Outdoor Shopping @ Solenad 2 in Nuvali. Fun starts July 29!!!

If you love Bonifacio High Street, you'll love Solenad 2!!

Step out to the south side of the metro and discover the newest retail playground in NUVALI, Sta. Rosa, Laguna – SOLENAD 2.

A retail and dining destination built with the community and family in mind, Solenad 2 was designed around the mindset of work-life balance. The community center , with its carefully handpicked mix of food establishments and shopping brands embraces the Filipinos’ love for bonding and coming together through dining and shopping experiences. This is made more distinct and special by Solenad 2’s unique outdoor environment. From July 29 to 31, experience first-hand the excitement of living the outdoors as Solenad 2 opens with Plug and Play at Solenad - a three-day weekend fair for showcasing fun activities.

Relive your high school memories and bring out your inner competitive side in one of the game booths. Spend time with family and friends, while you munch and crunch on sweet treats. Move and groove to the popular beats of today’s most sought after bands - Urbandub and Taken By Cars.

Explore the diverse range of shopping options from active lifestyle brands of Stoked, All Flip Flops, Aloha Boardsports, L-Time, Quicktime, Sebago, Bratpack, Restoerun, RUNNR; to the latest trends from Payless Shoesource, Aerosoles, Nine West, Bench, Cushe, Hush Puppies, Aldo, GEOX, Alberto, 158 DB, Officine, C2. Experience the convenient way of living through the reliable services of Bench Fix, Nailaholics, Nisce, Montessori Di Maria Bambinella, LBC and Globe. Satisfy your cravings with Solenad 2’s handpicked dining selection of Toastbox, Krispy Kreme, Max’s, Seafood Island, Sumo Sam, Gerry’s Grill, Bo’s Coffee, FIC, Serenitea, Breadtalk, Pancake House, Pho24, Army Navy, Fruitty Froyo and LZM.

Celebrate the outdoors and unravel a new dimension in shopping, dining and bonding come July 29. Step out. Discover and Explore Solenad 2.

Tribute to the King

So it had to take death to make me write again.

Deciding to write about my grief, i type the password to access my blog with the names of my two "boys" King & Prince. One of whom passed away so suddenly just yesterday I can barely catch my breath to cry. A little more than three years came to an abrupt end for one of my boys and now i could barely remember where all the days went. Or my memory of him was galloped by the hole of a bullet that shot through my heart when i saw him breathe his last.

So death is real. And the pain creeps up my spine like the coldest of ice in the most freezing temp. At practically 35, i would still like to deny this fact and hope to find my boy, King, a West Highland breed, drinking joyfully his water like i would my cup of fresh brewed when i go down for breakfast every morning. I still came home today from work hoping to find two of my boys eagerly waiting for me to enter the gate as they always would every single day, with eyes all wide and mouths ajar, both begging for pats, hugs and kisses like i was the Beiber or a Leonardo. Our helpers would say they both would be waiting for me even minutes before my car would even reach the house. I would still like to find him all curled up under our daybed when reprimanded or when he calls it a day. My King and I shared the love for food. And we both would gain like blow fishes would. Thus, we both tried to do our own share of exercise whenever we can. King and my other cutest little boy, Prince, would go walking every morning with their yaya Je-an without fail. They did better working out than i ever did these past months. A trip to High Street on Sundays would get both boys all excited, enough to make them run like crazy baboons even before they are carried to the car, and enough to make me scold them to keep still or the trip would be off to which they would usually willingly oblige. King was my boy but he was my mom's baby. She took care of him like she would a grandson, even cancel or cut short trips to come home sooner. King was trained well to be the good boy that he was by my mom who spoiled him with love and extra servings of Alpo behind my back sometimes. hehe. Had i known our King only had so short a time to live, i maybe could have spoiled him also with more time together being the busy dad that i always was.

Later today our King is coming home in an urn. And it was just a few days ago that this lively bundle of white cottony joy would be prancing all around the house with his "little big brother" Prince, a chi hua hua. I would like to believe our King lived a life of royalty that i tried to provide where happiness reigned in his heart in the three years that he filled our home and hearts with innocent joys and unconditional loves.

King never learned how to go down our stairs for some strange reason. That's why my mom took the funny liberty of letting him sit there for a few minutes when scolded like how Dennis would be asked to sit and stare on the wall for his menaces, only for us to give in to his innocent stares of apology. Oftentimes his brother Prince would join there and keep him company.

We always wondered when our King would learn how to go down our stairs like how his brother would. I guess now we will never find out. But come to think of it, he doesn't really anymore have to learn how to get off our stairs, 'cause he now has wings to fly.

To our dear King, our family will miss you terribly and thank you for the little time that we had....Papa will always love you and he misses you so much already. I know your little big brother Prince and I will see you again someday and maybe there we will be speaking the same language. :)

Starbucks Drive Thru!!!

Finally, Starbucks had its dry run today for its Drive Thru service at the new Starbucks branch in Fort, Taguig. It was such a breeze!!! I got my Starbucks Peppermint Mocha Frap in a flash without the hassle of looking for parking and lining up. This is perfect as well for the rainy days or when you are on the road and in a hurry and is in need of a wonderful perk to zip you up for a great mood. It was so convenient. They even made a very handy and sturdy drinks holder or whateveryoucallit. The crew were all smiles and cheerful and very attentive, as always. And the speakers were very audible so conversing was not a hassle at all unlike other drive thrus. I felt so privileged today to experience this first!! Thank you Starbucks for the invitation. Check out Starbucks Philippines FB for announcements on the launch of its Drive Thru Service. It should be soon, like next week. Then get on your car, go drive and try it out...Later then..

Gustavus' Romaine Caesar Makes A Good First Impression!

Gustavus Steak Lounge in Palanca St. has made its name for steaks. But it's their Grilled Romaine Caesar that is worth coming back to. For P260, you get a large serving of Romaine lettuce still attached together at its firm rib, dressed with a strong and flavorful vinaigrette mixture [i suggest you request to have this served separately so you can control the strength of the taste as you pour it], and crispy bacon bits and pesto crouton. Unlike the other Caesar Salads with the Romaine greens all choped and sliced, Gustavus' Romaine Caesar presentation sets the first impression. Later then..

Giving In To Temptations...I have been sinning!

I'm having a very sweet week thus far. My get togethers with friends these past three days have led me to enjoy my just desserts more than the main courses which have been narrowed down to less fattening dishes as part of my self imposed diet for a more serious pursuit to a more flattering me before the year strikes at 2011. My diet dishes included a tuna salad at Dulcinea [Powerplant] last Sunday evening, a small steak serving at Myron's [G/F Greenbelt 5] last night and caesar's salad and shrimp cocktails at Gustavus [Palanca St. Legaspi Village] for today's lunch. My sweet fixes included the following finds: a healthy cup of taho [soy & sugar caramel syrup] and a half box [i've only had two slices so far!] of the best frozen brazo de mercedes in town at Powerplant's basement "market", a pudding ala mode at Myron's and a very rewarding plate of a slice of pound cake bathed in three kinds of dairy, showered with sweet cream, topped with chocolate coated and caramelized banana and vanilla ice cream and a waffle stick [whew!]. Myron's ala mode was served with a spoonful of chocolate syrup that boasted of richness once poured over the sweet pudding topped with chocolate ice cream. It's a sight to behold! Just when you thought dieting means being able to skip main courses, the great chefs come whipping up the sweetest temptations. This reminds me of my infamous experience at the famous Serendipity on one of my memorable trips to New York which made me give up on finishing my order of a giant Sundae. T'was the only and still the only time i ever gave up on dessert. Why oh why do desserts have to be soooo good! Later then...

Classics Rule!

Savory's fried chicken holds its place as one of the best in the country. Long before the great chickens of Jolly the Bee and Mang I, generation's past have savored the juicy and classic chicken of Savory in old Manila. It's great to know that our generation has welcomed the mushrooming of the many Savory restos [Makati Ave, MOA, Cash & Carry & Newport City are among that i can remember; and they also do deliver 02-5568810/my cellphone holds quite a delivery directory..haha] in the metro today. Tonight, my grandparents from NY and my mom and I feasted on one whole Chicken savory that was juicy to the bones [ooops, i guess that line belongs to Tito Max but allow me to use it here for once]. We also had Yang Chow Fried Rice, Miki Bihon Binondo [i assume Savory was born there?] and Fish Fillet with Tofu. A stand out as well was their Seafood [Shrimp] Salad which was mixed with fresh mango cubes that gave it a very refreshing twist. Like my groovy New Yorker grandparents whom i missed as i only get to see them once a year, Savory may be of generations past but they hold their grounds as masters in today's modern world. Later then...

Stepper In, Stepper Out!

If only it could, it would have shouted at me already. The stepper that i borrowed from my older sister has been laying there for weeks already. It has gone through a room renovation and countless storms. If not for the occasional cleansing it gets from my yaya, it might have been covered with a gazillion dusts already.Tick tock tick tock tick tock...knock knock Javidoo! If only staring at it would make me lose pounds i would have six packs by now. I just know that when and if i do try to step on it, there would be no backing out. Baby steps or daddy steps, just step on it damn it! Later then....