French onion soup, Ina Garten's Chicken with 40 Cloves of Garlic, Italian cioppino shellfish soup, mussels in white wine. These are just a handful of dishes that I've learned about and enjoyed being married to the hubby.

Renee is already showing some interest in cooking, and the hubby is only too glad to indulge her. I love these pictures that my brother Don took of the both them sharing kitchen time.

Thought I'd post them, a small tribute to a great dad and cook.

Happy Father's Day dude. Here's to many more burps and happy meals.

Vancouver work trip

2010-06-07T21:31:00.009-04:00

The iconic Five Sails Restaurant on Vancouver harbor, as seen from our ferry

The last time I traveled for work was almost ten years ago. Back then, I was single and working in publishing. Press junkets were not uncommon, and my semi-battered Delsey suitcase logged a lot of air miles with me. As a university student, I wanted a job that is a daily adventure, not nine-to-five. And here I was, zipping back and forth airports.

That was then, of course.

Very little of this excitable emotion resembled my initial reaction while I prepared for this overnight trip. Mostly I was just distracted and busy making sure my desk is covered while I was away.

But what surprised me was how much I missed my family even before I left. I didn't realize how guilty I felt missing bedtime story routine with the two girls until there was no one to read Arthur or The Berenstain Bears to at night. My hotel suite also seemed too quiet without Rachel hollering "Mommy, get hot milk," as she does every morning.

I am a creature of habit, and this trip initially left me unsettled because I had to break routines I've developed as a parent. The hubby travels semi-regularly for work, so for him it's not really that big of a deal, really. I like the predictability of the mundane, like warming up milk or dressing up the girls for the day though. And not being able to do them on a typical work weekday when I do them almost on auto pilot, well, I imagine I just got a glimpse --- however briefly --- of what an empty nest looks like.

Casa Larga '05 Fiori Vidal Ice Wine

2010-05-30T22:42:00.006-04:00

The award-winning 2005 vintage of Fiori Vidal Ice Wine (left) and the 2006 vintage (right).

Perhaps its my sweet tooth, but I always enjoy a glass or two of ice wine with dessert ever since the hubby bought me a bottle as pasalubong when we were still dating.

Living relatively close to the Niagara wine country (about an hour's and a half drive), I have always assumed this part of Canada produces some of the best ice wines in the world.

So I was surprised when we visited Casa Larga Vineyards in the Finger Lakes region in upstate New York over March Break and discovered a really expensive vintage of Fiori Ice Wine. Apparently, its 2005 Vidal Ice Wine has won numerous awards, including one for “World’s Best Dessert Wine” at the 2008 International Wines and Spirits competition in London, England.

Until this visit, the most expensive vintage I have tried was from Inniskillin Winery on Niagara-on-the-Lake. I believe the one we bought was around $60/bottle. But this 2005 vintage from Casa Larga costs closer to $100/bottle. Being the wine non-connoisseur that I am, I have no idea how expensive ice wines can go.

But the hubby and I were intrigued we just had to try the wines produced on both years.

As you can probably see from the photo, the 2005 vintage is a richer ochre in color, while the 2006 vintage is more honey-colored. It was more full bodied the later vintage and tasted really sweet, similar to the intensity of maple syrup. I liked it, but also found it a tad too cloying for my taste.

In the end, we bought a bottle of '06, which we found very good as well, at slightly over 50% cheaper than the earlier vintage. I have yet to find the time to make blueberry cheesecake to go with it though.

This begs the question: does anyone know of ice wines vintages more expensive than the Fiori '05?

Free Carassauga passport giveaway winners

2010-05-22T07:28:00.004-04:00

Just a quick announcement before I kickstart long weekend plans.

Here are the first five respondents to the Free Carassauga passport giveaway contest I launched a month ago:

1. ngan
2. phersy
3. sutarwala
4. patrick
5. joy

All winning comments have been published.

Thanks to everyone who joined the contest and congratulations to all the winners!

Winners have until May 28 to claim passports from Linda Siutra at Carassauga Festival office.

Address as follows:

Hershey Centre Community Rinks
5500 Rose Cherry Drive, 2nd floor
Mississauga ON L4Z 4B6

Cobi Ladner's backyard

2010-05-18T22:02:00.024-04:00

In the backyard: The studio office on the far left; the sauna-slash-pool house in the middle

As a freelance writer, I spend a substantial amount of time in our home office. The room is pretty basic: it has an L-shaped computer desk, a bookshelf from our old condo, and a large A. J. Casson print that originally hung in the living room. There are two cork boards, in red, and blue, both garage sale finds. I rotate displays of my kids' artworks on these boards.

I am inspired to spruce up our office after my recent interview with Cobi Ladner for GoodLife Magazine . She is the former editor-in-chief of Canadian House and Home magazine and a respected design expert. She has a website, Cobi Style, which I really like. I find it a great source of many inspiring ideas.

Cobi's home office is a prefab outbuilding nestled amidst the evergreens in her backyard. I love its shabby chic-meets-cottage in Maine interiors. It has whitewashed pine walls, cork flooring, a wicker rocking couch, and generous built-in bookshelves. She offered a glass of water that she poured from her a vintage vacuum flask, from Rachel Ashwell's Shabby Chic line. The flask is the kind that you'll find in period Chinese films, or my grandma's kitchen when I was growing up. It looks something like this.

The studio looks out to the pool. Sunlight streams through the greenery when you up look up the skylight. It seems to really inspire creativity, this cozy writer's studio. More backyard details here.
The vignette on the fireplace in her screen porch. Note bird's nest display

Here's a fun fact: Cobi collects bird's nests. She is fascinated by them, the intricacy and the work that goes into making one. I am fascinated by the fact that I didn't know they were collectible. She rescues the nests during walks around the neighborhood, when they're on the ground, fallen and forgotten. She showed me one with an actual robin's egg. It was silvery blue, many shades off the Tiffany blue I am more familiar with. I was so intrigued by this find that I touched it in excitement, only to have it crack even at the gentlest touch. Quite embarrassing, really.

Anyway, Cobi is gracious and very lovely to talk to. She is quite excited about her a new line of home products that she is preparing to launch this fall. I really liked the vintage and modern Oriental vibe I picked up from her inspiration boards. Looking forward to see the real things for sure.

I am so looking forward to finishing my design story on her office/studio. Deadline's looming, anyway.

The Rosseau JW Marriott Muskoka

2010-05-11T21:41:00.011-04:00

Mother's Day this year was wet and dreary, but my family and I were determined not to have the gloomy weather dampen our collective enthusiasm to get away for the weekend.

The hubby had planned to go out of town for the occasion, and my visiting brother, in mind. Capping the week in cottage country is always something we look forward to doing, either with friends, or just our family. The weather had been usually mild until of late, and cottage season is just around the corner.
The temperature went down this past weekend though. But we hied off to the JW Marriott in Minett anyway. We wanted to check out the new digs, and were not disappointed. I loved the cottage-in-Maine interiors (lots of wainscoting on the wall) of our one bedroom unit, the double sinks in the bathroom, and the fully-equipped kitchen. You can even rent a Wii unit free of charge, perfect for wet weather.

We spent the weekend mostly at the indoor/outdoor pool and the hot tub. I found the fantastic, albeit, foggy, view of the placid Lake Rosseau quite calming, especially after a busy week. I'm an urban creature, but one that has rediscovered nature while living in Ontario the last few years.

Saturday night, the hubby and I went for a quick coffee and eggnog-and-cranberry creme brulee (interesting combo, a tad too sweet but delish) date at Cottages, the main restaurant. Don squeezed in a yoga session the morning after.

Sunday morning, the hubby signed up for nine holes at The Rock next door, but frost set in the night before. So we went down to the dock instead. By now the sun has come out, and the girls had a bit of fun time playing in the sand and running around.

Nice and easy, a great way for a mother to enjoy a Hallmark holiday.

Tiffin lunch box

2010-05-04T19:25:00.009-04:00

As a nine-to-fiver, I try to bring lunch to work as often I could.

My default container is a plain, glass Lock-n-Lock that I bring in a recycled cloth bag. This is actually a utilities bag giveaway that I snagged from my honeymoon at the Banyan Tree in Phuket years ago. It's roomy enough to hold a flat lunch container, my water bottle, the random piece of fruit, and even my breakfast toast.

The print's quite nice, but not snazzy enough. But I haven't found a good replacement yet so I continue to lug it to work.

I thought about this when I saw this updated version of the tiffin box at Target not too long ago. Tiffin boxes (or pombreras, as they're called in Tagalog), were quite common when I was growing up.

In grade school, I remember classmates bringing multiple tiers of were rice + dish + possibly dessert. It did not keep dishes warm enough like the Japanese Zojirushi lunch jars (of which I was a proud owner) though. But no matter some had their moms bringing hot lunches around noon.

Still, seeing this red-and-orange plastic version made me smile. I am tempted, but not enough to give up my nondescript Lock-n-Lock. I think the tiffin is a little too grand for quick lunch at my workstation. Plus, I am not sure if they're microwaveable anyway.

Now, if only I can find an equally stylish lunch bag....

Free Carassauga passport giveaway

2010-04-25T08:48:00.007-04:00

Up for some global adventure without leaving town? The annual Carassauga Festival is always a great time to see, taste, and enjoy a little of what the world has to offer right here in the GTA.

A Mississauga tradition for the last 25 years, there are 68 countries to discover and rediscover in this year's anniversary celebration from May 28-30, 2010.

Come hungry and choose from a wide range of food choices like barbeque dishes by Hank Daddy's, a homegrown Canadian bbq company, bratwurst from Germany, poisson des sel from the French Creole Islands, traditional Lebanese sweets like nammoura and baklawa, among many others. Wash down your meal with Thai or Greek beers.

Here's the best part. You can go to Carassauga for FREE. The hardworking folks behind this event are giving away 10 passports to the first five people (a $24 value) who can answer this question:

What are the top three pavilions will you visit in this year's Carassauga?

Please post your answers in the comments section. Contest runs until midnight of May 20.

All winning comments/responses will only be visible when the contest ends. Winners' names will be posted on this blog.

Winners have until May 28 to claim their tickets at the Carassauga Festival office.

Address as follows:

Hershey Centre Community Rinks
5500 Rose Cherry Drive, 2nd floor
Mississauga ON L4Z 4B6

Good luck, and drop by the Carassauga website if you want more festival details.

Target limited edition collections

2010-04-19T22:50:00.018-04:00

Spotted at Target recently: Liberty of London and Jean Paul Gaultier for Target (below)

I am a big fan of Target as far as cheap chic goes. Which goes without saying that cross-border shopping is incomplete without a visit to this temple of mass design.

On a recent trip to Rochester last month, for example, I happily --- and literally --- bought into the chain's Liberty of London capsule collection. Their funky prints are a nice counterpoint to my predominantly chocolate-themed home, and mostly black closet.

Jean Paul Gaultier was also selling his capsule collection, but I've never been the rock-and-roll kind. Still, it was nice knowing how his collection can be accessible.

Unlike Swedish chain H & M, who is also known for their capsule collection (most recently, Sonia Rykiel), you don't need to put out your Wolverine claws to get a piece of the design action.

At the suburban H & M I visited this weekend, I asked the sales clerk why I didn't see any of the Sonia Rykiel pieces. "Oh, you can never get them here," she says. "Only in downtown Toronto."

Well, I don't have the energy to join a fashion bread line anymore, even though I really covet some of the Marimekko pieces .

Spotted at Walmart: Norma Kamali and Russell Simmons

But if I do make the mad rush for Target's and H & M's collections, I'm not sure about skipping over to Walmart for their capsule collections. Having not been in the store for a while, I was very surprised to see Norma Kamali and Russell Simmons on the racks of one of its Rochester stores. The clothes look very uninspired, and the merchandising nothing to get excited about. Simmons has replaced Phat with American Classics, it seems.

I'm not sure how much I trust Hannah Montana becoming a designer, as evidenced by the Miley Cyrus for Max Azria collection. The clothes only reflect the faintest inspiration design-wise from the Disney superstar.

In the meantime, something to look forward to: Target's Next Go designer collaboration.

Recycling plastic milk bags to mats

2010-04-12T21:47:00.013-04:00

Angela shows a mat for Haiti made from plastic milk bags

Please read update on this initiative here.

We've replaced plastic shopping with cloth bags, but grocery packaging is such that there are still many opportunities to do away with plastic.

Case in point: my family goes through at least two 4L milk bags a week. If you count the three clear bags that comes with each milk bag, that's a lot of plastic destined for the landfill.

So when J, my work colleague, told me about this lady who weaves mats out of old 4L milk bags and sends them to Haiti, I started collecting bags that night for this initiative.

Her name is Angela, and she makes both child- and adult-sized mats. About 450 bags are needed to make an adult mat, and 300 for the child-sized one. It takes Angela about 40 hours to crochet a big mat, and 21 hours for a smaller one.

The mats are then used for packaging when shipping goods across Haiti, and used as bed once they get there. The red, white, and blue pattern looks quite nice, like a quilt.

This is a great way to recycle and contribute to something heartwarming indeed.

The big dig

2010-04-05T21:39:00.007-04:00

My neighbor S took this photo of the girls and other neighborhood kids when she had some work done in her backyard recently. The landscape guy brought his Bobcat for the job, and this officially became "Digger Day" for the little ones.

Looking at the kids lined up on the deck, I am vaguely reminded of this famous Charles Ebbets photograph of construction workers. You can feel their anticipation and excitement. It was all Rachel can talk about when I got home that day.

Goodnight Moon, the play

2010-03-28T19:31:00.016-04:00

I started reading Goodnight Moon to Renee when she was just over a year old. It is a bedtime story about a bunny who didn't want to go to bed just yet, not unlike her. We read it together so many times it was not long before both of us can memorize it.

I read this book often again these days with her younger sister, Rachel.

So when I find out that Goodnight Moon (and Brown's other book, The Runaway Bunny) is coming to life at the Living Arts Centre, I had to take the girls to see it.

The show is performed by the Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia. Since I am initially unfamiliar with this theater group, I actually had in mind that real actors will be acting them out. Turns out it is more of a puppetry show, and a very good one at that.
The puppeteers show how they move Old Lady Bunny

The setups for both stories are very faithful to the picture books. The bunnies are the stars of the shows, with leotard-wearing actors visibly control them in the background. The puppeteers are actually onstage. They perform gracefully and precisely, the actors --- down to the way the bunnies hop--- and economy of movement in controlling the bunnies.

The stage production of Goodnight Moon, in particular, "wowed" my three-year-old. The hubby can hear her saying "wow" from the end of the row where he sat.

Black light on phosphorescent furniture is a great way to illuminate the set. I can hear oohs and ahhs from the (very) young audience, who are very impressed with the setup. The actors/puppeteers are merely shadows, albeit very skilled ones. The puppeteers made the foam bunnies come alive from the printed page. Puppetry has a long history. I am glad the girls, both of whom sometimes fight over their dad's iPhone, had a chance to enjoy traditional entertainment for a change.

At the end of the show, older kids were given opportunities to ask the performers questions. They asked how "they made the bunnies move", among other things. Even the hubby was fascinated with how the puppeteers moved the bunnies. It seems so simple, and yet, the puppeteers have to coordinate everything with the lights, the music, the narration.

The hubby and I enjoyed this infinitely better than the traveling Backyardigans show we watched sometime ago.

Dining in Rochester

2010-03-22T21:37:00.023-04:00

The hubby's thali ("plate") at Thali of India

If, you're like the hubby, then good eats is as much a part of a great holiday as the destination, the sights, and the shopping.

Usually, this means traversing the online forums like Chowhound, or checking out reviews on Yelp on his iPhone. We are also not shy to ask local shopkeepers, the hotel concierge, and just anyone in general for suggestions on where to eat. The hubby will basically go anywhere except grab cheeseburgers at McD's for dinner.

On our recent March Break family trip to Rochester, we are able to sample a great variety of ethnic and local cuisine at various places in, and en route, to the city. Here are some quick bites of our dining experiences:
1. Anchor Bar Buffalo - Prides itself as the "home of the original Buffalo wings". If the owners patented the recipe, they would surely be gazillionaires by now. Cheesy interiors but the wings are crispy and live up to their claim. We ordered the 10-piece plate, which the hubby and the kids polished in a snap. We also ordered their White Pizza, which is really cheese upon cheese upon cheese and a little too cloying. I thought the kids will like it, but even they gave up after a few bites.2. Pittsford Wegmans - Gourmet dinner at a supermarket? Who knew? Located in the affluent Pittsford suburb, this the flagship store of this uber-popular Rochester chain. The Market Cafe has prepared hot food bars of cuisines from around the world: Indian, Chinese, sushi bar, a burrito bar, a seafood section, vegetarian and salad bars, and a make-your-own-gourmet pizza bar. The is even an china-and-linen section where you can order Pan-Seared Tuna with a nice glass of wine.

I went for Chinese (when in doubt, go for Lemon Chicken, argghh); the hubby had his pick of Indian and Thai dishes. Renee got pizza, but enjoyed the New England Chowder soup way better. We were there Friday, and they show kids movies at the upstairs dining room. Sweet. Parents can order beer or wine with their takeout dinners. We we tempted, but ended up buying Organic Iced Teas instead.Renee getting a quick rundown of the juices for tasting
3. New York Wine and Culinary Center - This was suggested to us by the nice lady at behind the wine-tasting bar at Casa Larga Vineyards. The NYWCC (of which Wegmans is one of its supporters) is the trade and educational arm of the state's wine producers. Everything on the menu of its Taste of NY Restaurant is sourced and grown locally. The hubby and split a lovely bowl of Cream of Spinach soup, a plate of Peconic Bay Oysters with Beet Mignonette, and a Pan Roasted Beef Tenderloin with Red Onion Marmalade with Melted Cayuga Blue cheese on a baguette. The oysters were so fresh and sublime, but I found the beef a little too gamey for my taste. Or am I so used to vacuum-packed supermarket beef I don't know how organically-grown beef really taste like anymore?

The girls split an order grilled cheese and fries ($7). The hubby was only too happy not to see bright orange cheese slices between the bread.

As a bonus, Renee had her own "juice tasting". For $3, she got to try three locally-made grape and cherry juices. Needless to say, she had the biggest smile after trying the sparkling juice.My chicken and mushroom curry balti -- mostly likely equivalent of balde or pail, in Filipino --- cooking, popular in England. This is good for two, I think.

4. Thali of India - A Chowhound find, I think. No, we were looking for another Chinese restaurant when we saw this on the same strip plaza. A gem of a find, says the hubby. He adores Indian food and went home a very happy man after this dinner. The food tasted authentic, the naan was warm and chewy, the basmati rice, light and fluffy, with no aftertaste (and I don't usually like basmati rice). His Thali Special (see first photo) was a full meal unto itself: chicken korma, palak paneer, dhal, rice, naan, raita, rice pudding for dessert.

Ice Curling

2010-03-17T21:57:00.011-04:00

Today's St. Paddy's Day (say hi if you're Irish!) but let's talk about something Scottish instead: curling.

This was one of the games that the hubby and I sorta followed during the recent Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics. Even though I didn't understand what was going on. Surprise news of the day: the hubby curled once, maybe 15 years ago, so he actually had an idea of what the game was about.

Anyway, I was fascinated by the - deceptively so, I'll find out later - seeming simplicity of the game. I mean, the athletes sliding the granite stones made it look so effortless. And don't get me started about team members sweeping the ice with the curling brushes.
Curling has always been popular this side of the equator, but the recent Olympics has introduced the sport to a wider audience. Like me and many other who grew up in the tropics. This is evidenced in this post by one of my favorite bloggers, Marketman. What made it more amusing was the amount of comments it generated from Pinoys, some of whom described it similar to ice jolen.

The fabulously fun argyle-print pants worn by the Norwegian men's curling team was great PR for the sport as well.Curling stones are made from ailsite granite, from Ailsa Craig in Scotland
Last weekend, Diane organized and signed up a group of us for a curling demo at the Oakville Curling Club. As I mentioned earlier, the thing about curling is that it seems way easier than it looks.

Because I have a bum knee, I decided to skip (oops, bad pun here) a turn to curl. After a brief intro about the game by the kind folks at OCC, everyone got a turn at the " hack" to slide the curling stones. As newbie curlers, the hubby and friends all agreed it was a major challenge staying balanced while trying to hit the target, or the "house".

Instead I elected to be a "sweeper". Still easier to look at than done. I actually had a workout doing this. I had to push the broom hard against the ice while running after the curling stone at the same time. And do all this without slipping on ice (I only had my trainers at that time).

Our demo class took over an hour, and everyone had a good time getting familiar with the sport. The even had smaller stones for kids who want to curl. Renee just wanted to sweep though.

All in all a nice afternoon learning more about a favorite Canadian tradition. Now I want to watch Men with Brooms again.

Bronte Creek Maple Syrup Festival

2010-03-10T20:37:00.017-05:00

Renee measuring a maple tree with our tour guide

Last Sunday, my family and I headed out with friends to Bronte Creek Provincial Park for the annual Maple Syrup Festival. Welcoming spring with fresh maple syrup is one of the beloved Canadian traditions that we enjoy. It's a great excuse to go outdoors after hibernating all winter.

Entrance is $15/car. This includes a short tour on the history of maple syrup, tractor ride and park access. Near the main entrance is the waiting area for the six-minute giant tractor ride that took us to the pancake house. Kids love this kind of activity, even if the wait is longer than the ride itself.
At the pancake house, you get a pick of small, medium, or family-sized meals. Each meal includes pancakes, choice of bacon or sausage, a drink choice, and a serving of maple syrup. Since we had a late breakfast, we decide to split a medium (3 pancakes + sausages). Big mistake. The girls polished everything off easy. So we had to order again. This time, the hubby and I cleaned the plate off easy.

After brunch, the kids romped around on the farm grounds. Although it was sunny, it was also windy and chilly. Winter jackets in spring-like weather didn't seem too weird after all. The ground was also mucky from post-winter slush. Renee spent a good half an hour skipping over the bales in a small hay maze, burning off sugar rush from pancake brunch. Her sister was a little more cautious exploring the maze itself. She's only three.

They liked calling out to the Holstein (are they still Holsteins if they're brown and spotted?) cows, but steered clear of the pigs at the indoor barn. It was so smelly, Renee came running back out after she took a nanosecond peek at the pen. The hubby wisely elected to stay outside.

This only made the freshly-made, maple candies next door smell twice as yummy at the candy demonstration. Fifty cents and a candy each later, the girls were happy campers again.

Hockey gold at Vancouver Olympics

2010-02-28T20:03:00.019-05:00

All Photos by Lily Sia Lu

The2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver formally ends tonight. With it comes a greater appreciation of winter sports, and a renewed pride for my adopted country

All the through the Games I was pretty much glued to the TV watching competitions --- figure skating, bobsleigh, speedskating, curling, and, of course, hockey.

I grew up in a tropical country so a lot of these sports are pretty novel to me. I didn't even know many of the athletes. But it was impossible to not get swept up by Olympic fever.

I teared up when Alexander Bilodeau won the first gold on home soil, dedicating his victory to his handicapped brother, Frederic.

I grieved with figure skater Joannie Rochette when her mother, Therese, suddenly died not long after arriving in Vancouver to watch her perform. But Rochette still managed to find the strength to go on and win a bronze medal.

I was devastated when Apolo Ohno zipped past the Hamelin brothers, Charles and Francois, in the 1000M speedskate finals. There's a happy postscript to this though: Charles went on to win two golds, in 500M and 5000M relay.The TSN sportscasters at Canada Hockey Place
I sat through the men's and women's hockey games, and cheered so loud when Sidney Crosby scored the winning goal tonight (By the way, I still I don't understand the rules around body checks of this game). Hockey gold, yes!

It does not matter though. The Vancouver Olympics made me prouder to be Canadian.
My Calgary relatives were fortunate enough to be where the action is. My cousin Lily posted a ton of pictures in her Facebook account from their recent trip. My favorite photo is one of her and her brother Alfred hamming it up in a rickshaw (above) . Their oldest brother, Adrian, is still in Vancouver, one of the many dedicated volunteers who have made this event a huge success despite opening day controversies.

Vive le Canada!

Weekend baking

2010-02-23T21:19:00.007-05:00

Homemade cheese buttermilk biscuits
If I had the time, I wouldn't mind spending part of the weekend baking. Knowing I am able to make something homemade for the girls to snack on or bring to school gives me so much pleasure. It's like leaving a little piece of me with them when I'm at work. Okay, it assuages some of the mommy guilt too.

But our weekends are busy enough as it is, even with the barest minimum of extra-curricular activities.

Last Sunday, with Rachel missing swim class because of a virus, and rest of the family out and about, I was able to do some baking.

I had some overripe bananas so I made banana choco-chip bread, a staple item on my menu.

We had bought some navel oranges so I made freshly-squeezed orange juice. Note to self: it takes four big oranges to fill a coffee mug with OJ.

But my giddy moment was when I tried out a new recipe for Cheese Buttermilk Biscuits from Canadian Family magazine. I've always been a fan of homemade biscuits and the recipe made it sound so easy to make. I thought they turned out pretty well. I'm still trying to figure out how to give them a more uniform shape.

The best part was Rachel helping mix the dry ingredients, and Renee coming home to warm, fresh from the oven biscuits after her swim class. She asked if she can bring them to school for her snack as well. Even the hubby gave it the thumbs up. I'm so encouraged I'm thinking of making them again this weekend.

Next on my to do list: this choco chip cookie recipe from Cook's Illustrated.

Staycation at Delta Hotel

2010-02-17T21:36:00.011-05:00

File this under cheap thrills.

Early last week, I spy a flyer at the lunchroom bulletin board offering deeply discounted corporate rates at a local hotel for the long weekend. The hubby and I decide to book an overnight stay. But not before L and S, who decide to come along as well.

The Delta Hotels is a nationwide Canadian chain. We've stayed at other locations previously, but not the one where we checked-in last weekend. It was clean, had fluffy pillows, and a giant water slide by the pool. I love their kiddie check-in counters. Children go up these little steps and get loot bags with toys.

For this stay, we pretty much spent of our time alternating between the pool and the jacuzzi. That is, when we we're not out for dinner and brekkie. The men just had to try the giant slide. Renee just missed the minimum height requirement. She was not too happy about that. Thank goodness for the jacuzzi. The kids got to have free ice cream sandwiches before we checked out.

Sweet deal.

Vancouver 2010 Olympics

2010-02-12T19:57:00.008-05:00

The hubby wearing his Team Canada jersey. My aunt and uncle are actually watching the opening ceremony live tonight, courtesy of my cousin Adrian, a Vanoc volunteer.

Lots of things going on this weekend.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Cong Xie Fat Chai! (The year of the Tiger begins on Sunday)

Go, Canada, go! ( Vancouver 2010 Olympics formally kicks off tonight)

Happy Family Day! (Monday is a stat holiday)
Chinese New Year, 2009

In the meantime, here are the winners of my recent Binondo Food Wok map giveaway.

1. Wilben Santos
2. Katz Ong
3. Ralph Tan
4. Sheilah Parreno
5. Maria Amor Roa

Thanks for joining. You should receive the maps any day now.

St. Regis Room at The Bay

2010-02-07T20:40:00.015-05:00

There are many other things I'd rather spend my hard-earned money with than fashion these days. With two young girls, my bonus goes to paying for tuition for private nursery school and swimming lessons.

Even if the Cartier Tank Francaise watch has been on my wish list forever.

Every so often however, I'd get really excited about fashion. Like my recent detour to the sleek St. Regis Room at the Bay flagship store on Queen Street in downtown Toronto.This modern reincarnation of the old St. Regis Room on the third floor is a unexpected surprise for this Canadian institution. Mainstream designer labels fill the racks of course, but I spotted dresses by Proenza Schouler, Brian Reyes, Jasmine di Milo and Repetto ballet shoes.

On the day I swung by, I discovered a new designer whose name currently escapes me, but whose clothes I really liked:
Far from being a fashion hotspot, the Bay has been trying to reinvent itself and make its merchandise more relevant to today's shoppers. I wouldn't mind getting its multi-striped blanket. I think it looks really cool and comfortable.

I've also bought a lot of their Vancouver 2010 Olympics merchandise for pasalubong recently. It should be interesting to see if this current experiment of going trendy and upscale will lure the fashionista demographic to this century-old department store.

Hammam Spa and Craft Burger

2010-01-30T17:47:00.014-05:00

Hubby's birthday out meant taking vacation days, dropping off Renee to school and driving downtown to a spa afterwards. He picked Hammam Spa, which literally translates to Turkish bath.
Spa goodies for sale. I liked the Noah's Ark-inspired table

A certified spaholic, he is usually skeptical about urban spas, relishing instead the close-to-nature and the hot/cold facilities of Nordic spas outside of the city.

Although he is neutral about the dark wood interiors and the modern Arabian nights vibe, he is impressed by the steam room facilities. It is large and spacious, with easy access to the showers, and a small fridge filled with neatly rolled face towels to cool down nearby.

What we liked most about the place was what mattered: the quality of the massage. In my opinion, getting assigned to a good therapist is plain luck , especially during a first-time visit. We were lucky this time and found ourselves in the hands of competent RMTs. It was relaxing I dozed off during my hour, which almost never happens.
Afterwards, we decided to have late lunch at Craft Burger nearby (upon the recommendation of Daniela, the hubby's therapist). The burgers are juicy and grilled to yummy goodness. Even the buns puffed up just right. They were not the almost flattened kind served in your typical fast food chain. He had the Craft Burger (above), while I had the Cheeseburger. We shared a side of Onion Rings (again, deep fried to full-bloomed crispness) and a bottle of Boylan's rootbeer. Since they're grilled to order, you had to wait about 10 minutes for your meal to be served. It is so worth it though.

Cheers, it was a good day.

Binondo Food Wok map free giveaway

2010-01-23T07:41:00.008-05:00

Chinese New Year is just around the corner, and in the spirit of the novelty, I thought I'd try to have my first ever blog contest.

Between now and February 14 (official start of the Year of the Tiger), I'm going to give away 5 free Binondo Food Wok maps to the first five readers who can answer the trivia questions below correctly.

This is a fun guide if you want to go on a self-guided food tour of Manila's Chinatown that was just released recently by my brother Ivan (of Old Manila Walks tour outfit).

As true blue Binondo citizen, he has been taking the curious and the adventurous to this historic corner of this city to sample the best dumplings, the yummiest lumpia and most interesting hopia flavors in the last five years.

The maps are available for sale (PhP 100) at boutique retail establishments like La Monja Roca (The Crazy Nun) in Intramuros, Silahis Arts and Crafts (Intramuros), Popular Bookstore in Quezon City, and at Bahay Tsinoy museum store and Libros Fiilipinos bookshop at the Filipinas Heritage Library.

And now for the trivia questions:

1. Who was the American celebrity chef and author who went on a Binondo food tour in 2009?

2. Who is the first Filipino saint who was born and raised in Binondo?

3. Other than monggo hopia, give 3 hopia flavors that are available in food stores today.

Please send me a private message with your answers. Five winners will get Binondo Food Wok maps through regular mail. Cong Xei Fat Choi!

Lansinoh for the lips

2010-01-15T22:06:00.012-05:00

Photo credit: Lansinoh
This should probably be filed under weird uses for nipple creams, but yes, I've started using Lansinoh recently to moisturize my lips.

I got the idea after reading an article on how Angie Harmon uses Lansinoh as a lip balm, and it was a lightbulb moment. I did have leftover cream (after two baby girls, in fact, I had a barely-used tube), and it was still shelf-stable after all these years.

I did not have had much use for it when I breastfed the girls, but I've been nightly to satisfying results. In the weeks I've been using it (apply it before I go to bed and in the morning, before going to work), I've notice my lips chapped less than during previous winters. Let the cream settle for a while before putting on lipstick though.

Occasionally I've substituted it for regular lotion when I do my lotion-and-sock cover ups at night. Though it has a very thick consistency, it does not have leave a slimey residue and is pretty much tasteless.

The good news is, even though medical grade lanolin is primarily marketed as a breast cream, there are many other uses as well. I'm just glad I didn't throw out my tube (at approx $10 for a 2 oz tube, they can be quite pricey), and found alternative use for leftover product.

Must do list

2010-01-10T22:40:00.012-05:00

Photo credit: Strong Museum of Play

I was hoping to kick start the year doing with a More and Less goal list. But it's the second week of January and I'm still working on it. So I decided to come up with a things to do list instead. Sign of these multitasking times, indeed.

I was so psyched up after my aforementioned website editorial classes that I went online this weekend to look for a new blog template. I went to the first free site that popped up on Google and was overwhelmed by the choices available. I realized shopping for a new look is not unlike looking for the perfect black dress: it has to reflect the tone of this blog, and easy to tweak at the same time. I'm still looking.

Rachel is turning 3 in March and we're (belatedly) moving her out of the baby bed to a big girl bed in her sister's bedroom. Which means some room reconfiguration, moving around furniture, adding shelves and maybe some painting. Time to roll up the sleeves.

Speaking of March, spring break is around the corner and time to think of road trip options. The hubby and I are taking half the week off so going any further than a 4 to 5 hour drive will not work for us. Last year, we looked at a map, did some math on the travel time, and decided to head for Pittsburgh. This year, there is talk of going a food trip around the Finger Lakes area. Now that the Rachel is older, we want to take the girls back to the Strong Museum of Play. Her sister loved it the first time we went. We're also thinking of checking out the outlets near Rochester.

I really need to start checking off things of my list. And soon.

A Portugese dinner

2009-12-24T21:57:00.013-05:00

Of the many Christmas lunches and dinners we've attended and will still be hosting this holiday season, our dinner at the Romaos deserve extra pogi points for the food novelty and tabletop elegance.
Our seasonal get together had the usual elements - great company and conversation, plus an introduction to carne de porco a Alentejana. Apparently, this is Pierre's (who is of Portugese heritage) favorite comfort dish. Maggie also served spinach pie, which Renee and I really loved. The frango de churrasco (Portugese roast chicken) with piri-piri sauce was enjoyed by everyone as well.
Another thing I look forward to seeing every time we visit is their growing collection of artworks. Maggie's sister is part of an art collective; she tells me I should check out the Square Foot Show that her sister's group organizes annually. This popular event exhibits paintings done in - you guessed it- square foot size. It is a great (and reasonable) way to collect original works by artists on the rise. Definitely something to add on to my Santa wish list for next Christmas, I hope.

Merry Christmas!

Parol auction

2009-12-18T22:01:00.011-05:00

Photo credit: Kapisanan Philippine Centre

The parol, or Filipino Christmas lantern, has been described as an "iconic symbol" of Christmas in Pinoy culture. Traditionally made from Japanese paper and bamboo, it has evolved to reflect and showcase Pinoy creativity. It is still largely a people-driven enterprise, and the craftsmanship can be absolutely stunning. In fact, in Pampanga, where my mother originally hails from, locals take parol-making so seriously it has been elevated into an art.

Here in Toronto, this is the third year we're lighting up our parol for the holidays. This was a pasalubong (from Balikbayan Handicrafts, I think) when extended family from the Philippines visited us a while back . The paint might have faded a bit from being left outdoors, but it never fails to bring back memories of happy Christmases of yore.

If you want a parol with a modern twist to your Christmas lantern, check out this parol auction at Kapisanan Philippine Centre for Arts and Culture. Each lantern is crafted by the incredibly talented Pinoy-Canadian artists. In the spirit of the season, all proceeds will go to the Children's Rehabilitation Center. Santa (and the kids) should be so happy.

Hot House Cafe and Lady Marmalade

2009-12-10T21:45:00.030-05:00

Eggs bennie at Lady Marmalade, puttanesca at Hot House Cafe

Dining out is a favorite family pastime. And going on food trips are always a great excuse to go to the city.

So no sooner than my editor assigned me to write about two restaurants recently than we hopped on the minivan and peeled out of the 'burbs.

There were satisfied burps all around on both occasions.

Dear Santa

2009-12-08T07:26:00.007-05:00

It's official. Santa is now Renee's seasonal penpal. Canada Post has an annual service where kids are encouraged to send letters to the North Pole. Apparently, volunteer elves will respond back, most likely a standard form letter with ho-ho-hos instead of xoxos. I can't wait to see her response when she receives it. I'm very curious if it would help make Santa more real to her though. A few days ago, she already asked one of the dreaded loss-of-childhood innocence question: "Is Santa real?". And she's only six.

I believed in Santa until around grade two, I think. My best memory of him is coming down on Christmas morning to a brown paper bag full of toys in my grandparents' house in Tarlac. I don't remember the toys, but the image of a lonely paper bag sitting atop a long-gone wooden bench (it wasn't even under the tree) has stuck in my memory. That was the only time Santa made his presence felt during Christmas. For most part, every year, the tree just groaned with gifts from my many aunts and uncles. We opened our presents on Christmas Eve, not morning. They still do this every year, now with a growing brood of great-grandchildren. Our family was fortunate to be present during one Christmas two years ago, but I still get wistful when I think about my own kids missing this tradition.

Rediscovering Utne Reader

2009-11-25T22:34:00.006-05:00

One of the things I discovered as a university student madly in love with an intellectual subversive many years ago was a funny-sounding magazine called Utne Reader.

Named for its founder, Eric Utne, and his wife, Nina, the magazine is like the Reader's Digest of alternative press. It reprints stories from independent, often little known but intellectually provocative magazines and books, on esoteric (at least to me) topics like humanitarian groups and charities as modern colonialists and the Thanksgiving menu inside an American penitentiary. As far as I can remember, this was normal reading for the Intellectual Subversive, along with other pubs like Mother Jones and Granta.

Back then, as an aspiring lifestyle journalist, the magazines were a little too serious reading for me. But I wanted to impress, so I remember spending hours skimming through the stack of back issues he lent (gave?) me. There I was, churning out sophomoric efforts at writing about beautifully-decorated homes and lavishly-designed gowns while reading up on life in the pueblos in Mexico. It cannot be more disconnected than that. I remember how my sheltered mind got curiouser and curiouser absorbing these strange and serious literary dialogues.

But old habits are hard to break. So while I still read up on fashion and home glossies often, I haven't read any of the above alt pubs in a long while until a recent trip to the library near my doctor's clinic.

Vogue is everywhere, but I only found Utne Reader at this branch. It is as interesting and as disparate from my regular reading as ever, but I have a greater appreciation of the magazine. Chalk it up to age, or the fact that I live in a different country now, but the articles and issues resonate better now. There is an essay on "The Art of a Lively Conversation" by Alain de Botton, which I enjoyed. I was unfamiliar with de Botton until my friend James told me I should be reading his stuff instead of Malcolm Gladwell's---whom he is wary of, but whose work I am a big fan of---books.

There is another article comparing wine snobs with art snobs, which initially intrigued me. Flipping through its pages is like rediscovering how the other half lives, and be introduced to ideas outside of everyday musings. Then, as now, stories require a mental pause, allowing Choose-Your-Own-Adventure twist on debates. A welcome break, indeed from perusing pages filled with before-and-after renos, the latest bib necklaces, and many things In Style.

And now, excuse me while I read up on a growing trend of US prisons allowing children to be closer to their incarcerated mothers.

McEwan Grocery

2009-11-18T05:49:00.013-05:00

By the time we got to Shops at Don Mills, it was almost one pm and everyone was famished. The first thing we see as we turned to the covered parking lot was celebrity chef Mark McEwan's eponymous food emporium slash cafe. We occassionally follow his show on Food Network, and dining at his restaurants, Bymark or North 44 is on our bucket list.

Ever the curious foodie, the hubby practically stormed its doors (yes, he was that hungry hahaha). From the outside, it occurred to me the fancy grocery would be something like Pusateri's . But while both do carry premium items, I like the wide and well-lighted aisles, the mix of store and branded items at McEwan. (Window) shopping a far more pleasant experience here.

At the hot food counter, the hubby ordered a rotisserie chicken, mashed potatoes and brussel sprouts. The herb and spice-marinated chicken, though easily 30% more expensive than what one can pick up at either Costco or Loblaw, was really good and juicy to the core. Let's just the girls got chicken fingers, literally. The mashed potatoes were buttery, and the brussel sprouts went well with the caramelized onions. Did everything taste better because we're hungry? Perhaps, but knowing the hubby, hungry or not, if he says its good, it is.

Lunch done, we wandered around around the store to check out the goodies. I wanted to pick up some Montasio cheese, but was surprised they didn't carry it. The hubby picked up some prosciutto slices. The man at the counter said it was made from Berkshire pigs daw, which, of course, only drew a blank stare from me. In fairness, I found the prosciutto a lot less salty and rubbery than the vacuum-packed ones we usually buy when the hubby used it with salmon for dinner the same night.

As is our practice whenever we wander at swish food shops like this, we debate whether we'd splurge on a bottle of Rao's pasta sauce. This is exactly what we did on our first trip to Pusateri's. So intrigued were we at the $20 price tag/bottle (compared, to say, a bottle of Paesana, our default brand, at $5. Never mind Ragu---which he absolutely won't touch---at $1.99 on sale) that we actually succumbed to this little indulgence and picked up a bottle of vodka sauce. Rao's became our little private joke whenever we want to buy a luxury food item. But oh yeah, the sauce was divine.

Turns out we didn't even bother looking for Rao's on this trip. The prosciutto alone was enough to make him happy.

Anthropologie

2009-11-14T22:35:00.016-05:00

Visual vignettes at Anthropologie

I've been wanting to check out Anthropologie ever since I found out they've finally set up shop here in Canada a while ago. I've been curious about it ever since I fell in love with Urban Outfitters on a cross border jaunt sometime back. Anthropolgie is an offshoot of UO, and there has been much ado about how the intersection of "culture and commerce" has been successfully luring shoppers to the chain through word of mouth alone.

Anyway, my family and I had planned to check out the Body Worlds exhibit at the Ontario Science Centre, and since the Shops at Don Mills was practically a stone's throw away, we decided to make it a museum/shopping day.

True to press, I fell in love with the store's vintage exotic and urban bohemian vibe. Its granola sophisticate sensibility really resonated with me. The store was an eclectic paradise of folksy print throw pillows and the kiddie knit dresses and mismatched lamps that was right up my alley, even though the prices were a little beyond (it is marketed as an upscale chain, after all). I was like a giddy shopper let loose at a flea market, except that everything here is carefully curated and masterfully merchandised. I wanted to stop and look at every single thing, but turns out I barely had time to scout out the place with two kids in tow. But I will definitely go back for more.

Halloween house

2009-11-02T22:00:00.004-05:00

J had sent a mass email last week at work telling us about her uncle-in-law's annual Halloween production for his house in Burlington. This year's display would have a 20' giant spider on a web made of 500' of rope, a 40' long tunnel with a 12' pumpkin head entrance, and a light and fog effect all around.

The photo she sent (see above) looked so spooky R and I thought we'd make the drive to check it out on Friday night. The Chua Chiacos had dropped by for dinner and we decided to go together, trip lang. It was like walking into a horror show alright, with tombstones, 'flying' skeletons, a Rosemary's Baby-like doll in a cage, a crystal ball with a talking head and a butchered pirate. The setup was so good the toddlers from both families were freaked out by the scary sight. Poor Rachel broke into tears. The grownups were fascinated by it though. We also wondered how much space must be needed to store the props after the season.

On Halloween night, we discover that a house on next street over had the same idea. The owner had, among other things, an ancient carriage, a real walnut coffin, a headstone that turns into a skeleton, strobe lights and Munster music playing into the night. Their treat? Freshly cooked popcorn from a vintage cart. And boy, was that popular with the little ones. Rachel didn't cry this time, but she did refuse to come down from her stroller.

The girls were a witch and a princess ballerina this year, but some of the most amusing costumes I saw this year were an Ipod, and a little girl dressed as Dorothy from Wizard of Oz (lovin the sparkly red shoes!). I pointed her out to Renee, especially since we've plans to watch the musical in the new year. But by far my favorite is a little girl who went as macaroni-and-cheese. I read about her in the paper; her mother had collected toilet paper rolls for a science project and had transformed them to paper noodles for the night.

Now I'm inspired to make the girls' costumes next year instead of shelling out $ for a ready-made one. Preferably with minimal sewing involved.

Roomba

2009-10-29T21:41:00.005-04:00

Nothing reminds me more that I am hurtling towards my 20th year highschool reunion than watching a pie-shaped vacuum robot tool idly around the carpet at a friend's house.

On a Sunday afternoon after a potluck lunch with old highschool batchmates now living in Toronto, talk centers around home renovations, duct cleaning, and the merits of Dyson and Miele vacuum cleaners. But when the man of the house mentions that he has an iRobot Roomba vacuum, there is the briefest of pauses before my hubby tells him, "I've always wondered if anyone bought those things," he says.

Everyone gets curious and Terence offers to do a show and tell. The funniest moment was when Judy initially thought he was going to show rhumba dance moves. That was why she had hurried up the second floor with the rest of us.

This is how we found ourselves --- 30something parents--- squished against a wall, making room for the Roomba as it glided purposely like the machine on a mission it was. We all had a good laugh watching ourselves watch a vacuum cleaner demonstrate its prowess. It was a telling moment, like arriving at a numbered signpost on our hike towards midlife. We're now working parents with young kids, obsessed with gadgets to keep our carpets clean and homes allergen-free.

Domesticity has become our collective hobby. After the Roomba show, the mistress of the house proudly showed us her linen closet, product of a precious afternoon spent folding and refolding fluffy towels and bedsheets. She was particularly happy about this since, between her work commute and caring for her young girls, chores were quick to fall by the wayside. I understood her pride perfectly. When I was on maternity leave, I thought freshly folded laundry and a sparkling bathtub reassured me that I have accomplished something outside of caring for my kids during this time. I was now a responsible adult caring for my home and children.

And while I spend less time polishing cabinet hardware as I did when I stayed home, I still find chores very cathartic. I've gotten creative ideas while washing dishes. Editing our closets have been meditative as well. The mental clutter clears, not unlike the Roomba sucking out the remnants of everyday living from a carpet's tight hug.

Scotiabank Nuit Blanche 2009

2009-10-22T23:56:00.009-04:00

Rabbit balloon by Jeff Koons at the Eaton Centre

On hindsight, going on a night out with two young kids to a pedestrian-oriented arts festival may not be my lightbulb moment as a mom.

But I wanted to check out the Jeff Koons Rabbit installation and Edward Steichen exhibit at the annual Nuit Blanche in downtown Toronto so off we went.

I had read many things about Jeff Koons' art, mostly that he is known to create dramatic pieces inspired by banal, everyday objects (witness the giant Rabbit balloon) and that they're seriously expensive. The AGO was also opening its doors to Edward Steichen past midnight, and I wanted to see that too. I had seen its twin exhibit, Vanity Fair Photographs: 1913-2008 at the ROM and was writing a feature about both exhibits for a local magazine.

Uncle Romy and Auntie Debbie with Nuit Blanche participants, and at a graffiti art installation, both outside the AGO

We met up with Uncle Romy and Auntie Debbie. It was their first Nuit Blanche as well, and they were raring to see the sights. After a quick dinner in Chinatown, we head towards the AGO. As expected, the Steichen (himself a Vanity Fair photographer) photos provided a wonderful glimpse of old-world glamour, a definitive buildup to Annie Leibovitiz's powerful images today.

More than the parade of sepia and black-and-white images, what fascinated the girls more was the giant statue of Anubis outside the museum. There is an ongoing exhibit on King Tut, and Renee immediately recognized it from her book on Egyptian mummies. Rachel was a little terrified by it, a precursor to her reaction to seeing many of the other installations the rest of the night.

While Renee reveled in the sensory experience of seeing puffy inflatables hanging along the sidewalks, a giant plush monkey being carried around as performance art, and people lighting joss sticks for Anubis, each attraction made her sister a tad more scared than the next. Rachel and I spent alot of time just hanging around AGO, away from the smoke machine and such, while her father and sister and friends explored the other exhibits. I felt energized anyway by number of people milling about, very few of whom were traveling with young kids.

At the Eaton Centre, Renee is unimpressed by Koons's Rabbit: "I don't like it," she tells me. "It looks funny and has no eyes or mouth." She got more fascinated watching a busker performer eating fire just outside the mall.

We wanted to see more setups, but the lines were long, and the kids were getting overtired. We had also underestimated the distance between the installations. Renee was so pooped from walking we had to squish her into the stroller with her sister half the time. Not the safest thing to do perhaps, but buti na lang they fit.

We left around midnight. While the trip was a welcome break from our family routine, I think it would be a long while before we take them both out again on a late night expedition again.

Thanksgiving 2009

2009-10-11T17:23:00.005-04:00

In the middle of Thanksgiving weekend, I am grateful for a much-needed pause that has kept my mind in a constant flux the past week.

Although the mental overdrive was mostly work-related, I also found myself pondering about a hodgepodge of other things, like school lunchroom policies, what dessert to make for the Thanksgiving dinner we're hosting tonight, and even the the sudden closure of Gourmet magazine.

On Friday, I received a response to a note I had sent earlier this week from R's teacher. I had gotten very upset when my daughter told me she had to eat lunch in the hallway because she broke a strict lunchroom policy. Apparently, kids are not allowed to 'stand up' while on lunch. This may sound like a minor infraction, but as the teacher later explained to me, it was also a safety issue. My six-year-old can be pretty headstrong, but for most part she also mindful of rules and boundaries. She just also started grade one, so listening to her talk about the experience was very hard for me. Anyway, this has been cleared up, and I am grateful her teacher made the extra effort to reassure me that, this incident aside, she is an excellent student.

Last night, after being forewarned by the hubby that he would need the oven to roast the turkey for most of today --- I made blueberry cheesecake and prepared for the debut of my first apple pie tonight. I don't normally like pies, but when my friend E made one when we had her and her boyfriend over for dinner sometime ago, everyone loved her pie. This is her recipe, and I'm grateful that I am discovering more new recipes to try and make myself more comfortable around the kitchen.

The death of Gourmet magazine may sound like an abstract issue, but as a magazine junkie and former magazine writer, I have very strong emotional ties to print media. I don't even subscribe to Gourmet (although I read it on occasion), but for some reason, its death feels very personal. Here was a major and longstanding Conde Nast title, with a respected editor in chief to boot (Ruth Reichl), and it still went on the chopping block. Print magazines as a sunset industry in Twitter era is an ongoing hot topic that I follow, and Gourmet's (along with another favorite, Cookie magazine) just made this doubly real and a very grim reality. What made this news more ironic for me is that I just watched The September Issue recently. The movie follows Anna Wintour, uber edritix of Vogue, another longstanding Conde Nast title, as she wraps up the September issue issue of the magazine. Read more about the cuts at Conde Nast here and here.

In Manila, glossy titles have closed shop as well, including some at the publishing firm I used to work at. Years later, I am still grateful for the opportunity to work in an industry where fashion, travel, food, arts and culture intersect in a way that reminds me of a Pollock painting.

Typhoon Ondoy help needed

2009-09-28T23:27:00.008-04:00

If you are in Toronto and want to help, read on.

Below is an email I just received from Caroline Mangosing, executive director of Kapisanan Philippine Centre for Arts and Culture:

Dear Friends,

Not sure if you've been hearing in the news, but a huge typhoon has caused massive flooding, extensive damage, deaths and displacement in Metro Manila and surrounding provinces over the past weekend.

Our arts centre in Kensington Market: Kapisanan Philippine Centre for Arts and Culture at 167 Augusta Av. is hosting a Pay What You Can event on Saturday, Oct. 3. It's sort of a renegade Nuit Blanche event, and in lieu of paying admission, people can donate old clothes and shoes (all sizes), blankets, cough/cold/flu medicine, canned goods or even spare change. We're sending them back to the Philippines. Details are on the event's Facebook page. Collect some good karmic points while you enjoy "Poetry as a Second Language".

If you would like to drop off items during our regular hours, they are Wed-Fri 1-8pm, Sat 1-6pm Thanks so much in advance for your generosity!

If you are Manila and want to help:

Kaisa Para sa Kaunlaran, a Manila-based non-profit socio-cultural organization of which I am a member, is accepting donations for 'Ondoy' victims until Oct 3. Both in cash & kinds (clothes, towel, blanket, can goods, water, slippers...)Please call them for donation details. They also need volunteers to help pack goods. (0632) 5276083 or (0632) 4820512

If you are somewhere else, one of my favorite food bloggers, Marketman of Marketmanila has a similar initiative as well.

The second act

2009-09-24T21:16:00.008-04:00

Words have been my main currency in my previous professional life. As a 20something lifestyle writer, I traded on correct grammar and stylish sentences. I was always staring into space trying to come up with clever metaphors, or trawling the thesaurus for that perfect adjective. I did not always succeed of course, but the journey towards finishing this literary Amazing Race in the nick of a deadline was what mattered. I had modest goals; I wanted my next story to be better than the previous one. When I was with Chronicle, I worked till midnight on Fridays putting the weekend paper to bed. But I didn't complain; James and Jerome and I were at Penguin Cafe in Malate downing San Migs on many nights any way.

Then I moved to Toronto and decided I wanted to do something else. I had reported and written about fashion previously and now I wanted to work and learn about the industry itself. The idea of being a fashion buyer sounded quite exciting back then. I envisioned front row seats to fashion shows, and living out of a Tumi suitcase in search of the next Jason Wu.

I did end up working for a large Canadian fashion chain, but as an analyst. It was a mass-market chain, so there were no front row seats anywhere. Mostly the clothes were knock offs from the runway. Not quite buying, but still gave me a good enough perspective to turn down the glamour volume on the industry. I realize I didn't want to work in fashion.

I thought about all this change the other day when I was talking to my co-worker M about how particularly stressful the last two weeks have been because of this new work initiative that I am part of. So much has changed between the time I started my first job here and my current job. I had changed jobs, changed industries, and changed status from being one half of a DINK to a proper nuclear family. Now I work with numbers and graphs, something I never envisioned I'd do as a graduate fresh out of university. Some days I give myself a pat in the back at how I've expanded myself. I've learned alot about empowering my mind and skills as I shifted out of my comfort zone. And the interior conversations I have navigating my second act have only enriched my perspective as a writer.

Other days I just pause in utter disbelief at how my professional path has changed. I've been feeling the latter more lately. I am one to embrace challenge, but there are days when I am just so mentally exhausted I wish I worked with words again. Maybe its because James gave The September Issue the thumbs up, but I've been missing the magazine office lately. Despite all the changes, word are still my favorite currency. Writing can be a difficult, and sometimes painful process too, but there is an inexplicable satisfaction about working your creative side and seeing your thoughts and ideas in print. I realized this again after I clicked the send button to my editor after meeting a rare deadline for a parenting magazine. Oh the giddiness and the anticpation! It's still my first love, and I never forget.

TIFF '09 films

2009-09-17T21:52:00.008-04:00

Based on what I've read so far in the press about the ongoing Toronto International Film Festival, here are five movies on my to-watch list.

1. A Single Man - Former Gucci style genius Tom Ford's directorial debut. If the trailer is any indication, this looks like an incredibly well-styled movie. I wasn't even aware of his foray into film until I saw this.

2. City of Life and Death - A black-and-white interpretation of the rape of Nanking by Chinese director Lu Chuan. Trailer review: looks very disturbing, haunting but beautifully made.

3. Coco Chanel and Igor Stravinsky - a film by Dutch director Jan Kounen about the designer's affair with the famous composer. This, in the heels of Coco Avant Chanel which is finally showing in Toronto cinemas on October 2. Who portrays Coco better? Anna Mouglalis or Audrey Tautou?

4. The Time that Remains - Elia Suleiman's comedic take on a highly charged topic: Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

5. Capitalism: A Love Story - Because I've always been fascinated by Michael Moore's work ever since Bro Mike Rapatan devoted a class to a showing of Roger and Me. As a communications student, I remember being amazed at how his search for a story/interview became the subject of the documentary itself. Many films (and, apparently, many millions later), the renegade filmmaker is now mainstream, but his Joe About Town approach to controversial subjects remain.

Still here...

2009-09-13T07:54:00.008-04:00

...but between balancing work and training (and homework besides) for a new work initiative that starts tomorrow, figuring out a lunch meal plan for my new first-grader, checking on her homework and first week at school, and keeping my visiting father-in-law entertained during this visit (the last time he was here was seven years ago), I'm finding it incredibly difficult to sit down and sift through my thoughts and blog.

Should I write a blog entry about how sending my daughter off on her first day of school elicited the same emotion as sending loved ones off at the airport, or watch Sienna Miller channel Edie Sedgwick (powerfully, I must say) in Factory Girl? I had finagled a copy from the library after putting off watching it many, many times. So when the hubby scored tickets to Cirque du Soleil's OVO and went on a father-and-son date the other night , I took it as a sign that I should park myself in front of our only TV.

I wore chandelier earrings to work next day, a nod to Sedgwick's amazing fashion style.

Should I write a blog entry about our recent holiday with friends up north over Labor Day weekend? Apparently, there is a name for it: togethering - holidays with friends. And apparently, without us knowing it, it has become a bigger trend recently. Or, should I sit down and finish Jill Kargman's newest novel, The Ex Mrs. Hedgefund (I've already the renewed the book 2x at the library). I've always enjoyed her books since she co-wrote The Right Address with Carrie Karasyov, and I think her writing is as witty and spot on and down-to-earth as you can probably get if you were to the manor born (dad is Arie Kopelman, president of Chanel Inc. lang naman).

I finished the book last night.

Moral of this entry: writers do find ways to avoid writing. It can be such a consuming task - mentally and emotionally, it is much easier to plop oneself down in front of a TV or a book and disappear into another world.

Back to regular programming. Soon, I hope.

Where to go in Manila

2009-08-31T21:29:00.017-04:00

When my friend/editor Anis asked me to write about Manila for Muhibah's Take Five column, I found myself being an armchair tourist again in the city where I grew up. Sure much has changed since I left --- boutique hotels have sprung up, Marc Jacobs has since opened a Marc by Marc Jacobs outpost here, and the march of the malls continues --- but the centuries-old appeal of walled city of Intramuros and the historical significance of Rizal Park has never wavered in the face of these pocket makeovers. Whenever I think of the city, I think of the French phrase jolie laide, which literally means "pretty-ugly" in English. In Vogue terms, less Anna Wintour, more Anna Piaggi.

Blogger's note: This article appeared in the May/June 2009 issue of Muhibah, inflight magazine of Royal Brunei Airlines.

Mad about Manila
Discover a surprising mix of cultural, shopping, and dining options, and stunning sunsets in this island city by the Bay

Archeological discoveries

National Museum of the Philippines

Over a million artefacts and 2,000 paintings and sculptures are housed in this ethnography and natural history museum complex located in historic Rizal Park. Must sees include treasures from the 400-year-old Spanish Galleon, San Diego, the skull of the Tabon man, the oldest evidence of modern man in the archipelago, the Manunggal and Maitum burial jars, and the breathtaking Spoliarium painting by Filipino artist Juan Luna, winner of the gold medal at the Exposición Nacional de Bellas Artes in 1884. Weekends and early afternoons are the best times to visit; Sundays are free.

Food finds

Salcedo Weekend Market

A favourite weekend stop among Manila’s foodies, this open air market comes to life every Saturday morning at a public parking lot in Makati City. Over 150 vendors sell food products like ensaymadas, sweet coiled breads sprinkled with cheese and butter, to organic vegetables, to inasal, or Southern-style grilled chicken barbecue. Aside from Filipino regional specialties, you can also try home-cooked Indonesian, Korean, Singaporean, and French food made by passionate gourmands. Visit in June or November, and enjoy artworks by up and coming Filipino visual artists in Art in the Park, a biannual event organized with the Museum Foundation of the

Philippines

Oriental overtures

Chinatown

Founded in 1594, this is the oldest Chinatown in the world. Hop into a kalesa, a traditional horse-drawn carriage, to discover this bustling community and its staggering number of stores, restaurants, and 168 mall, a local bargain hotspot. Located in Binondo, the pre-World War II finance capital of Manila, Chinatown is also home to Minore Basilica of San Lorenzo Ruiz, one of the oldest places of Christian worship in the country. From here, it’s only a jeepney ride to the Bahay Tsinoy museum with its life-sized dioramas depicting the role of the Chinese in Philippine life, and its collection of Chinese ceramics dating back to the 10^th century.

Monster mall

Mall of Asia

Malling is a national pastime; and SM malls dot practically every corner of the city. Located along Manila Bay, MoA is the

Philippines

’s largest, and the world’s third biggest shopping mall. Aside from a department store, restaurants, cinemas, spas, and over 700 stores, it has an ice skating rink, a bowling alley, an Olympic-sized swimming pool, and the country’s first IMAX theatre. Kids will also enjoy building robots at the SM Science Discovery Center. If you get lost, you can hop on a 20-seat tram that zips around the four buildings that make up this massive mall complex.

Walled wonder

Intramuros

The birthplace of Manila, this 16^th century walled fortress alone was considered Manila during the Spanish colonial era. Visit the 400-year-old Manila Cathedral and the historic San Agustin Church and Monastery. Built in 1607, it is the oldest Catholic church in the

Philippines

and a UNESCO World Heritage site. At Fort Santiago, witness where Jose Rizal, the country's national hero was imprisoned by the Spaniards in 1896; trace the bronze footsteps as he walked from his cell to his final moments.

Bohemian experience

Malate district

Nightlife in Malate is a vibrant mishmash of expatriates, backpacking tourists, local writers and artists, many of whom flock to iconic hotspots around Remedios Circle like the Penguin Café, Bistro Remedios and Café Adriatico, a former antique store-turned-restaurant known for its Kapampangan regional cuisine. Another foodie landmark: the original Aristocrat along Roxas Boulevard. Founded in 1936, this restaurant is known for its Filipino dishes, including the classic barbequed chicken with achara, or pickled vegetables. Have your meal at sunset, and make your dinner more memorable while enjoying this breathtaking view over Manila Bay.

Presidential peek

Malacanang Palace Museum

Imelda Marcos lived here and she has the shoes to show for it. The Malacanang Palace complex is a collection of historic buildings that have been home to Philippine presidents. These include the Bonifacio Hall, where Corazon Aquino once held office, and where Joseph Estrada once made his residence, and the Palace itself, once home to Ferdinand and Imelda Marcos. Book an appointment to visit the Malacanang Palace Museum at Kalayaan Hall, and enjoy the furniture, artworks, relics, and exhibits on the heritage of the Palace and the Presidency.

Monumental stop

Rizal Park

Home to one of the city’s most famous landmarks, the Rizal monument, this 60-hectare public park occupies a significant place in Philippine history. More popularly known as Luneta Park, this is was where Dr. Jose Rizal, the country’s national hero, was executed. Ceremonial guards known as Kabalyeros de Rizal (Knights of Rizal) are onsite 24/7. Sign up for the lights and sound presentation on the last days of Rizal, and enjoy a leisurely walk around the Chinese and Japanese Gardens afterwards. From here, it is only a short walk to the Manila Ocean Park. End your visit on a sweet note with a tall glass of halo-halo, the quintessential Filipino dessert, at the historic Manila Hotel nearby.

Maybelline Pulse Perfection Vibrating Mascara

2009-08-21T20:41:00.004-04:00

Until a year ago, my daily makeup regimen consisted of two steps (mostly done while in the car): swiping color and a hint of shine onto my lips, and dabbing on my Tarte cheek tint. I was just coming off an extended maternity leave and was not very inspired to go out in full pa-beauty regalia. I was at the park or grocery half the time anyway.

Things got a little more exciting when I went back to work though. This is why I was so there when Danah at Matchstic k contacted me recently asking if I'd like to road test and write about Maybelline's new Pulse Perfection Vibrating Mascara. As a bonus, they're throwing in seven extra samples if I want to throw a mascara party. Perfect timing. The Mannings' going away barbeque was coming up and a couple of working moms attending have expressed interest in trying out the product.

I have an on-off relationship with mascara. I have short and fine lashes, and while mascara does wonders in opening up my eyes, I have also run gamut of the usual issues: clumpy lashes, smudges around the eyes, and waterproof versions that take forever to remove.

To use Pulse Perfection Mascara, you had to press a button to start this feature. At first I was startled when the wand started to shake, but easily got into the groove a few days into the test run. The pulsating feature did make for easier application, and I love the soft, flexible brush. I've been using the product almost everyday to happy results.

The other ladies here loved it, as seen from these pictures taken from the aforementioned barbeque: (Photo credits: Suzanne Zottola)

J having have a hearty laugh over the "vibrating" feature. She loved the mascara!

C showing it off to Jillian, who has the longest and thickest eyelashes I've seen of anyone

Little Tasha (l) and Taylor (r) were so fascinated by the product

Everyday people

2009-08-17T19:47:00.004-04:00

Suburbia was certainly not on my mind when I moved to Toronto after I got married. In Manila, I grew up on the grittier end of Blumentritt district, about five minutes from the border of the more genteel gates of Quezon City. It is a solidly middle class enclave. You can see the Light Rail Transit from where we lived, and you can walk to the palengke (wet market) for your daily sustenence. A pan de sal vendor riding a rolling cart would toot his horn around six every morning, announcing the arrival of the fresh baked sweet breakfast buns. At night, a balut vendor would call out his wares to bookend the day with this boiled duck embryo Filipino specialty. It is a great pulutan with an ice cold bottle of San Miguel beer, much to the delight of the apartment-dwelling, karaoke-warbling crowd who lived across us.

It was noisy and kinetic, with none of the calm of gated communities that dot the posher areas of the city. But I loved the vigor of it all.

Last Saturday morning, I am reminded of how far away I am from this urban existence when I stopped by a yard sale next street over. The homeowners had a pretty impressive lot of antique pinewood furniture, and I even spotted a green Le Creuset grill pan in excellent condition that was going for the ridiculous price of $5 (sayang, we already own one, but I did end up buying a bookcase and an antique wooden tray). Anyway, when I asked one of the homeowners if he was moving out, he replied cheerfully: "Now why would I want to move out of this community?"

And then it dawned on me: oo nga naman. I really like my neighborhood, and this is probably why suburban living has finally grown on me. When the hubby and I first saw this house, the previous owners told us that "this was a great neighborhood" (they eventually moved back to area, actually).

I did not understand the significance of this deceptively bland statement until the kids down the street would bang our door to ask if my older daughter can come out and play. I should have gotten the hint when we received a lovely welcome pot of tulips from P and G across when we first moved in. Very Desperate Housewife, a girlfriend told me (full disclosure: I don't follow the series, but I think I get the drift). Our immediate neighbor, a pair of snowbirds, have lived in the area close to 50 years now, and have taken to sharing with us the history of the place. Several neighbors are schoolteachers, and casual conversations have actually helped me understand and navigate the Canadian school system. Just recently, I actually asked S from two houses down for a pinch of baking powder. I was in the middle of making cookies when I realized I had none.

By far my best memory of what it is like to live within a community was two winters ago when our minivan got stuck in heavy snow in front of our driveway. The hubby was traveling for work; I was very pregnant with Rachel, with my mom and toddler in the vehicle. I had jumped out of the car but I honestly did not know what to do. I think I was already on the verge of an anxiety attack when my neighbor M walked over and started shovelling snow around the tires. Just then B drove by in a pick up with a snowplow. He told me to get out of the car and started to do whatever it is you do to get the wheels to stop spinning. When he got the car moving, he shovelled our driveway in one go. And he continues to do so occasionally on very bad wintry days. I could not have been more grateful for my neighbors than that day.

If these sound like bad cliches from Mad Men era, well, I'll take them anytime. In my old residence, the crush of people milling about didn't stop vandals from running off with our vehicles' side mirrors, or getting graffiti on our building gate. It was also very annoying to see post New Year's Eve firecracker litter swept to our side of the street when we didn't even join the fun.

Where I live now, the quiet still needs some getting used to, but there is comfort in knowing that a good part of people you see everyday work at functioning as a whole. Sure there will be bad bits (a strange neighbor, perhaps), but the good seems to have overshadowed the bad. I can go on and on about carpools and our street sale/block party but it is in the everyday that I appreciate discovering a lifestyle that I had originally perceived was not for me.

Movies I like

2009-08-12T19:54:00.005-04:00

Offline, what to do?

I pondered on this after my umpteenth call to Bell after my connection got cut off over the weekend. I didn't realize how much time I was spending online until, well, I couldn't anymore.

Half of my family being halfway around the world, evenings now seem like a vast swath of red carpet waiting to filled with small luxuries like curling up with a good book, writing, or just sneaking a peek at the hubby's FB account. I am not on FB, and we semi-share our social network.

But with the computer offline, and me unable to do online research for my writing, I found myself polishing off DVDs, something I never seem to have the time do. I really enjoyed The Jane Austen Book Club. In fact, I enjoyed it so much I am now reading Austen's Emma, which itself was turned to a film starring Gwyneth Paltrow. The movie has the girl vibe of How to Make An American Quilt but on literary steroids. The chemistry between Maria Bello and Hugh Dancy positively crackles. He is so hot. I love that she looks fabulous for an older woman, and how geeky and charming he is. in this movie. I have a soft spot for nerds.

Highly recommended, if only to hear this electric line: "He looks at me like he's the spoon and I'm a dish of ice cream."

Still on movies: the French actor Mathieu Almaric, whom I first discovered in Julian Schnabel's eloquent The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, is really brilliant as a pseudo-lunatic in Kings and Queen, my indie film of the moment.

The Pinoy actor John Lloyd Cruz, on the other hand, reminded me of Hugh Grant in Close To You. He certainly has the long-suffering boyfriend/suitor act down pat. Very adorable in that classic Pinoy torpe kind of way. Those eyes just bore into you. James Marsden, however, was more suabe he wooed Katherine Heigl in 27 Dresses. I thought he was very hot too, being a reporter and all. Another nerd.

I found myself wandering into the kitchen and whipping up my first pasta dish, recipe courtesy of Chef At Home's Michael Smith. It was nerve wracking moment for an undomesticated person like me. Of course it didn't turn out the way it did on TV (his was smooth; mine was chunky), but Rachel lapped it up for dinner. I took a picture to show the hubby this --- so far --- singular culinary achievement while he's away. Next on the menu: more blueberry cheesecake, another recent happy experiment.

My bedside reading has been getting some action as well. Still feeling the momentum from the two memoirs I finished recently, Elinor Lipman's The Pursuit of Alice Thrift is next on my reading list. I loved The Inn at Lake Devine, and have been telling myself to read up on her other works. I sneak peeks at Mark Bittman's Food Matters in my effort to be more vigilant with regards to my relationship with food.

Then there was the Body Jam fitness class I attended for the first time during my half-day Friday. I enjoy how it combines hip hop and jazz and dance moves into a fitness class. I just might switch over from my usual high energy Body Attack classes to this one.

Finally, I won't even get started at how much time the little one and I spent soaking up the sun --- and sand, for her ---at the park, and the hours of bonding in between.

Elizabeth Gilbert and TED

2009-07-23T22:12:00.009-04:00

Video credit: www.TED.com

Because I am currently engrossed in her bestselling memoir (and upcoming movive starring Julia Roberts as Gilbert), Eat, Pray, Love. The book is a gift from my dear cousin Nikki during my last trip to Manila, but it is only recently that I (finally!) found the time to read it.

Because I am in love with the Italian phrase un buona forchetta from the chapters on Italy (the "eat" in the book title) The phrase, which literally translates to "a good fork", is used to described someone with a good appetite. I love how it reminds me of the hubby, who loves good food with a passion, and how the phrase also conjures up images of living life to the fullest.

Because stumbling across the TED website is like walking into an Aladdin's cave of ideas, ideas and more ideas. This is where I go if I want to switch on the light bulb over my head and listen and think about what some of the world's most creative people have to say while they dissect and expound on anything and everything. The hubby and I discovered this website one Saturday night and spent that evening glued on the computer screen and discussing one topic after the other. We have sat through many talks, beginning with Bill Gates's fascinating talk on the connection between mosquitoes, malaria and education. Check out the talks of two of my favorite authors, Carl Honore on the fast-growing popularity of the Slow Movement and Malcolm Gladwell on how Howard Moskowitz radically changed our current concept of spaghetti sauce.

Because, well, inspiration, comes from everywhere.

Restaurant Initiale

2009-07-15T22:01:00.023-04:00

Braised escalope of duck liver with eggplant cake, rhubarb compote and maple cacao vinegar

After years of relatively low-key celebratory lunches and dinners at neighborhood restaurant favorites, the hubby decided to surprise and splurge for my birthday dinner this year. Since the occasion fell squarely during our holidays in Quebec City, he thought being in such an inspired location merited an equally fine meal.

Long story short, he did extensive online research - including this review - before he made his final decision. He whittled down his choices to two places: Restaurant Initiale and Restaurant Panache (which is housed in a 19th century warehouse) at the impossibly chic Auberge St. Antoine.

He picked Restaurant Initiale through the strength of the reviews both from past diners and food critics, to satisfactory burps. He was also impressed at chef Yves Lebrun's mandate to use ingredients sourced from Quebec farmers.

True enough, from the moment the server brought out the plate of freshly baked bread with a choice of cow butter or goat butter, it was pure epicurean poetry. We picked the eight-course tasting menu, and imaginative dishes, complex and layered with flavors, would surprise our palate one after the other. I cannot remember the last time eating gave me such pleasure.

Roast pigeon breast with vandouvan oil and soubise sauce; Lobster with garden lovage, leeks and fennel

I can still remember how delicate lavender blossoms tasted bathed in flavorful broth. Or how sublime olive oil ice cream turned out to be. Then there were the nuttiness of morel mushrooms, the way local Abitibi caviar brought out the freshness in scallops, the way tender pigeon breast tasted with a touch of classic soubise sauce, dissolving languidly as I chewed on it. Crunchy fennel leaves (fennel!) popped in my mouth when I ate it together with the lobster. Each dish, artfully plated and served, seduced my palate with a passion.

By far my favorite was the pillow of duck liver with eggplant cake. I adore foie gras, and this dish is gastronomic heaven. I can still vividly recall how it melted in my mouth, and how I - surprisingly - enjoyed the sliver of eggplant cake, its texture very light and spongy.

Rounding out the meal were fresh almond cream with apricot and apple cider jelly and an excellent trio of fresh Quebec cheese with vanilla, maple, pineapples and syrup. Indeed if this is traditional French cooking, no wonder our Gallic brethren made love all the time. And we didn't even do any wine pairings for this meal.

And what better way to be reminded of such an extraordinary dining experience than taking home Chef Lebrun's autographed copy of the menu. The hubby and I left the place feeling very satisfied, in body and spirit, just the way one ought feel after an unforgettable meal.

Oh, the places we'll go....

2009-07-03T21:56:00.007-04:00

One summer holiday in Quebec City

In the midst of packing for our holidays, and I find myself drawing up a mental list of other places I want to visit.

It is a long list, and certainly I need more than my allotted three weeks vacay to start checking them off. I've always had the travel bug; in fact, this was one of the best perks when I still worked in media. It is a passion I share with my family. My brother even started his own tour outfit doing what he loves.

Last night, my cousin Adrian--- who is visiting this weekend from Cairo where he is currently based--- and I were talking about how amazing it is that our families have almost circled the globe through migration in just two generations.

Our maternal great grandparents moved from China to the Philippines before the Second World War. In the late 70s, my aunt and her husband, pulled up stakes and moved to Calgary with their then three-month-old baby, Adrian. Today, that same infant has pretty much lived out of a suitcase the past few years. Of his many stops however, he has enjoyed his London years the most. He looks forward to settling down for good in the British capital in the near future. So, from China to the Philippines to Canada to England. It is truly amazing to experience this continuing global move on such a personal perspective.

Meanwhile, Adrian's younger brother is spending his summer vacation (he is a teacher) in Ecuador and will explore the Galapagos Islands. Another sister will be spending two months going around Peru in the fall as well.

My five year old is fascinated by this parade of cousins who have happily swung by our suburban home on their way to somewhere the past few years. The pasalubongs they bring give her a slice of their big adventures: a handmade poncho from Peru; a set of classic Paddington Bear books from London, and a camel plush toy from Cairo. In her childlike mind, she is beginning to be aware of the larger world through them, and other family members and friends who visit and seem to always come from somewhere as well. It is quite amusing to listen to her talk about the Pyramids and Queen Elizabeth in one breath in her little effort to keep up with the adult conversation around her.

Already, she looks forward to the time we'll have a Parisian holiday to see Madeline's vine-covered house, and explore Adele and Simon's neighborhood. She says she would also love, love, love to meet Eloise when we visit The Plaza Hotel in New York City.

The exotic locales aside, there is also the continuous pull of flying back to Manila. Traveling to be with family can be both extraordinary and memorable, and establishing this connection is a priority for our family. Renee is already excited to go back to Manila with the hubby in August for a family celebration. Having her tell me that she can't wait to go back to Thaima and Thaikong's house and see her cousins again, and go with the Aiyi-Pos to Baguio and the Hundred Islands truly makes the expense and effort worthwhile.

In the meantime, we go where time and interest leads us. Planning a trip abroad can be a challenge with young kids and limited vacation time, but there are places to go for a weekend or for a week at a stretch. Paris may not be in the itinerary soon, but I'm sure we'll enjoy similar Gallic sights in Quebec City. Vive la French Canada!

Michael Jackson, remembered

2009-06-26T23:32:00.016-04:00

The hubby broke the news of Michael Jackson's passing just as I was about to tuck Renee to bed last night. The shock in his voice was palpable. It was so sudden and unexpected. On the way home from work, we were just talking about Farrah Fawcett's death. And now, him.

Our youth was set against the background of his music. My mom played the Jackson 5 Christmas Album religiously over the holidays. At 10 and on my first trip to LA, I developed my first crush on one of the sons of our host. He looked like Ralph Macchio and shared the same name as the King of Pop. He also insisted on getting a pair of red pleather pants ala Jackson as our thank you present. This was around the Thriller era.

Somewhere between Bad and Dangerous, I maneuvered that awkward life stage, the teenage years. His music, fashion, moonwalk, and later, eccentricity, was an endless ticker tape as I moved on with life.

The hubby and I spent the evening on Youtube looking at, and listening to his videos. As we ran through his discography, we remembered youthful milestones - the junior/senior prom, the highschool crushes, being dragged to the marriage booth at the school fair, etc. My own initial shock at the news just morphed into a sadness I can't explain. He defined a huge aspect of pop culture that I grew up with, and in his death, I also mourn the loss of this connection to another time.

But what makes the loss even more profound was that he was in the midst of preparing for a comeback tour (at 50!). To paraphrase someone in a radio interview this morning, "They took away his childhood, and now, they took away his old age too."

I love his dance songs, but the gentle vibes of Got To Be There, The Girl Is Mine and the relatively mellow Rock With You rank very high on my MJ listening list.

Backyard farming

2009-06-21T07:33:00.010-04:00

About a few weeks ago, we received seed packets from a friend. She is a passionate gardener, and when I told her that the hubby is into gardening himself, she generously sent us some from her own trove.

Sure we have our tomatoes and our rosemary and coriander and even celery in our backyard. Even when we lived in a condo, the hubby made Thai Basil Chicken and Pesto Linguini from herbs harvested from our pots by the windowsill. Last year, we had so much banana peppers --- perfect for sinigang --- we gave them away to friends. This year, we are keeping our fingers crossed that we can harvest enough San Marzano tomatoes we won't have to buy the canned version, which is twice more expensive than the regular variety but also twice as flavorful.

But what made Emilie's gift more special was the variety of vegetable seeds we did not even know can be propagated here. She harvests her own gailan, choy sum, purple long beans, and snow peas, among others. She says she harvests so much that she has enough leafy greens to last her through the summer season (and she harvests wintermelon during the colder months even). We met her a little too late in the season, so our own garden will have to wait until next year. But we're so excited that I even told the hubby that this just might get me interested in developing my own green thumb.

I am reminded of this because I just came across this article in The New York Times on urban farming. I also just discovered that Robert Kenner's controversial documentary on the high cost of cheap food, Food Inc., is opening at a cinema in downtown Toronto. I don't know if I'll be able to catch this run, but I will look for this film in DVD for sure.

Even though I am not the family cook, I do alot of grocery shopping. Mostly because I have more patience to wade through the weekly flyer to see what's on special. I make sure the fruit basket is always full, the fridge crisper has spinach and bok choy for quick stir frys, and there is milk and cheese for the girls to snack on.

I have been interested in books and films by food activists (Eric Scholosser's Fast Food Nation and Morgan Spurlock's Super Size Me quickly come to mind) for sometime now. And with each new information I discover about the current food chain, I find myself becoming a little more vigilant at the fresh aisles when I shop. I buy Ontario apples over the much crisper Fuji apples because of its smaller carbon footprint. I am happy to see that bean sprouts, king oyster and enoki mushrooms are now grown locally and buy them as often as I can.

But the sad reality is that much of grocery produce that fill my reusable bags are still trucked or flown over from industrial farms across the world. I wish I can say that I've stopped eating Ecuadorean bananas or buy our greens only at farmer's markets since becoming more politically aware about what I eat, but no. And even though I'd love to shop at Whole Foods all the time, I am alarmed at the exponential increase in my grocery bill whenever I leave that organic emporium.

This is why the idea of our growing our own vegetables is becoming more attractive everyday. It's accessible, it's friendlier to the planet, and, according to the hubby, quite meditative. I never thought of gardening as a hobby (and I am still wary about doing it), but I am becoming more interested if only to make sure my kids a little better.

Cirque du Soleil at Luminato review

2009-06-13T14:01:00.010-04:00

I don't remember ever ranting about anything in this blog, but last night's experience watching a Cirque du Soleil (non) show at the Harbourfront Centre was too disappointing to keep quiet about.

The hubby and I have watched the famed acrobatic and street entertainment troupe before and enjoyed it immensely. We look forward to taking the girls to a performance when they grow a little older. In the meantime, I thought it would it be great to give the girls an idea of who this group was at the free performance CDS is having this weekend for the closing of Luminato, the city's annual creative arts festival.

So we drove into the city after work and found ourselves relatively good seating spots at one of the show sites, the Natrel Pond. We arrived around 6.30pm, bought some ice cream, and watched the geese swim on the lake to keep the girls busy until 7pm, which was the showtime on the flyer.

Seven pm came around. Nothing. By this time, the crowd had swelled in number. Anyone who has watched a CDS show know tickets would at least cost $100 pp so it was no surprise many wanted to enjoy a free performance.

The clock struck eight pm. Still nothing. Kids, which easily made up a third of the crowd, were getting antsy. Heck, everyone was getting antsy. People were clapping in frustration and wondering what was going on. Has the show been cancelled? Around eight fifteen, some performers started walking around the crowd, and waded into the pond. The costumes and makeup were fantastic as always, but the mini-performance ended abruptly after about 15-20 minutes. The performers just danced around the pond. There was none of the thrilling acrobatics and production value CDS is known for. By this time, the crowd was really mad. Some waded into the pond themselves, mimicking the dance moves. One couple jumped into the inflatable boat that was one of the props of the show. They elicited a good chuckle from the onlookers, a better reaction at least than the CDS performers themselves. More waiting. Was that it? Is the show over? Nobody knew. Finally at 9pm, someone announced "the show" was indeed over.

What show?

What killed the whole experience was that nobody from either Luminato or CDS bothered to explain what happend. Apparently, there was delay with the performers' parade and so the show was cut short. I was talking to the people around me and while, all of us understood that the show was free, did the organizers treat the crowd so poorly? They could have at least made an announcement about the delay and the shortened performance. The flyer did say 7-9pm after all, but the "show" itself took only a quarter of the time allotted for it. Since it was free, I did not expect to see a full show of course, but I thought it was fair to expect at least half an hour of production comparable to an actual CDS show.

Oh, and even though the show was billed as a family event, my two-year-old actually got scared at the accompanying music (more like a drone, actually) and the costumes. I had to spend the rest of the evening trying to explain to my older girl why none of the amazing feats I had told her about CDS actually happend. "That's it?" she said at the end of the (non) show.

My sentiment exactly. Read more angry feedback here.

Pastry Bin cakes

2009-05-28T21:19:00.027-04:00

In the decade since I first wrote about their stunning fondant creations, I am amazed at how my friend Penk (and by extension, her sister and partner, Shen) continue to challenge themselves in their cake art. Last August, they secured a commission to create a bird's nest cake to commemorate the 2008 Beijing Olympics for a high profile corporate party organized by Coca Cola China.

Just recently, Penk sent me photos of this ivory showpiece depicting a familiar historical Chinese scene that won the bronze award in the pastry competition at the Hong Kong International Culinary Classic 2009 earlier this month. This creation reminded me of how Pinoys seem to have that magical talent carving sculptural pieces from giant ice blocks, except this intricate scene was brought to life through fondant.

But while the Pastry Bin team are not the first and only decorators to create showstopping cakes --- Duff Goldman of the Baltimore-based Charm City Cakes, and the guy behind the Ace of Cakes television series on the Food Network and New York-based cake artists Colette Peters and Sylvia Weinstock quickly come to mind --- what makes their success unique is how they continue to raise the bar, guerilla-style, from Penk's kitchen in her Quezon City home, which also doubles as their business address. There is no glossy storefront, no heavy-duty brand merchandising or advertising, perhaps the occasional seminar or product placement. After all these years, sometimes, Penk still delivers finished cakes herself while working in her portable office, her trusty Toyota Hi-Ace van. The networking never stops, especially within Manila's social, business and entertainment elite, where one's next client is less than six degrees away from the current one.

Left: Our wedding cake inspired by a Colette Peters creation, a gift from Pastry Bin; Juday's wedding cake

Despite getting talk-of-the-town cake commissions (case in point: the two wedding cakes they made for Filipino superstar Judy Ann Santos's recent nuptial to Ryan Agoncillo), Penk has always looked beyond the small (if very lucrative) pond as she continually strives to elevate their cake art with unbridled enthusiasm.

Which is just as well. The hubby and I have commissioned her to make a birthday cake for my father-in-law's 70th celebration this August. I can't wait to be surprised again.

The 60th

2009-05-19T23:42:00.006-04:00

On the surface, they seem like another ordinary couple: small-town entrepreneurs with seven children, just making their way in the same provincial capital they had called home for the last 50 years.

But last week, my grandparents marked an occasion so extraordinary it was almost a miracle: their 60th wedding anniversary.

Witnessing them mark this milestone is a wonderful gift unto itself, even if I have to content myself with waiting for post-party uploads in my sister's Multiply site. I am fortunate to have both sets of my grandparents; and for my daughters to get to know and put faces to another generation. In fact, Renee was so distraught at seeing the party photos that she asked me if we can just "sell our house and move back to the Philippines so we can be at all the family parties." She is already very excited at prospect of going to "thaikong and thaima's big house", Baguio City, and Hundred Islands again on her upcoming trip to the Philippines in August.

I don't remember my grandparents waxing poetic about being married for so long while being relatively happy together (this can be mutually exclusive, I think). Being married to each other was just is. And yet, even when I was younger, it was difficult to miss the tenderness in the simplest things. How my grandfather never fails to hold my grandmother's frail arms when they climb steep steps; how he would always serve her first during mealtimes. Or just accompany her to church at the crack of dawn. I've also seen him lugging her purse very often when they are out and about. They just seemed to be together all the time.

I imagine there must have been stormy arguments and flared tempers and just plain old ugliness at various points in their marriage. But as the oldest grandchild living in the big city, I don't recall being privy to that. In their sunset years, all I can remember is the intimacy in the everyday.

Perhaps this is the greatest legacy of my grandparents in their many years together: a solid union that has since multiplied tenfold to include children, in-laws, grandchildren, and now, great-grandchildren. My mom and her siblings are very devoted to their parents, as my generation of cousins and siblings would probably agree. It is a living example of what a powerful imprint a cohesive family unit can be to the another generation. Mind you, there have been division and dissatisfaction among the ranks at various points in my family's history. But in the end, the idea of being a unified force and looking out for each other always won out. My grandparents has made this their mission statement.

This is also why they are thought of fondly, even among us cousins who now live on the other side of the globe. My cousin Lily, born and raised in Calgary, also marvels at the same qualities I do about our grandparents.

One of the most enduring memories I have of them is when they visited Toronto last 2006. It was wonderful to share our home not just with them, but with aunts and uncles who accompanied them on the long journey east. For a few days, my home was filled with chatter and busyness the way I remember it as a child in "the big house". It was truly a privilege to share a slice of my life with the people who have always given me a place in their hearts and home.

Here's many more years of good health, togetherness, and happy family memories, guakong and guama.

The sweetest thing

2009-05-08T21:33:00.005-04:00

Far from being malambing, I am usually inclined to keep my emotions in check especially when it comes to my closest relationships. This drives the hubby crazy because he's the complete opposite of course, but I'd like to think being a wife and mother is a daily exercise in softening this aspect of my personality.

Case in point: Last night, my five-year-old came over to give me her Mother's Day present. Too excited to keep a secret, she handed me a gift bag stuffed with her personal trinkets and this wonderful sketch she drew herself.

The picture totally blew me away, especially after seeing her anticipate my reaction while I unfold the paper. Her eyes shone in excitement; I could feel her eagerness to please. For a moment, I am just too grateful to be on the receiving end of such love and loyalty. I felt my heart expand in a way I never imagined it would, while a wave of happy feelings just enveloped my being. I try not to make a big deal of Hallmark holidays, but I have to admit, I am also glad to have another opportunity to make quiet memories like this with my kids.

About a dress

2009-05-06T23:04:00.015-04:00

Sometime this month, eight years ago, I donned an Auggie Cordero wedding gown to say I do to the hubby.

So it was a happy coincidence that I came across a copy of My Wedding Dress: True-life Tales of Lace, Laughter, Tears and Tulle, an essay anthology written by Canadian women writers at a church sale last weekend. By virtue of its title alone, the book promised to captivate and regale with stories of romantic marriage proposals and happy ever afters. After all who does not equate a wedding dress with such felicitous vibes? But, as I'd find out after, the stories were much more profound and complex than what I had initially expected.

"The concept of women writing about their wedding dresses is enchanting," wrote June Callwood, a prominent Canadian journalist on the inner cover blurb. " I sat down and read it cover to cover. Then I had an urgent desire to write about my wedding dress."

I felt that same urge, hence I sat myself in front of the computer and willed myself to shake off the memory dust bunnies and go back to this important milestone. Deciding on the design was a pretty straightforward process. My dress was inspired by a Carolina Herrera gown that I saw in a wedding magazine. I wanted something classic, elegant and modest (the last characteristic was in deference to my mother, who frowned at anything sleeveless or backless for the occasion back then). I went to Auggie because I loved his wedding portfolio, which was exactly that. Auggie adores Audrey Hepburn, and, even though I am nowhere near Audrey's proportions, I am a big fan of 50s and 60s glamour. For my date at the altar, I wore a duchesse satin gown with a sheer back and bell-shaped sleeves. But my favorite detail was the antique French lace veil. It hinted at tradition and romance, exactly how I saw my wedding ceremony.

But a wedding dress is merely a window to the bigger story: the relationships, the drama, the joy, tears, and frustration and heartaches even, and reading the book is like curling up on a sofa with a glass of wine listening to girlfriends remember and retell their stories about their Dress. This is also why I enjoy essay anthologies. I am also a closet romantic (the Vows column of The New York Times is a weekly read) and I think this symbolic fashion piece is a comma that separates important life stages for many women. Anne Laurel Carter, one of the book's editors, writes about its "transformational power" and I agree: no other piece in a woman's closet can be as emotionally-charged as her wedding dress (witness the evolution of the bridezilla in reality TV).

As for my dress, it is lovingly stored in an old cedar chest, somewhere in Manila.

And if you have your own wedding dress story to share, I'd love to hear about it.

Byline bliss

2009-05-01T21:41:00.005-04:00

Two emails brought cheer to an otherwise stressful week filled with distraction. Both were from my editors on the opposite sides of the globe: one right here in Toronto, and the other all the way in Kuala Lumpur. Attached to their emails were laid out Adobe files of just (and soon-to-be) released articles that I had written for both publications, one of which I was writing for the first time.

I can still remember how giddy I felt the first time I saw my byline. I was in third year university, and had walked into the offices of Tulay Chinese-Filipino Digest boldly offering my services as a wannabe writer. Tessy Ang See, then the paper's editor, must have seen my earnestness, and promptly asked me to do a small piece on how the oil crises was affecting students like me. So I went around and asked four people and voila, my first "article" appeared on the paper's Youth Section. For my efforts, I was paid a grand sum of PhP 100.

I have written for many publications, and even wrote and edited a coffeetable book since that fateful encounter, but I still get a little high everytime I see my byline in a new publication. Finding the time to do freelance work between my day job and motherhood has been a huge challenge, and making it work certainly enhances the pleasure of seeing the final product. Writing is my passion, and I hope and work to be better at my craft as time goes by.

Achmed the Dead Terrorist

2009-04-17T21:38:00.011-04:00

I don't watch many reality shows, but Susan Boyle, Flawless and Stavros Flatly has got me hooked on Britain's Got Talent 2009.

It was pure pleasure watching the Simon Cowell's eyebrows shoot up when he heard this 48-year-old "never been kissed" lady powerful voice as she sang the first lines of I Dreamed a Dream from Les Miserables.

In that pivotal moment, Susan, whom many were probably quick to write off as the British equivalent of William Hung, stunned and shocked the audience and judges with her spellbinding cover of a theater classic. That people were quick to latch on the disconnect between her clear, powerful voice and her homely features does say a lot about how society has democratized its obsession with physical beauty. After, at no time in human history can he improve his looks more cheaply; teeth whiteners and cellulite lotions and lip plumpers and do-it-yourself skin peeling kits are so accessible at the supermarket. And only then can he go onstage and regale everyone with his talent. Remember all the rumors about Regine Velasquez's nose and boob jobs when she just starting out as a singer?

But Susan. Lovely Susan defied all odds. She went onstage in her frizzy hair, mumsie dress and pumps, and just sang. And now, she went on Good Morning America, Larry King Live and, if rumors are correct, will soon make an appearance in Oprah. Her very presence on national TV, and on Youtube (21 million hits and counting) is not just an anomaly, but a victory for the millions who struggle with body and beauty issues every day.

Susan made the hubby and I poke around Youtube longer than we should have, but thanks to her, we discovered Jeff Dunham. While Ms. Boyle gave us goosebumps with her performance, Jeff's skit with Achmed the Dead Terrorist had us in stitches. Achmed almost killed my funny bones from laughing too much.

My chronicle of Manila Chronicle

2009-04-16T22:09:00.008-04:00

Chronicle memories: left, me with Celine, her daughter Aryn and famed cinematographer Nap Jamir at the St. Paul's Subterranean River in Palawan; right, me with my schoolmate and TV reporter (now ABS-CBN corp communications head) Kane Choa at the book signing of former CNN fashion correspondent Elsa Klensch's book.

I don't have a Facebook account of my own, but when my good friend Alan Robles recently tagged a photo of me and him and posted it in the hubby's FB account, I discovered a link to ex-Manila Chronicle Facebookers group.

Scrolling through list of the group's members took me back to memory lane. My first publishing job out of university was a lifestyle reporter at the Manila Chronicle. Another good friend, James, had told me about the opening, and we applied (and got accepted) together. Both of us were big fans of Thelma San Juan's lifestyle section and wanted to work for her. In high school, I would spend precious allowance buying PhP15 weekend editions of the paper for its exciting lifestyle coverage. TSJ would eventually be my editor and mentor, but that was much, much later.

Though the paper had changed hands from Lopez to Coyiuto by then, it still basked in the (slightly diminished) gloriousness of its reputation from its previous owners. For two years, I covered the lifestyle beat under the guidance of Celina Cristobal. And golly, what a fun time to be 20something and have a mad appetite to discover the arts, fashion, and pop culture. There was the irony of writing about the posh and the plush in a shabby corner of a rundown office just off Port Area. There I was coming back from from a cocktail soiree and clacking away in a very old computer accompanied by the paper's not-too-invisible army of rodent journalists keeping us company deep into the night. If we wanted to escape from our drab work environment, Manila Hotel and Malate were just a cab ride to the glossy world again. But darn, did I write.

Many ex-Chronicle graduates went on to do bigger and greater things, including my friend Alan, who, with his wife, Raissa, have long been the Manila correspondents of South China Morning Post of Hong Kong. Sheila Coronel has been appointed head of the investigative journalism at the Columbia University journalism school in New York City. Another good friend, Alya Honasan, is a Manila-based respected author and freelance journalist. The third guy in our Chronicle triumvarate back then, Jerome Gomez, recently started Swank, a clever, stylish online magazine with darn good writing! The list goes on: Inquirer's Amado Doronila and Lito Zulueta, Howie Severino, Johanna Son; iconic artists, the late Ikabod creator Nonoy Marcelo, and visual artist Bogey Ruiz. Even then new hire, layout artist Marlon Rivera, is now working in Singapore, where James is also based as lifestyle editor for Jobs DB.

Here in Toronto, ex-Chronicle reporter Marites N. Sison is an award winning staffwriter with The Anglican Journal. Although many of them were ahead of my time, I can only be glad to have a small bit of shared professional history with them.

Elmira Maple Syrup Festival Quilt Show

2009-04-10T20:50:00.013-04:00

Mennonite women quilting guild at the Elmira Maple Syrup Festival

For someone who is as undomesticated as I am when it comes to basic skills like cooking and sewing, I am a big fan of anything homemade and artisanal. In Manila, I was always in search of baked goodies from passionate, home-based entrepreneurs for Christmas presents. Here in Toronto, I frequent church bake sales and neighborhood businesses that have been around for years looking for special treats often made from heirloom recipes. For example, I buy our honey from the Dobbs, an elderly couple who live about five minutes from our house, and have been selling their clover-flavored honey out of their home for decades. It's very sublime, quite different from the commercial honey you buy in supermarkets, and I like the idea of supporting independent businesses.

Outside of the kitchen, I have a fascination with quilts. My personal design mantra is far from rustic, but I think a homemade quilt does wonders in adding warmth to a bedroom. Cheesy as this might sound, I associate the soulfulness of the craft with a cancer-stricken Susan Sarandon making one for her daughter in Stepmom, and, of course, the classic chick flick, How to Make An American Quilt. Once, at a tiny store in Bala, in the Muskokas, I chatted with a lady who had a century-old quilt on display. It was made by her grandmother. In my mind, I can only imagine family stories that were invisibly woven with the final product.

On a trip to Elmira, in Mennonite country for the World's Largest Maple Syrup Festival recently, my mom and I really enjoyed looking at the quilts on display made by the Mennonite women. There was a group of women that demonstrated the process, and I was blown away by the detail that went into each stitch. It takes a community to make a quilt, and often, it takes months to finish one even with so many hands, said one of the ladies. This is because they can only work on their quilts on their free time, after the chores, the children and other duties. Thinking about it made me pause and a little embarrassed when I complain about how harried my own working life is. These women probably churn their own butter; I buy chicken stock in a box.

Anyway, my mother fell in love with one design that she is still contemplating on purchasing. I saw some designs that I liked as well. Each full-sized quilt costs roughly the equivalent of a Louis Vuitton Speedy 25 bag, but I think it is interesting how my mom and I thought twice about buying one at the show when other women probably wouldn't hesitate plunking down good money for a luxury purse. I still think owning a homemade quilt would be lovely investment though.

W Hotel Chicago

2009-04-03T22:10:00.030-04:00

The main lobby at W Hotel in Chicago

Lately the hubby has been logging more airmiles as part of a new business initiative at work. I have mixed feelings about it (Him being the official cook in our household, my first thought before was what I would make the kids for dinner), but since we welcomed K into our household, I've become less stressed about this. Besides, its only for a few days each month.

His hotel suite

On the upside, he gets to stay at fabulous digs while away. When he started traveling, he had the option of staying at regular chain or boutique hotels and asked my opinion about it. I told him to go boutique of course. I've always wanted to stay at one ever since the concept was introduced in the 90s. I've had my fair share of staying at really nice hotels in my past life as a lifestyle writer, but I don't think I ever got billeted in a boutique hotel. Now, if I were a Daba girl, this would be a great opportunity to crash with the hubby, check out the nearest Saks Fifth or Marc Jacobs while he toils away. Before the recession, of course.

But I am now a suburban working mom so I'm okay na rin with cheap thrills like a custom tin of M & Ms from Dylan's Candy Bar and sumptuous hotel toiletries from Bliss Spa New York (I've always been a fan since Canadian Marcia Kilgore started this line eons ago; LVMH now owns majority of the business) that comes with every stay. Also, whenever I call him, the operator's line goes like this: "Welcome to W Hotel, what's your wish?" This really cracks me up.

Well, I wish I was there. Or, maybe not. Here in Toronto, I wouldn't mind spending the night at the Gladstone Hotel. We were able to check out their rooms at the Doors Open event sometime ago. Each one is different and is designed by a young artist. I think its totally wicked to pick a hotel room based on your creative mood, and would probably complete this cultural fantasy by scooting over to have brunch at the equally funky Drake Hotel nearby the next day.

With two very young kids, this would have to wait though. Sweet guy that he is, I'd have to agree with him when he says there's nothing like home. For now.

The Sound of Music in Toronto

2009-03-29T16:37:00.010-04:00

I was 12 when I went to the theater for the first time. It was a Repertory Philippines production of Neil Simon's They're Playing Our Song at the old Insular Life Theater in Manila. I watched it with, oddly enough, an uncle, his friend, and my good friend Anna, who was also the friend's youngest sister. Anyway, it was a Sunday matinee, and I remember feeling very sophisticated about it. I didn't know what to expect, but I fell in love with the musical that same afternoon. This was my first introduction to theater, and it kick started my interest in the performing arts.

On Friday night, I took my own five-year-old daughter to "grown up" theater for the time for The Sound of Music at the Princess of Wales Theater. Grown-up because I've already taken her to two productions by Cow Over Moon children's theater here in Missy, and she enjoyed them both each time.

I wanted her first theatrical experience to be special for two reasons: I enjoy going to contemporary theater, and hope Renee will enjoy the musical enough to be interested in going with her dad and me to other Andrew Lloyd Webber productions in the future. Plus, I have a strong and sentimental childhood connection to The Sound of Music, the movie.

I must have watched this lavish Rodgers and Hammerstein production at least a dozen times in my youth; I can sing many of the songs from memory. I wanted to live in the the Von Trapp estate and organize puppet shows ala The Lonely Goatherd. I wanted to dress like the Von Trapp kids, who always looked so smart and crisp, even if their play clothes were made from discarded curtains. Finally, after watching it for the nth time, I even wanted to be a nun. I found the traditional white wimples with black capes positively captivating, and dreamt of living in the majestic Nonnberg Abbey overlooking the Alps, all serene and content, like the nuns the movie.Students at the Austrian Nationality classroom, Pitt's Cathedral of Learning

Happily enough, Friday night's production was as close to the movie as one can get onstage. The elaborate set design beautifully recreated the lavish estate and the grand abbey. It was so impressive it reminded me of the Austrian Nationality classroom that we saw when we visited Pitt's Cathedral of Learning on a recent trip to Pittsburgh (see above photo). That the production people were able to make the hills literally come alive is an amazing engineering feat. Everyone in the cast sang just as wonderfully, from Captain Von Trapp to little Gretl. I didn't follow the CBC reality show, How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria, where Lloyd Weber himself picked who would play Maria from thousands of applicants, but Janna Polzin, who is the alternate and Maria in our show, carried the show with her strong rendition of the earnest snf musically-inclined governess. I also appreciated the fact that there was an effort to add more depth to some of the peripheral characters like young Brigitta Von Trapp, and Baroness Schraeder, the latter even to the tune of two new songs.

The only downside I think is, because the story was compressed, the romantic angle between Maria and Captain Von Trapp and Liesl and Rolf seemed hurried and invariably thinned out. The actor who played Liesl also looked physically mature for a teenager. Having said that, I don't think it took away our collective pleasure from seeing the show in another form. It was a great show, period.

But the best part is, Renee enjoyed it enough to want to watch it again.

Pinoy gayspeak

2009-03-24T21:58:00.011-04:00

I had such a hearty chuckle recently over my friend Jerome's blog entry on new additions to the Pinoy gayspeak lingo. This is a language unto itself (see below example). When I used to work in publishing in Manila, I peppered my speech with expressions like "Mahalia Jackson yan" (translation: ang mahal naman, or, how expensive). Or, "Pagoda Coldwave Lotion na ako!" (translation: pagod na ako, or, I'm so tired). "Luz Valdes talaga!" (translation: loser talaga, or, what a loser) remains one of the most memorable lines that I remember to this day.

I picked up the lingo from my gay friends and colleagues subconsciously back then. Jerome, who is a stylish and thoughtful writer, was one of those people who can turn benign proper nouns into the wittiest Pinoy verbs and adjectives. You need not be Pinoy to be aware of the linguistic references, but familiarity with the language and the culture helps. Otherwise, it is so easy and so sayang to miss the wonderful humor that I can only describe as uniquely Pinoy.

PS - I can't believe a former schoolmate turned Gen X artist Mariano Ching is now an expression, not unlike Kodakan tayo!

Here's a list that I am reprinting from Jerome's blog:

(Jerome's note: The definitions here in no way speak of their talents or whoever they are. The definitions are based on their names and how it sounds like a Tagalog/English word.)

HR Ocampo---Human Resources Department
Felix Resurreccion Hidalgo---A comeback, a second chance at a career, life
Juvenal Sanso---a young boy
Jullie Lluch Dalena---caught in the act
Jose Tence Ruiz--tense
Reggie Yuson---regular size
Anita Magsaysay Ho--Ano? Which is which?
Kawayan de Guia---say goodbye na from a distance
Malang--I don't know. Malay ko.
MM Yu--matamis, sweet
Rock Drilon--matigas, coldhearted
John Pettyjohn--mababaw, petty
Mariano Ching--joke lang, Ching!
Yasmin Sison--Yes!
Arturo Luz--three definitions: teacher, point, loser.

How to use 3, 4, 5 and 6 in one sentence: Felix Resurreccion Hidalgo na ang watashi after ma-Jullie Lluch Dalena with a Juvenal Sanso. Jose Tence Ruiz!

Pittsburgh family trip

2009-03-18T22:45:00.016-04:00

Photo credit: Fallingwater house, http://www.slipperybrick .c om/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/falling-water-house.jpg

Pittsburgh is an unlikely road trip destination. But with two young kids, Guama visiting, and March Break holidays, we wanted to go somewhere new, but not spend too much time buckled up in the car. Kids can only go so many miles, portable DVD player notwithstanding.

So we looked at a map of the US and made plans. Pittsburgh offered a variety of options that we always look for when we go on a road trip: a decent children's museum, interesting cultural attractions, golf (when applicable) for the hubby, and, of course, shopping.

Going there takes about four hours. The Tom-Tom is already programmed with our itinerary: Prime Outlets at Grove City, the Carnegie Science Center, the requisite Target stores.

But the highlights of our trip are visits to the famous Fallingwater house designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, and the Nationality Rooms at the Cathedral of Learning within the University of Pittsburgh campus.

Apparently this house built over a waterfall is so extraordinary Time magazine touted it as Wright's "most beautiful job" when it was completed in 1935. The house, also known as the Edgar Kaufmann Sr. residence (of the department store fame), also inspired Ayn Rand's famous novel, The Fountainhead. More recently, the house made headlines once again when the Jolie-Pitts closed down the place when Angie arranged for an exclusive tour for Brad as her gift to him for his 43th birthday.Above, Cathedral of Learning, interiors, and ceiling detail from the Chinese nationality classroom
The Cathedral of Learning is a national landmark, the world's second tallest university building. Of particular interest are the Nationality Rooms, 25 working classrooms that reflect various heritage and cultures of Pittsburgh's ethnic communities. A Filipino nationality room is currently being proposed to be added to this unique institution.

Anyway, the luggage is packed; the hopia and chichacorn are in the picnic basket. Time to hit the sack. The city beckons.