Unboxing June BDJ Box

 

With a number of beauty boxes awaiting for your subscription, Belle De Jour box probably landed on your top 5 list. Though BDJBox was not my first option, I find them hassle-free to place an order. I would've settled for other beauty boxes but are often sold out and subscriptions are mostly longer terms. It seems like they limit the allocated boxes to avoid compromising the quality of their beauty items. 

 

Anyway, I subscribed my first BDJBox back in May second week. So after a month of waiting time, it was finally delivered to my doorstep this morning. As early as 1st week of June, I've waited for their announcement of the shipping schedule. And when I finally saw their tweet on my timeline, the hash-tag search started. Technically, I  already knew what to expect inside, but the excitement is still there upon holding this chic box. Let me show you what's inside.

I'm back!!!

After a full week, our WiFi at home is finally restored! Again, that was a full week! I was able to manage after 2-3 days of having no access but after that it's given me enough migraine. Call it odd but Internet nowadays adds to the list of our household necessities. So I don't think it's that weird anymore if you're rather panicky looking at a dusty, useless router. I try to squeeze in some time to surf the net and read the latest from my favorite Mommy and Lifestyle blogs at night, this has been a routine before my bedtime. All of us, except Mom, connect to the Internet every single day. LTE/3G at home does not suffice plus it drains your battery easily. My phone served as a modem for a few nights but I felt bad eventually, it looked so overused! Thank goodness it only took a week for our cable/Internet provider to fix the issues.

Anyhoo, I'm leaving you with this Instagram pic of the gift I got on my 32nd birthday. I wasn't expecting it, especially from someone who is not that good at surprises. Ha ha! Right now I'm sharing this gift with my  curious little one but in a few months she will surely own this. She prefers the iPhone though while watching her Pororo videos and listening to 1D play list but is starting to like it somehow. The mini's size is quite challenging for her small hands. I can Facetime her na while am at work! Thank you so much Be for making one of my wish lists come true! And thank you WiFi for coming back to our home! LOL

Signing back in from blogging! Let's catch up, shall we? :-)

xx,

OneGutsyANDHAPPYMom

Asya Filipino-Asian Restaurant

I was invited with a small group of bloggers for a food tasting event hosted by Asya Filipino-Asian Restaurant. The venue wasn't familiar to me so I had to ask the guards in the vicinity for directions. For a bit an info, this restaurant is situated at the heart of Eton Centris in Quezon City, where you can also see those unique giant architectural structures from Quezon Ave. MRT station. The restaurant is owned and managed by the same group behind local fine dining restaurants in the metro such as Duo Steakhouse and Wine Bar, Zuni Restaurant and Wine Bar and Sutra Restaurant and Bar. 

Their menu is comprised of traditional dishes that we Filipinos are very much proud of. Main course wouldn't be complete without Kare-Kare, Kaldereta, Sinigang, Krispy Pata and the likes. 

They have a simple yet very spacious interior, with fancy chairs showcasing faces of known Southeast Asian personalities. You can also choose to be seated at the al fresco area which I think is the ideal spot during happy hours.

 

We started off with a smoking hot plate of Pork Sisig. My first impression: less oil. It gives my forehead  that unwanted crease whenever I see food floating in oil and makes me easily assume that "umay" or "suya" is waiting ahead of me. Their pork sisig for me is very distinct because it was creamy and you need not to add sauces to make it flavorful. It is definitely a perfect beer-match and can also pass as a welcome dish for our balikbayan relatives. You can skip the green chilis if you have low tolerance on spicy food. 

Sizzling Crispy Pork Sisig Php175

The Lumpiang Tinapa tasted average to me merely because I'd rather dip it in any type of vinegar. I believe it was cooked few minutes before it was served but has maintained the right amount of crispness. 

Crispy Lumpiang Tinapa at Gulay Php125

Third meal served was the Kalderetang Kambing which is a big revelation to me. I knew it was goat's meat (which I prefer not to eat ever since) but it deceived me in a good way. I was slicing a small chunk on my plate and noticed how the strips looked somehow similar to beef but it tasted like a tender slice of pork. The thick sauce is not just the ordinary red tomato sauce. It was really delicious. I highly recommend you try this. 

Kalderetang Kambing Php460

This fourth meal is blockbuster. We didn't pair the three dishes earlier with rice, so that gave us enough space for this humongous platter of seafood. The Seafood Aligue Rice itself is already complete a meal. They serve it with whole shrimps (not just strips) on top of it. Sinugba Platter is our favorite set of inihaw pork and seafood. Pair it with spicy soy sauce with lemon and expect no leftover for rice. I didn't try the catfish but according to them the fish was really tender and didn't leave the common bad taste. It was my first time to taste burong kapampangan, also known as fermented rice so expect the unusual smell. It complements well with these set of inihaw. 

Seafood Aligue Rice Php230 and Sinugba Platter Php990

Last but not the least is our native desserts with a twist. My Mom would usually include strips of ripe jackfruit whenever she fries turon for the family but I didn't know that it tastes even better with ice cream.

Turon de Langka Php75

I was also surprised to taste their Coconut leche flan. It was well presented, not too sweet and tasted more like a custard. It's really amazing how we can infuse a little twist on our native recipes.

Coconut Leche Flan Php60

Overall, I had a palatable food experience at Asya Restaurant. Their price points are highly reasonable because meals are absolutely for sharing. With BPOs and Government offices nearby, Eton Centris is location wise and is a pie-in-the-sky for food businesses. If my purpose is just to dine out and relax a bit, I'd rather go to this place to avoid the crowd. I think Eton Centris just need to keep up by introducing this promising venue, else people like me wouldn't know how nice this place was.                       

ASYA FILIPINO-ASIAN RESTAURANT

Ground Floor, Centris Walk, Eton Centris,

EDSA Corner Quezon Avenue, Quezon City

Telephone Nos: 994-8467, 738-4938 to 39

Mobile: 0917-5547155

Email: info@asya.com.ph

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What Are You Thankful For?

If there is something I am truly thankful for right now, it would be having the chance to spend my weekends with my family. Let me share you the whys.

Years and year back, I once co-managed one of the biggest retail stores here in the Metro. Being the flagship store in the country, that requires your presence at work on weekends when most people come to shop in bigger groups. A weekend off is never an option unless you file for a vacation leave. That was my first job and I could say the most ideal one for a fresh graduate with a business degree. And like anyone else, I tried to enjoy it as much as I could.

Then came BPO and call center jobs.

I sheepishly admit, shifting my career that time is very encouraging. Since my current job is customer service by nature, I thought I'd have this edge already. Perhaps, landing to an office-based work seems more promising to me, regardless of the change in timezone. I spent tough years in the industry but I know I was paid well and have received the finest benefits. Though your acceptance to the job offer somehow includes your willingness to adjust your lifestyle and even missing a few social events. Those were challenging years for someone who aspires to move up to the corporate ladder. I've met a lot of good people, was harnessed with rigid training and learned to self-discipline when it comes to schedule adherence. 

If my memory serves me right, I only enjoyed 6 months straight of weekends off that is within the period of 5 years. Good thing I was still single then. As I look back, I know there is nothing to regret with those choices I made. It served me well in so many aspects and for that I am very thankful. I am thankful because it gave me the chance to appreciate what I have now.

 

Let me just clear that I have nothing against working during weekends. In fact, I have a high regard especially for parents who can effectively manage their time despite their absence during family days, which is normally on a Sunday. Maybe I'm just thankful because I don't need to find a "swap" just so I could attend a very special gathering when my shift falls on a weekend. Second, my daughter is just few years away from preparatory school and that makes we want to spend more time with her when we are both off from our weekday routines.

Third, hubby used to work on weekends these days because of urgent completion of site projects. We are truly grateful if the site is located in Manila, otherwise we need to wait for a week til he gets back. So if I'm not there too for my little one, how sad could be our home? Fourth, I usually make up for the things I can't do during working days, like giving her a bath, taking her to the playground, watching her favorite cartoons in the morning, and taking her to sleep. A few of the simple things I'd like to do.

 

Fifth, I'd like to take her to so many places where she can see and meet families who bond together too. That's part of personality development for kids her age and I want to give her that kind of exposure. I could go on and on with my reasons but the bottom line here is that I am very thankful that I don't struggle on this part, or at least not for now.

 

So, if you think you're not satisfied with the company where you belong at the moment, why not try to realize this part? It may somehow give you that big reason to be thankful instead, because what you are receiving is probably something that many are silently praying to have. Agree? :-)

Have a merry weekend!

xx, 

OneGutsyMom

It's A Boy!

It was a day full of love, well wishes, happiness and excitement for my best friend Joyce, who is soon giving birth to baby boy James Alfred. Thanks to our event organiser Filsyn for taking charge on all the party ideas from decorating the venue, food displays, games, souvenirs, etc. Career kung career mare, good job!