Sooo Cute! (And The Bear Ain't Too Shabby Either)

Knut!

Awww. *pinch*pinch*



And just when you thought it couldn't get any cuter...

Knut + Stephen Colbert



***You can watch the second video here if it doesn't load. :)

My Very Own Snoopy

Well, actually, from what we've been told, Doggie (how very aptly named, eh?) is half Poodle and half Japanese Spitz. (We're 90% sure about that..)
But he's no mutt. He's WAY too cute to be called that! :P


I had a dream about him (maybe it was because of all those videos of pet birds and dogs I was watching on YouTube late last night) and in the dream, he just had a haircut and was no longer sporting his usual naturally messy (just like mine!)-- and tangled (yeah...just like mine.)- wavy hair...uhh...fur. (I personally prefer him with longer fur-- Super cutie!)








We got him in 1998 while I was in 2nd Year HS. I remember getting a call from my sister/ brother telling me that they had just bought this cute little beigish puppy from a small pet store in Virramall. And funny thing was, it was NOT planned at all.
They were just there on a Friday night doing an errand when they passed by the pet shop and became smitten with these 2 pups caged near the window. (They had them at "Arf!")
They were arguing which one was cuter-- one was white, the other beige. They finally decided and chose the beige puppy and the rest, as they say, is history.

***Well let me explain as to why he got named Doggie. When he was younger, we were still undecided on what to name him so during the brainstorming process, we called him that temporarily. Well who knew what a smart cookie he was and picked up on it real quick. So really, it wasn't his fault. Nor ours. Well, maybe ours. (This explanation also applies to our Siberian Husky named Husky.)

Doggie was with us for almost 6 years and he was my absolute favorite. Still is.
He's definitely quite a character and we always find it amusing how he has these different kinds of facial expressions (see pics): from indifferent to excited, sad to happy, and even interested to confused. ("Eh?")
He's scared of the candle, loves to chase our pet chicken (who eventually flew over our walls in search of greener pastures), and has a fang bigger than the other (he lost his old one from intensely gnawing on a bone).
He loves, as all dogs do, getting a belly rub and whenever he's hyper, he runs amok around the house and it's always funny to see him stop, catch his breath, and then start to run again.

I especially love it when I'm sitting somewhere giving him a head-and-temple massage and if I stop, he would position his head under my hand as if saying, "Heyyy...!"

I remember one time, I was in our den when I suddenly had an allergy attack and started sneezing nonstop. I think I was on my 15th sneeze when I felt like someone was watching me. Then I noticed something in my peripheral vision and saw that it was Doggie (who came all the way from the kitchen-- I must've been a little loud) standing near the door, giving me this "What's-that-sound-Was-that-you-Are-you-okay-I'm-kinda-confused" look.

Sorta like the one below. (Except his head was tilted a little to his left).
Aww. Cute. :)
Although Doggie's always friendly to us, he definitely enjoys scaring relatives and friends. As soon as he sees an unfamiliar face, he would start barking at them-- get this- while hiding under the cabinet. Someone's not much of a toughie after all.

But he was getting grumpier for a while and had already bitten two of our maids (innocent 'til proven guilty!) so my mom decided it was best that he be given away. And who better to take care of Doggie than our cook who's been bathing and feeding him since he was a pup. (At least I know he's in good hands.)

I was so sad the day he left us especially when he looked real happy and excited because he thought he was going for a short walk outside. I can still vividly picture in my head Doggie walking away. Somehow that day, the house, and everything else, was somber.

Doggie is now in Bohol, (I always knew he loved to travel, walking around the village whenever he got the chance to slip past the driver and the houseboys-- although he never got more than a few yards away from the gate) and apparently, he's always in vacation mode! His temperament has changed and from what I hear, would gladly tag along with any stranger, leash-free!
Definitely a far cry from what we (and our occasional visitors) were used to.

Well, our cook tells us that he's Mr. Popular in their town and loves to play with everyone, and anyone who's willing. And whenever they go to the beach, Doggie would always run excitedly to the water and swim on the shallow area by himself.

Awww...I miss my Doggie.
I'm just glad to know that at least in Bohol, he now has a bigger playground, an even bigger bathtub (although salty), and more than enough poultry to satisfy his inner bully. ;)

Snow Patrol's You Could Be Happy

You could be happy and I won't know
But you weren't happy the day I watched you go
And all the things that I wished I had not said
Are played in loops 'til it's MADNESS in my head

Is it too late to remind you how we were
But not our last days of SILENCE, screaming, blur
Most of what I remember makes me sure
I should have stopped you from walking out the door

You could be happy, I hope you are
You made me happier than I'd been by far
Somehow everything I own smells of YOU
And for the tiniest moment it's all not TRUE

Do the things that you always wanted to
Without ME there to hold you back, don't THINK, just do
More than anything I want to see you girl
Take a glorious bite out of the WHOLE world

:*(

Books vs. Film Adaptations

“When you reread a classic, you do not see more in the book than you did before; you see more in you than there was before.”

- Clifton Fadiman

Reading always seemed like a hassle to me, especially if it’s schoolwork; however, I have phases when I would bury my nose in a book and read it until my eyes get tired. And then there are times I would restrain myself and make a book last for a few weeks/months as if I’m watching a series on TV.
A little suspense is always good.

I enjoy getting lost in a huge bookstore (not library, ‘coz they tend to be a bit creepy) and realizing that I’ve spent an hour moving from shelf to shelf scouting for interesting finds. I do have a bad habit of buying books more than I can read, though.

The thing I like about reading is that your mind is free to make your own lil’ movie.
You get to be your own actor, director, set designer, casting agent, and even the special effects guy. And what's even better, is when the book is adapted into a film because then you get to picture in your head how it’s supposed to be played out and you get to compare what you have imagined the story would be like to its cinematic equivalent.
That’s the freedom that I love with reading. The freedom of the imagination.


I know it’s unfair to compare the book and its film version since they are two wholly different things but it’s just fun seeing how much of what you have imagined is synonymous to what is actualized-- like when I read J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (a fun read, but not my cup of tea), I was amazed at how similar the visuals were to the ones in my head.

Books aren’t necessarily a lot better than its movies, though.
Take for example Nicholas Sparks' The Notebook or Lauren Weisberger's The Devil Wears Prada. They didn't compare to their film versions.
I didn't really enjoy reading Devil Wears. I know chick lit's are supposed to be just a light, fun read, but after 360 pages, I still couldn't find a concrete storyline and it seemed redundant at times. But the movie, I loved.

And as for The Notebook, it has got to be one of the most romantic movies I have seen even though the book was a little boring. And frankly, watching a breathtaking scenery of a swan-filled lake is a whole lot better than just reading about it.

***That's also one thing I look for in a book: Great setting and sceneries. Because then when it is translated into film, it will definitely satisfy the aesthetic eye.

On the other hand, Nicholas Sparks' Message in a Bottle-- one of my favorite books- was much better than the movie. (I remember picking up the last copy dusty since it was behind the other books, ignored)

I preferred the novel because you can see how the story is built up, page by page. You are able to process it all in completely as opposed to absorbing everything in in just under 2 hours.

And most often than not, changes are made in the script in order for them to squeeze all of it in, which consequently degrades the quality of the story.

This is probably why I could never bring myself to watch a movie unless I have read the book first. (Or maybe because I'm just too lazy to read once I've already seen the film.)

Books on my shelf that I have yet to read and see:

Feel free to comment on which books/movies you have read/seen are worth reading/watching. Thanks! :)

Arthur Golden’s Memoirs of a Geisha
Audrey Niffenegger’s The Time Traveler’s Wife
Boris Pasternak’s Dr. Zhivago
David Nicholls' Starter for Ten

E.B. White and Garth Williams’ Charlotte’s Web
Emily Bronte’s Wuthering Heights
Frances Mayes’ Under the Tuscan Sun
Gabriel Garcia Marquez's Love in the Time of Cholera

Helen Schulman’s P.S.

Ian McEwan's Atonement

Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice

Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility

Jean-Dominique Bauby's The Diving Bell and the Butterfly

Melissa Banks’ The Girls’ Guide to Hunting and Fishing
Michael Ondaatje’s The English Patient
Mitch Albom’s Tuesdays with Morrie
Nick Hornby’s High Fidelity
Philippa Gregory's The Other Boleyn Girl

Robert James Waller’s The Bridges of Madison County

***Currently reading Cecelia Ahern's P.S. I Love You.
Premise is unique and interesting. A definite tearjerker. I'm only at page 42 and I've never cried as much as I did with Nicholas Spark's Message in a Bottle.

Can't wait to see the film next year!

300

This blog has mostly been about pretty, girly stuff that it's a little unusual I post something about a movie that's pure machismo.

300, though, is an exception.
















There are so many things I love about this movie.

First, ofcourse, is Gerard Butler's portrayal of King Leonidas (abs or no abs, I was hooked the first time I heard him speak). He had so much charisma and presence onscreen he'd make you believe he was the King of Sparta. (And so did the rest of the actors, especially Queen Gorgo, even though the movie was full of unknowns.) I love how he speaks with his eyes and manages to pull off witty one-liners in one scene and be all macho in the next.

The fight scenes, albeit gory, were so well-executed that it made spearing a human being in the chest look so graceful. I was smiling silly while watching the slow-mo's because I was so amazed at how beautifully shot and choreographed they were with the flawless special effects, perfect lighting and tones, and fitting background music. I tell you this movie is like nothing you've ever seen.


There are tons of unforgettable scenes in 300. These 2 are my absolute favorite. (It was hard to narrow it down since I enjoyed every minute of it.)

(***SPOILER ALERT***)

First is the "This Is Sparta" clip that had been constantly playing in my head even before I saw the film, thanks in part to YouTube.
Gotta love that voice.















And the second one is the latter part of the battle where King Leonidas valiantly throws his spear targeting Xerxes up until the heartbreaking scene where he utters his last words: "My Queen, My Wife, My Love."
















300 is one of those films you just have to see in the movie theater. Watching it on your TV won't do it any justice.

And if you're still unsure whether you'd want to see it or not, here are two of the many reasons why you should:
Gerard Butler and that deep raspy voice of his.


Now who wouldn't consider that pretty?

Mutts Comics

http://muttscomics.com

Patrick McDonnell's Mutts Comics.

Hope these made you smile today! :)

Some Like It Hot!

...and sour, apparently









I'm the official Martha Stewart wannabe in our family. Just ask my sister. She's the one who loves to tease me by adding the title Aling before my name.

Atchie: Aling Neeneen! Patahi naman ng button sa dress ko.

And it doesn't help that today our cook was on vacation and lunch hasn't been prepared yet.
Yep.
Aling Neeneen.
At your service.

My mom's a great cook. So is my grandma. I don't really cook at home. I know how but I just don't. Today I felt a little adventurous, though, and decided to try and make my first attempt at concoting a Chinese favorite, the Hot and Sour Soup. (I will not be posting the actual recipe since the ingredients of the soup may vary depending on the taster's preference. That and the fact that I didn't exactly follow it.)

Here's what I added in mine:

chicken broth
soy sauce
white vinegar
white pepper
mushrooms of your choice, sliced
young corn, sliced
firm tofu, sliced
chicken, stripped
cornstarch, mixed with cold water
eggs, beaten
chicken powder
sesame oil

***Note: Black vinegar is a much better choice than using both soy sauce and white vinegar.


One of the things I enjoy in cooking, aside from knowing that you can always remedy any mistake you make, is chopping. With this soup, I probably did one too many: shitake mushrooms, button mushrooms, young corn, and firm tofu. (My brothers commented that there was more sahog than broth in the soup.)

But the thing I absolutely love when I do cook is the idea of pleasing my family with something I made from scratch. Mind you, they really are hard to please being such harsh critics and all (well, except for my mom). Which is why I especially love it when they give me that smile of approval.

Today, after handing my mom and dad a bowl of Hot and Sour soup, she said to me, beamingly: Mmmm, pwede na. Masarap! (Aww!)
And my dad: Mmmm. Medyo mapait, ay, maalat. Slurp slurp. Kulang sa asim. Some more slurping. Mmmm. Pwede na. Pwede na magtayo ng restaurant. ---> (Haha! I was half-laughing when he said this.)


I then asked my brothers and sister if they liked it and my dihya teasingly answers: Yuck! Pwe! Kadire!

Thing is, I would have believed him.
If not for that emptied soup bowl beside his plate. ;D

A Shutterbug's Passion for Fashion

Back in Grade School, my friends and I would always head out to Virramall and/or Shoppesville to unwind and spend what little time we had before having to face another homework-filled night. Once the bell rings, as if on cue, students would start huddling to plan where in Virramall or Shoppesville they would meet up.
Everyone called it their third home.

Our Virramall/Shoppesville itinerary usually looked something like this:
National Bookstore
Tiangge
stopover for some snacks (if we’re hungry)
Tiangge
Gift Gate
Regina’s
Tickles
That small magazine stall near Giordano
Giordano
And maybe a few more Tiangge

That third to the last trip is probably the one I enjoyed most. I ♥ magazines. Fashion ones, to be exact. When I was younger, I would always borrow my sister’s magazines (YM, Teen, Dolly, Girlfriend, et al. And yes, I went through a Teen Beat/ BOP phase as well, shamefully) and read them until I fall asleep.
I remember stumbling upon my first ever issue of InStyle back in 7th Grade when I was contemplating on spending my money on a fashion magazine I’ve never read before (and had Matthew Perry on its cover) or buying another issue of a teeny-bopper magazine whose contents were beginning to feel a little too monotonous for me.

I was debating with a friend on why I think InStyle was a much better buy than Seventeen. She wanted to see Sarah Michelle Gellar/Alicia Silverstone but this new, more mature fashion magazine really got me interested. I decided to satisfy my curiosity and was glad to know that it was, in fact, a good buy.
I have never missed an issue since then.

I added 2 more to my Must Buy List: Teen Vogue and Lucky.

It would be a dream of mine to work in a fashion magazine, and an even bigger dream to work in Teen Vogue. It’s one of my faves because I like how they photograph clothes and their models. There’s nothing blah about their photo spreads. There always is a story.

Photography. I ♥ photography. Every time we would go abroad my family would tease me about wasting film (or file space) on sceneries rather than on people. So I guess this is where 2 of my passions merge.
And thanks to Norman Jean Roy, one of my favorite photographers who I discovered while admiring an amazingly shot photo from a page of Teen Vogue, my passion for fashion photography was born.

Here are some of my N. J. Roy favorites. With the perfect angle, focus, lighting, exposure, and mixture of colors, he can capture the carefreeness and the sensuality of a woman. Of a fashionably clad woman, rather.

“I started taking pictures at a very early age. I think I was six when I first started. I never thought of it as anything more than taking pictures for fun. But that's when I got addicted to the idea of freezing a moment; there was something about that concept I thought was cool, to just go click, click, click and know that you're stopping moments in time.”

- N. J. Roy

Jack Johnson's No Other Way

Is it just me or does listening to this particular JJ song make you wish you were with someone special and you're slowdancing while watching the sun set by the beach?

I think I've seen way too many movies.

I especially love the first 40 seconds of the song. =)

Have Your Chocolate Cheesecake And Eat It Too

I'm sure every baker is equally proud of each baked goodie that comes out of his oven, but there will always be that one dessert he will consider his best work yet. His masterpiece, or his signature dessert, if you will.

I'll be the first to admit that I'm no pro. I don't bake a lot. The first batch of cookies I made back in 5th grade? Hard as rocks. Although I have improved a great deal since then, I'm still no expert. But Mrs. Fields or no Mrs. Fields, I'm telling you-- with all biases aside: I do make one hell of a chocolate cheesecake.

I'd like to share to you this recipe I got from the magazine Martha Stewart Living. In that issue, she featured various cheesecakes like the classic Baked New York, Frozen Espresso, Raspberry Swirl, Citrus Ricotta, and even the No-Bake. Being such an avid fan of the deepest darkest chocolate, I just had to try the Chocolate Cheesecake recipe.

Well, technically, the recipe is Martha's but taking into consideration the few adjustments I did here and there, I can call it my own now...At least that's what I tell myself. :P













Photo by Elaine


NEEN'S CHOCOLATE CHEESECAKE-- Haha.
Serves 8-10

1 cup finely ground chocolate wafer cookies (5 ounces; about 22 cookies)
***note: chocolate wafer cookies is just a posh baker's lingo for Oreo.
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
1 cup plus 3 tablespoons sugar
8 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped
***note: I added a little more to make the cheesecake richer.
3 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese, room temperature
***note: I'm loyal to Philadelphia.
Pinch of salt
¾ cup sour cream, room temperature
***note: I only added around 1/4 cup to 1/2 cup. Depends on your preference, really.
3 tablespoons Dutch-process unsweetened cocoa powder
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
3 large eggs, room temperature


(1) Preheat oven to 350°. Stir together cookie crumbs, melted butter, and 3 tablespoons sugar in a medium bowl. Press crumb mixture firmly onto bottom and up 1 inch on sides of a 9-inch springform pan. Bake until set, about 10 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack, and let cool. Reduce oven temperature to 300°.
(2) Melt chocolate in a medium heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water, stirring, about 2 minutes. Let cool.
(3) Put cream cheese in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment; mix on medium speed until fluffy, about 3 minutes. With mixer on low speed, add remaining cup sugar in a slow, steady stream. Add salt; mix until combined. Add sour cream, cocoa, vanilla extract, and melted chocolate; mix until combined. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing each until just combined (do not overmix). Pour cream cheese filling over crust.
(4) Bake until set but still slightly wobbly in center, 50 to 60 minutes. Let cool completely in pan on rack. Refrigerate, uncovered, 6 hours or overnight. Before unmolding, run a knife around edge of cake.


And here's what the critics have got to say on my take on Martha Stewart's Chocolate Cheesecake:

One forkful melted into a velvety mass accompanied by a burst of real deep chocolate. The sweetness from the chocolate was evenly tempered by the sourcream. The crust was thick enough and even crunchy like, it tasted like it had roasted nuts in it, but it didn't. It left me in a subliminal state. Even my brother, who's not really a dessert person, couldn't resist a second helping. He aptly described it as "a cross between a chocolate bar and chocolate ice cream."

- Elaine, excerpt taken from "The Only Chocolate Cheesecake For Me," dated March 13, 2006 from her blog Just Desserts

Undoubtedly THE BEST CHOCOLATE CHEESECAKE I have ever tasted! So heavenly!

- Margarita

When all else fails, there's always delusion.

- Conan O'Brien

Okaaay...I added the last one just because I'm a HUGE Conan O'Brien fan.
Aaand...I don't really know anyone named Margarita...