Tea Rock at UP Town Center

Tea Rock is probably the only place at the UP Town Center where you can hang out and study - most of the places there are actually for eating. I originally wanted to go somewhere else (to try a certain girardelli drink), but it was full to the brim.

Tea Rock

Tea Rock has a giant menu, including dinner items. It's very difficult to read it from the wall, but the prices are standard milk tea shop prices (unlike most shops in that area, which I find cray-cray for something with UP in it).

It doesn't use the more common (nowadays) coaster buzzer.

 A drink each for my friend and I. Tiramisu M (P90) on the left and Raspberry Cocoa L (P100) for me. It tasted fine, not spectacular, but not bad either. The pearls were chewy in a good way but were relatively tasteless, so it's kind of meh.

Physically, the store was well lit and decorated, but the music was a bit loud (tea ROCK?) so it wasn't a great study spot. However, this is probably one of the best places for students to hang out (since most other places here aren't really student friendly).

I probably wouldn't go back here soon simply because both traffic and parking at this area is insane. :(

McVitie's Dark Chocolate Digestives

I like biscuits, I love dark chocolate and I always seem to end up buying a pack of M&S Dark Chocolate Digestives. 

This week, I found this at the grocery and couldn't help snagging a box.

McVities Dark Chocolate Digestives

What I like about this is that important information like this is written in front of the box, so I am reminded of how many calories I put into my mouth everytime I get a cookie (it sure stops me from eating half the pack in one go). Also, that this does come in a box covering the plastic packaging, it makes storage much easier.

The biscuit itself is coated on one side in a layer of dark chocolate, around a quarter of the height of the biscuit itself. Unfortunately, it doesn't taste quite as dark chocolate-y as expected.

I end up eating 2-4 of these at a time- they're a bit more filling than the M&S ones (I end up eating 4-6 of those at a time).

The weather is still pretty nice and it's nice to pair with a cup of hot coffee, or even tea.

Shows in the Philippines

It may not be the most wonderful time of the year (that's Christmas-New Year, fyi) but with the weather being as it is, it's a pretty nice time to be in the Philippines.

What's great about this season is that there are a lot of shows going on. For those who like musicals, there's Wicked showing at CCP. There are also some pre-valentines shows to look forward to.

For me, I love the fact that a lot of concerts are held from January to March - for free! It's graduation season and end-of-the-year recitals are common. Admission is usually free (solo recitals), and you get to support some budding young talent. After all, occupied halls are better halls ^^

Check out the universities near you, especially ones you are alumni of. Chances are there are posters in the local music department.

It's a great way to start the new year :)

Pizza Hut Cheesy 7 Pizza

Pizza Hut  Cheesy 7 Pizza

I don't know if it's still available right now, but this was my favorite pizza last Christmas break - no wonder I packed a few pounds at the start of the year. It really is a cheesy fantasy! Although the flavors of the different cheeses weren't that distinct (I would have preferred a stronger bite), they still worked well together, especially with the cream cheese on top. Spread the cream cheese around to get a thin layer all around so the creamy sweetness doesn't overwhelm the other bits.

Time to diet now.

Review: Schwarzkopf Gliss Ultimate Repair Shampoo and Conditioner

Okay, I haven't been able to take care of my hair lately, so I decided to give this product a go:

Schwarzkopf Gliss Ultimate Repair

Take note that these bottles weren't bought in the Phil and were instead made in Germany. You can find this product at department stores around, but the bottles I've seen here are made in China. I'm kind of torn if I should try the locally available products because on one hand, it's cheap Schwarzkopf... but on the other. It's a german brand, and might as well buy something that came from there.

The shampoo is a bit runnier than expected for it's semi-opaque, shiny color. It lathers well and is easy to remove. I don't feel squeaky clean when I use this - as compared to a clarifying shampoo- but I don't feel that there's any residue left behind either. The conditioner looks standard, and is pretty easy to rinse off. I love the scent: it's like a chocolate-coconut that stays long in both my hair and in the shower.

While my hair at this length and without any damaging treatment is generally manageable, it still needs a bit of help with a comb and the occasional smoothing product and deep conditioning. With Schwarzkopf Gliss, my hair is smoother, softer and frizz-free with just shampoo and conditioner. As long as I let it air or towel dry, I don't have to worry about a bad hair day.

The best thing I've found about this product is that I don't need to brush my hair anymore! Finger coming everyday is enough as it's a good detangler on it's own.

Will I buy this product again? If I can find one from Germany, Yes. Though I might cave and buy a small size of the China made one when I run out.

Volume Discrepancies

I was drinking with my friends when I noticed the difference between two unopened bottles of Tanduay Ice Peach:

Tanduay Ice Peach

Now, I really like this flavor out of all the Tanduay Ice flavors. It's on par with Gilbey's Premium Strength in terms of cheap alcoholic beverages I like to drink. However, I noticed that the bottle on the right has a significant amount - around one mouthful - more than the one on the left. Is the one on the right overfilled? Is the one on the left underfilled?

Either way, it made me question quality control because of failure of standardization. Or is it normal for bottles to be filled this way? It won't stop me from buying my next bottle - for now. But it does bring to mind other things...

Mr. Park's Bread & Cake

As someone who's always in a coffee shop, I like finding new places to try. In the newly constructed  ETON Emeral Loft building in Emerald Avenue is this bakery-coffee shop beside Highlands Coffee and Chatime. 

I did like how this place looked like, but I didn't take any pictures because I was distracted with my drink. And not in a really good way. But that's for later. What I liked: comfy chairs, many outlets.  While there were people studying, it's mostly a place to eat and socialize. Service was on the meh side and there was a time when there was no one manning the counter. I did not try their WiFi.

I ordered a mint choco frappuccino:

Mr. Park's Bread & Cake Mint Choco Frappuccino P170

First of all, they do not accept credit card payments, so that's a minor inconvenience. Second, there is no whipped cream on top :( While the drink itself was fine, pictures on their FB site led me to believe that there would be decent presentation at the very most, and whipped cream at the very least. I was very underwhelmed - which is a bummer. I like eating whipped cream.

This place is actually situated near Subspace, which may have fun latte art but fails in the presentation of cold beverages as well. While I probably won't buy any cold drinks from Mr. Park's, I am still interested in trying out some of their breads -maybe with hot coffee.

Review: Slice's Sir Francis M. Bacon Cupcake

Slice: Sir Francis M. Bacon

Stopping by at Slice at the Podium, I acquired myself a vanilla cupcake topped with cream cheese and candied bacon. It's rich without being too much as the different flavors tend to balance out (nothing too sweet or savory). At P90 a piece, this ain't cheap. But I prefer sharing this with a friend since it's a rather tall cupcake - so it's not bad at all. I wouldn't eat this regularly, but once in a while - it's nice to have bacon for dessert.

Review: Bench So In Love Shower Gel and Lotion

Bench So In Love Shower Gel and Body Lotion

I've finally gotten around to using one of the bath sets my relatives give me. I don't even think this is still around, but here it is - finally in use.

What I like about the body wash is that while it's flowery and sweet, it's so light, but it lasts long on the skin. Like shown - it's a bit on the watery side and comes off easily in the shower. I tend to use more than I ought, but don't have problems with washing it off after.

With the lotion, it gets a bit stronger and lasts a good bit longer - for more than 10 hours outside. The lotion absorbs equally easily. The downside is that the lotion is in a pot, so I'm usually a bit wary of double dipping.

While I'm not in love with this product, I am in like. I probably wouldn't buy it for myself since I have a whole slew of bath products to go through, but I think some people (especially those in their late teens or early twenties) can appreciate this product better than I can.

The Magical Music of Disney

If you're a fan of Disney like me, who was raised on Disney movies, then I'd recommend that you watch The Magical Music of Disney, a Disney Concert performed by the ABS-CBN Philharmonic Orchestra under Maestro Gerard Salonga. Show times are 3pm and 8pm on September 28, 2013!

On Miss America

A few days ago, I heard about the extremely negative reaction of some people regarding the coronation of Miss America.

All I can do is give a giant facepalm.

It is not just that these people have accused a person based on her name and skin tone as a terrorist. It's also the fact that they never bothered to learn that there are many different "races" which are non-caucasian in color and name.

Also, the fact that they have posted their misplaced ire over the internet when a quick search would have easily given them the truth.

I do not watch beauty pageants, but the furor over this event has shown me that people place a lot of importance on these, and that some are more ignorant than I thought possible.

Skin does not equal race - get a tan if you don't believe me.



A name is not a person. A person is not a group.

It's 2013. How long will it take us to learn this?

Have you gotten a Starbucks Card?

I went to a Starbucks in Makati recently and bought the Frap below. It's sad because Makati has this thing against plastic so even iced drinks are served in paper cups. While it might be better for the environment, it's hard to get used to. I like seeing how much I have left, thanks very much.

Anyway, for those who spend a lot on Starbucks's beverages, there's the Starbucks Card introduced just this month.

How to use:
1. Buy the card for P300 - it has P300 usable load.
2. Use the Starbucks card to earn stars.
3. Reload with P100 increments when desired.

12 stars = 1 free grande beverage

Decent, when you consider that CBTL swirl cards give you around half that value. Then again, internets!

There's a time and a place for either :)

If you're into the Starbucks thing, consider registering your card at their site, you can get:
1. 1 free beverage upon registration
2. 1 slice of cake on your birth month (upon purchase of a beverage)

Mind you, their network both online and in-store is still kind of buggy. Also, if you value your privacy, this might be more invasive than you'd like.

If you do get a card, remember to keep it in a safe place since it does have money inside!

Highlighters

How OC are you about highlighters?

I never thought that there would be a day when I would become so particular about the highlighters I used. A few years ago, I thought that pink was pink and it didn't matter what brand I used. Now I'm trying out different highlighter brands. I've realized that some of the things I like in a highlighter are:

1. Shape - how I hold my highlighter differs if it's fat or skinny, cylindrical or box-like, long or short. It also helps to identify the different brands. Some might find it better to have highlighters all of the same shape, so they'll all be held the same way. Plus they look nicer since they're more uniform. Some might prefer to have different brands because of the different properties of the fluid.

2. Color - including consistency (especially if the paper you use is thinner), it is important to use a color/colors that you feel comfortable with. You have to think about how the shade you choose will show up on the paper you use. Different brands have different shades, with color changes that will sometimes happen depending on if it's on the early or late part of it's life.

Below are 3 different brands of pink highlighters at different parts of their lifespan. You can see that aside from the shade, in general, the evenness and thickness can differ. Note also that the brush might fray easily :(

Highlighters. Left, Artline. Middle, Faber Castell. Right, MG.

Also note that if you use more than one shade, remember to find colors that you feel are most suited to your learning style.

3. Longevity - it sucks to buy a highlighter that dries out early if left for a few moments, or one that has little ink in the first place. You might want to try brands that last longer, or those that can be left out for longer periods of time.

4. Price - some highlighters are really nice, but are super expensive. You might end up spending a lot of money in the long run.

I do have my preferred brands, but I'm always on the lookout for new ones. I also like to experiment on different colors with my own preferences for different texts :)