I simply could not NOT make the mug jackets... I just crocheted away!!!

Used different stitches I learned for each jacket...

And for my man...

Finally!!! I say, it's about time... 711 shops open in Cebu! It's all over town. In every major nook and corner and I love it! Cebuanos love it! So excuse the long lines but 711 is very very new here. What's more special about some branches is that they have dining areas. Yep, 711 has truly addressed this city's needs. They're there when you need to pull out a quick cup of coffee or deli sandwich. They're there too if you have the extra hour to spare before your next class or meeting. Friends can actually linger...

Have you gotten yours yet? hehehe

Hubby got the oak colored cover. They have made it pretty easy to get the planner this year. Opted for the 17 stickers. Maybe we'd be able to get another one before promo ends. Maybe. I'm pretty sure a lot of you have gotten yours already. Which color did you get?

It's pretty handy as it is small in size. Hubby finds the pouch too girly so he gave it to me. Ahihihi... the pouch I mean.

Finally there would be less of them dotted donut boxes people would be bringing from Manila. Krispy Kreme lands in Cebu!!!

The lines were crazy on both branches, I.T. Park and Ayala Center.

Last night we chanced upon a reasonably tolerable queue at I.T. Park...

and got our coffee.

Yes, the coffee is yummy in this place! The smell copies that of another popular coffee house. But when you take a sip, it tastes like a sweet chunk of doughnut has already been dunk into it. Sweet!!!

Would you believe this would only be the first time I treat my mother to afternoon coffee? And I just realized this would also be her first coffee...

Changes...little ones. Yet dramatic in a sense.

I have not offered any consoling lectures to my mom since the beginning. I know she does not really need that. Except of course to assure her that papa is now in a better place and health. I know she is hurting. I know that will never heal. She will cope somehow but will never heal. I feel I should let her be...to grieve as she wants to. I am always here for her, just quietly beside her. She tries her best.

I took a portrait of her last Wednesday. As I was editing it, I saw her eyes. The depth of what her heart and soul I saw written in her eyes. I called her over the phone. We talked. But still not about what just happened. Being there for one another had always been enough for us. I admire her strength. I know I got mine from hers.

The loss of my father has shattered my soul. Seeing my mother hurting is blowing away the pieces of my shattered soul. In some ways, we both shall never heal.

Thoughts?

New logo will launch March 2011.

According to the company officials, the new logo represents the company's desire to "go beyond coffee".

The siren is finally free from the enclosure!

As one naysayer put it "someone's been sleeping during the logo change over at GAP..." OUCH.

But hey, I'm all for change. As long as it's positive and not copied from another. Or "inspired" by anything that can easily be googled. Ahihihihi

Hmmm...I have to admit the 1992 seals the deal. Direct. No room for doubt.

Now, your thoughts?

Yep, someone got his book last night. Pretty fast actually. ahihihi...and we love it!!!

Hard bound silver metal cover with a cut out design. Coffee shop planners are really leveling it up this year.

Don't you just love the bookmark? It's a charm! Literally, hihihihi...

I like the size of the lines and fonts.

Indeed we belong! It was 3-year-old kiddo who was flipping over them pages last night and saw the photos. She pointed out to us that this particular photo is where we were sitting at right that very moment!!! AMAZING huh?! She was right, Cebu Ayala Center was the photo. Yes she was right, that table was our table that night!

Love the way they have dedicated pages for photos of different branches all over the country.

Joel have always favored Starbucks planner the past years since they started. He's pretty stoked about this silver book! An early Christmas gift...

Have you gotten yours already?

Thank YOU Boss for this cool planner!!!

At a coffeeshop. I've been in this shop for a few times. Free wifi as it clearly says on a big tarpaulin.

ME: "May I have the password?" (after paying my bill)
BARISTA: "espresso"

I'm pretty sure that picture above is exactly how I looked as I stared at her, glanced at the menu above and behind her. Hmmm...espresso. I need to order espresso? Awww maaan...do I have to? Does it really have to be an espresso?
I don't do espresso.

I stood there, stumped. Kindly like a Mr. Bean kinda confused moment.
Turned out, 'espresso' was the password. There you go... hahahaha

Well, the upside of (clearly) overspending on them coffee shops to them cool planners...are the COUPONS!!!
Each month, new gimmick.
And this month I LOVE!!!
After dropping off the kids at school, Joel and I took our sweet time devouring our delicious Eggs Ben breakfast and a cup of heavenly coffee...
YUUUMMMM...
We love eggs ben!


We got two plates for the price of one of course. Go go check your coupons!!!


A cloudy day outside makes for the perfect weather for a hot cup of coffee. This was my view this morning...
Talking about nothing and everything.
Relaxing.
Amused at how the kids are growing and doing in school.
I love mornings like this...

Thank YOU.

Hong Kong!!!
Beautiful place...
My kids simply love Hong Kong! Tall buildings and crazy MTR spaces, ride trains and cold weather amazed them totally!
HAHAHAHA
And yep, me most definitely.
I love the cold!
I got to use my coats and scarf collection. HAHAHAHA
According to Joel..."I belong..."
We stayed at Guada's place at Lantau. The last stop of the train. First time to travel from Lantau to Hong Kong. Long ride in a swaying train. It got me dizzy at first, but it was cool. Gust of cold wind kinda terrified the kids too but they got used to it after awhile. And I think they are secretly preferring to live in HK now.
HAHAHAHAHAHA!


The scarf from Egypt (courtesy of my friend Gigoy) came just in time for the trip.



At The Peak we spent a relaxing lazy afternoon. Got a ticket Disneyland there coz they were giving out a free umbrella! HAHAHA! We got the rest of our tickets at Sunny Bay the next day. (We needed only one umbrella).
The kids could no longer be contained! Hong Kong for them was Disneyland all the way. Had a hard time explaining to them that we were going on the next day.


Yep, that's Pamie alright. She wouldn't go to a Korean restaurant in Cebu with us, but we would to Hong Kong. HAHAHA
I love them MTRs!!!
They are way way bigger and spacious now. Long distances to walk but super easier to navigate. That's why HK people are thin. They walk...with their gadgets on. That's our first ever caffeine in HK. After those long MTR walks, we needed to grab the first and cheapest can of caffeine we see.
And yes, my whole ensemble (humble and simply they may be) is greatly thought of, according to my body type and the places we were to go. For good photo ops. HAHAHAHAHA!

Guess who came 'bearing gifts she travelled so far'.
Literally.
Ann had called me earlier while on mobile (she went on ocular inspection for a project) from a distant town.
Today was a special day.
And I had promised my kids that I would be spending every second with them. Not even checking my emails as much.
I couldn't just get up and go.
So...Ann came to us.
Today is our 15th wedding anniversary.
15 years!!!
15 wonderful years. Trials and obstacles hurdled. Happiness and contentment attained. Bliss. And blessed with 2 beautiful daughters.

Of course we waited for tita Ann at the gate, with my camera ready, planning to click a pic as she would come down from the van with her gifts that she told me about earlier.
And CLICK!!!
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!
Wonderful! Wonderful!!!
Thanks Ann!
Very sweet indeed our treats!

Thanks Boss. We ought it all to YOU.

This was given by the girls' godparent long time ago. When they would still be coaxed into eating or drinking something as long as it comes in a very cute container. This little cutie cat had been stashed away at the back of the cupboard. Three days ago I decided to bring it back into circulation. It is afterall a very cute kittie. And she's smiling at me!
She makes me happy. She is simply Kittie.
She opens up like so...


Very good indeed for my afternoon coffee while the kids are taking their naps.
But of course, nothing this cute would ever last in your hands if the kids realize it really is a cute kittie...it can still be used...mommy is in fact using it...and that it was theirs in the first place.

It took a bit of negotiating but they finally said yes and officially gave me Kittie!!!
Yeppeeeeyyyy!!!
My girls are so kind.

Thank YOU.

This is probably the only place in town which we visit almost every day. My ultimate fave. No offense meant to the others but this place just makes me wanna lie back and relax. This is their newest branch. Don't you just love the facade?
Remember that pricey tiramisu?
The price of our food on this table totals the price of that one tiramisu! Crazy isn't it?
And the stuff we have in this place? All YUMMMMMMMYYYYYY!!!




We are smiling. Coz at the end of each day of no less than one party to attend, we have this place to run to late at night to get our caffeine and hot choco! (Ice cream for Ava).

Ok, so you probably dont care much about what's inside our refrigerator.
HAHAHAHA!
But oh well, here it is anyway. hehehe. I made a mean mix of brewed coffee in the morning. Found a big enough jar and put it in the refrigerator. By 9 in the evening, my cup...ehem, jar of (not-so-fresh by then) coffee could indeed compete with any other over priced coffee in the market. Seriously.
Why it even occured to me to do this.
Im just tense.
Lots of wheelings and dealings going on these days. I know, what's meant to be, will. If it's meant to be mine.
It will be mine...right? Right.
HE SAID SO.
I asked actually.
Heard HIM say YES.
Everything will be cool.
Im just too tense.
But there's not even a doubt in my mind about things failing. I just cant help it. Im too tense. HAHAHA. Need to laugh. Need to make my own mix of coffee... in a jar. HAHAHAHA!!!
One deal has actually gone sour this morning.
OHHHH BUT WAIT... just as well!!!
BECAUSE ONE GREAT WINDOW OPENED UP ...a way BETTER DEAL!!! hehehehe...
It'll be cool. I know.
How do I know?
BECAUSE HE SAID SO.
What better assurance could there be?

It all started the night before. But first let me tell you who's that making peek-a-boo above. That's Pamie. She started it. Ok, technically I did, the night before. But it was all her last night. In the name of Conching.
The night before I texted her all the food choices I wanted to binge on before officially going on the much needed diet the next day, a plan which totally went awry...
Final choice was on a burger joint. I munched on this mushroom and bacon cheese half pounder burger. Needed more cheese if you ask me. I ended up eating chunks of dry meat on a bun. And of course, coffee. Then diet begins.
NOT.
In the name of Conching. A popular and humble outlet for delicious native chicken and such. Joel and I rejected the idea because all we could remember was it was in a dark dusty stall at the reclamation area. Health hazard much? Think knife wielding crazy guy sneaking up behind you! But Pamie goes on to say that they have a 'classier' place now, still at the reclamation area, near that big medical university. That said, there wasnt anything more said about it actually, the other night. Yesterday before going off to work, Joel asked me,"Conching for dinner?"
Automatically I text (or did I YIM?) Pamie...'Conching is on...'. (Joel must have been drooling over the native chicken since last night).
It was so on, picked Pamie and up and off we went on our quest for the delicious popular Conching native chicken. Off to the dark and deserted reclamation area we went, spent minutes going around the university and another building to look for the resto. Finally we find it. In an arcade. No one else around. Pamie knew I was having second thoughts.
She knew of my requirement: there has to be other people around.
A not so far-out requirement actually, I want to see other people enjoying the food and talking and laughing. At least it is an indication the turn over of food is fast, no reheating required, fresh.
We still were about to settle for the place though, afterall, this was the main purpose for breaking the diet. The major turning point was that each chicken now cost P268! Ok, done. Off to somewhere else we go. That settled it. Joel and Pamie said maybe it was better during lunchtime, I, as usual, made my senseless argument that it would be too hot and dusty eating hot native chicken during lunch. In that place.
We now wanted steak.
Joel wanted steak.
I settled.
Pamie got excited.
But apparently, our fave steak place is closed during Wednesdays. Two down. No choice, next stop, the mall.
(Of course there were other choices but we were kinda extra picky last night, and hungry).


All the while Joel had been telling me about this delicious pizza he had in the afternoon. I tell you, Joel is so picky when it comes to pizza. And when he says its good, then it must be really good!
I declared 'Pizza'.
They not buy it.
We stood by 'the terraces' looking at all the choices above us.
But pizza was already in my mind.
'Pizza' I would keep repeating like a hungry strung out robot.
Lo and behold! Buffet!!!
Lookey lookey at our plates! We had about 3 platefulls each, I think! I was ENJOYING every bit!

We were stuffed! Conversation still went back to Conching. It was her fault. It was Pamie's fault! HARHARHAR! We were beyond stuffed. I was HAPPY stuffed!!! Joel was groggy stuffed. Pamie was complaining stuffed.
She decided no more coffee for us. Simply didnt have room for a cup anymore. But like crazed coffee zombies we automatically and silently made our way to where coffee was at... (the night before Pamie got disappointed with her drink so I was guessing she wanted vengeance hehehe)


But hey! We finally got our discount card from this place! Conversation was quieter and slower. We were really stuffed, seriously. I was so stuffed I agreed to hot coffee (Im a cold coffee person). Pamie got her delicious whipped cream blended (with a vengeance, hehehe).
Her: 'Arg, I forgot about the whipped cream.'
Me: 'As if it matters now...'
Her: 'It does. I want to go on a diet sometimes you know.'
(If that conversation sounds pointless and senseless to you now... it actually sounds exactly that to me last night)
Garlic, onions, oregamu, buffalo wings and pizza make you talk that way.
But let me share with you some points I learned last night:

1. Ngohiong is best eaten during lunch, according to Joel and Pamie.
Definitely not suited for dinner.(dont ask me why, they offered no further explanation)
2. Carlito's Way at the Paseo is closed during Wednesdays.
3. The pasta pizza at Pizza Hut is super delicious.
4. Native chicken is the most appropriate for porridge when you are sick. Why porridge for sick people? It is easier to chew and swallow and is a complete food.
5. Watch out for the plus plus on buffet prices.
6. Dont drink too much water when eating at buffets, it makes you full faster. (Nevermind the garlicky taste on your mouth, get your money's worth and dont drink water or any other beverage for that matter, but if you must, settle for water, just not too much).
7. Native chicken price has gone up to P268.
8. If you have gotten your discount card from a coffee place, it means you have spent way too much already for coffee the past month. Same goes for planners.
9. When it is your time to go, it is your time to go. But it doesnt mean you should be reckless and ask for it by parking your car in a dark place and walk all the way to that internet cafe in a secluded area. For your own safety.
10. Coffee and newspapers go together, thus the picture above.

Diet definitely (MANDATORY actually) starts TODAY.

Yep, that's my actual cup up there. Very interesting isnt it?
Colorful. Subtle. Full of coffee. (mine)
My cup..."runneth over" ..hehe
The kids and I were on our way to the airport but I got a text that the flight's been delayed. I swerved to a nearby coffee shop coz the girls had been asking for a really really big sandwich since we left the house. I have started bringing both kids at the backseat and thankfully they would just sit tight and hold on to each other.
So a really really big sandwich they got! (Good thing this place is affordable, hehe). Got my (paper) cup of coffee too. No tiramisu. Im so fat na! hehehe. The cup was so cute I had to take a picture. Ava has started running around the table,
I heard Alyssa tell her,"Ava, you have got to stop running or you'll spill mommy's cup over...".
Her statement got me smilling. Yes, I am blessed. My family filled with love. My foundation and strength.
It's "runneth over...".
Even in my vices YOU speak to me.
HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!
Thank You Boss.
(one more favor Boss...could you please make my **LSS go away now? hehe)

**Note to self: in the event that I shall be old by the time I read this entry again and would have started to lose my memory, LSS means Last Song Syndrome. The song you last heard and couldnt get out of your mind, for like, forever!!! Hehehe...