The Eat All You Can Rule

Eat All You Can

Last Wednesday, my friends and I got together to "brainstorm" about our plans on celebrating Jejo's birthday blowout.  Ever since we started working, we made it a point to celebrate each other's birthday doing something that we've never done before.  Last year we went bowling on my birthday, we went to a comedy bar on Jejo and Maude's birthday combined and we went to E.K. to celebrate Nhix's.  Noreen's birthday came in too early for this idea, but anyway, we went to ACE Water Spa for her late birthday celebration last month.  Our original plan for Jejo and Maude's birthday this year (supposedly to be combined again since their birthdays are only 4 days apart) was to go to Manila Ocean Park.  But due to her expensive lifestyle (haha :p), Maude can't afford to spend for us pa.  So we needed a Plan B.

Anyhoo.. this post is not about our Plan B (intro lang yun, haha), this is about what we did instead of thinking about plan B (haha) -- pigging out.

source

We met at Alphaland Southgate Mall in Magallanes that night and instead of eating on the fastfood chains that we usually go to, we chose to eat at Chef D' Angelo.  We chose to eat there not because we are willing to spend a fortune for a dinner date that would only last for more or less 2 hours.  We were lured to dine there because of the "Eat all you can" tarp outside! Haha!  I don't know if they do that everyday, I've only seen it twice, but they offer an all you can eat buffet of pasta (spaghetti and carbonara), pizza (hawaiian, four cheese, pepperoni), caesar salad and soup for 150 pesos but for a limited time only (6pm to 9pm).

Our dinner date inspired me to create my 26th rule.

When you dine in to any restaurant and availed of an "all you can eat" promo, you should follow the instruction to just eat what you can.  Do not eat all you want, do not eat all you should, most especially do not eat what you think your money deserves.  The promo did not say that.  Why am I saying this?  Because I, and I guess my friends as well, did not follow what the tarpaulin said.  Although I know that there are consequences  if I wouldn't be able to chow down everything that was in my plate (they'll let you pay double the charge if you have leftovers), I never thought about it at the time,  I was just happy that I can put any amount of carbonara and salad and pizza on my plate.  I never stopped to think if I actually can eat all of them, I just threw them all in and that, my friends, was my first mistake.  I ate all I want. 

After I emptied my first plate, although I was so full, I still had the feeling that I should come back for more.  I was thinking "what the heck, I paid for an unlimited supply of italian goodies, why should I limit myself to just one plate?", and so I went back.  My second mistake.  I ate all (I thought) I should and what I thought my money deserved.

I guess anybody who's not always eating "buffet style" can relate to what I did.  Most especially for first timers, we wanted to have a taste of it all, right?  We don't think if everything is at our capacity, we just wanted to have even a little of everything.  We always want to have that "sulit na sulit" feeling when it comes to things like this.  Although it is not a crime to do so, still, it is wrong.  So wrong.  Why?  Because if you push yourself to have that sulit na sulit feeling, you will have a super full and super hard na belly afterwards!  

My karma?  I wasn't able to enjoy the desserts Maude and Noreen brought :(  It also came to a point that I felt a pang on my stomach when I laugh and believe me, it's hard not to laugh when I'm with my girls, because of the hilarious things we talk about each time we meet.  I swear to God, I have never been so busog all my life.  I felt so full until lunch time the next day!

So next time, when they say "eat all you can", I will believe them.  I will eat only what I can.  You do that too, no matter how delectable the food is, you do not have to put everything in your plate.  Believe me, it will save you a lot of tummy aches. Hihi. :)

The Proud to be Pinoy Rule

Proud to be Pinoy

Although I think it is a given na that we, Filipinos, are naturally proud of our race, it's still tickling when something or somebody shows himself to the internet world and screams (figuratively though) that he is a proud Pinoy.

I stumbled upon Mikey Bustos' video tutorials in youtube this weekend.  This fine young man (who is also downright humorous) shares the Filipino culture to the world thru his vlogs.  Yes he is Pinoy but he grew up on a foreign land.  But since he is with his Pinoy family, he still grew up to be Filipino by heart.

Cutting this boring intro short, let me share to you my top four favorite videos by no other than my new-found crush, Mikey. :)  

Warning: nakaka-in love

Filipino Accent Tutorial by Mikey Bustos

Filipino Dining Tutorial by Mikey Bustos

Traditional Filipino Courting Tutorial by Mikey Bustos

Uncanny Artistic Talents of Filipinos Tutorial by Mikey Bustos

Bonus: He sings too! *melts*

There are a lot of videos pa, but I guess after watching the above embedded, you'll search for him yourself na. :)

The Love Just Ain’t Enough Rule

Sometimes, love just ain't enough

I know, I know.. love conquers all, it can move mountains, hell, it makes the world go round.  But in relationships, even the most crazy-in-love type of couples get ticked off every once in a while.  One moment of disappointment, one moment of hurt can blow off everything a bf-gf has ever hardly built.  One snap of bad timing and boom, he's single, she's single.  Yes, they love each other, but sometimes other emotions grow much stronger. Pride takes over, anger takes over, love? Set aside.

So is it enough?  Your answer might still be yes, but you have got to admit, it is not (well at least not at all times).  Sometimes it needs a little help, too.  Love has friends you know and those are (but not limited to) maturity, honesty, the ability to compromise, communication, trust, understanding, fidelity, faith, patience, kindness, forgiveness, you get the picture.  Now when all else fails, love saves. Love saves everytime.

However, although love wants nothing but peace and happiness, it also has some enemies and boy are they strong.  Hate, jealousy, infidelity, immaturity, pride, selfishness, misunderstanding, prejudice, do the math.

When these "enemies" attack a relationship, you might think that love automatically comes to the rescue, but no.  Its friends are at the first line of defense.  Maturity tries to weigh things over, tries to think of the next move.  Sometimes it fails because another enemy (immaturity) is stronger and when it does, other friends of love gets defeated too.  But when maturity succeeds, other friends gain strength as well.  Trust and faith rebuild bridges that were burned, the ability to compromise and communication help them.  Understanding and forgiveness close the deal, hence, love is revived and becomes even stronger.

source

To end this note, let me share to you one of my favorite quotes, I guess it tells everything I (think) I know about love and relationships.

"Relationships don’t work the way they do on television and in the movies. Will they? Won’t they? And then they finally do, and they’re happy forever. Gimme a break. Nine out of ten of them end because they weren’t right for each other to begin with, and half of the ones who get married get divorced anyway, and I’m telling you right now, through all this stuff, I have not become a cynic, I haven’t. Yes, I do happen to believe that love is mainly about pushing chocolate covered candies and, y’know, in some cultures, a chicken. You can call me a sucker, I don’t care, because I do believe in it. Bottom line is: it’s couples who are truly right for each other wade through the same crap as everybody else, but the big difference is they don’t let it take them down. One of those two people will stand up and fight for that relationship every time. If it’s right, and they’re real lucky, one of them will say something." - Dr. Cox, Scrubs.

:)

what iz thiz facebook guidelines?! *a la Dj Suzie*

Promotions Guidelines

Just wanna share what I read over, well, Facebook.

Promotions Guidelines
Date of Last Revision: May 11, 2011
These Promotion Guidelines, along with the Statement of Rights and Responsibilities, the Ad Guidelines, the Platform Policies and all other applicable Facebook policies, govern your communication about or administration of any contest, competition, sweepstakes or other similar offering (each, a "promotion") using Facebook.
If you use Facebook to communicate about or administer a promotion, you are responsible for the lawful operation of that promotion, including the official rules, offer terms and eligibility requirements (e.g., age and residency restrictions), and compliance with regulations governing the promotion and all prizes offered in connection with the promotion (e.g., registration and obtaining necessary regulatory approvals).  Please note that compliance with these Guidelines does not constitute the lawfulness of a promotion.  Promotions are subject to many regulations and if you are not certain that your promotion complies with applicable law, please consult with an expert.

1. Promotions on Facebook must be administered within Apps on Facebook.com, either on a Canvas Page or an app on a Page Tab.
    
2. Promotions on Facebook must include the following:
   a. A complete release of Facebook by each entrant or participant.
   b. Acknowledgment that the promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook.
   c. Disclosure that the participant is providing information to [disclose recipient(s) of information] and not to Facebook.
    
3. You must not use Facebook features or functionality as a promotion’s registration or entry mechanism.  For example, the act of liking a Page or checking in to a Place cannot automatically register or enter a promotion participant.
    
4. You must not condition registration or entry upon the user taking any action using any Facebook features or functionality other than liking a Page, checking in to a Place, or connecting to your app.  For example, you must not condition registration or entry upon the user liking a Wall post, or commenting or uploading a photo on a Wall.
    
5. You must not use Facebook features or functionality, such as the Like button, as a voting mechanism for a promotion.
    
6. You must not notify winners through Facebook, such as through Facebook messages, chat, or posts on profiles or Pages.
    
7. You may not use Facebook’s name, trademarks, trade names, copyrights, or any other intellectual property in connection with a promotion or mention Facebook in the rules or materials relating to the promotion, except as needed to fulfill your obligations under Section 2.
    
8. Definitions:
   a. By “administration” we mean the operation of any element of the promotion, such as collecting entries, conducting a drawing, judging entries, or notifying winners.
   b. By “communication” we mean promoting, advertising or referencing a promotion in any way on Facebook, e.g., in ads, on a Page, or in a Wall post.
   c. By “contest” or “competition” we mean a promotion that includes a prize of monetary value and a winner determined on the basis of skill (i.e., through judging based on specific criteria).
   d. By “sweepstakes” we mean a promotion that includes a prize of monetary value and a winner selected on the basis of chance.

Violent Reactions? ;p

Contest: Maude's Avenue of Thoughts Anniversary Giveaway :)

Click this link for a chance to win this chic Celine bag! :)

Happy one year of blogging Maudey!! :)

The 30 day blog challenge - Day 16

something you could live without

janjararaaaaaannnnnnn!!!!!! A credit card!!!!

pic is from here

Don't get me wrong, it's not that I can buy anything I want in cash.  Well, it's partly that (haha) but there are a lot of reasons why (I think) I can live without it.

1.  I am not the bread winner of our family.  I do help in some of the expenses, but it definitely makes a big difference that I am not shouldering the whole of it.  Cheers to all you bread winners! Most especially you, ate! :)

2.  Although I am a very impulsive shopper, I too am a kuripot one.  Since I was a kid, I've never been used to having signature (not to mention, expensive) clothes or shoes or bags. So growing up, I didn't become so attached to them.  In fact, I squawk at blouses that cost more than 300 pesos. Haha!

3.  I am a tsangge type of gal.  While most girls boast how much their shopping finds cost, me, I boast how less it is! :)

4.  I have a boyfriend that is soooo reliable when my magastos button is switched on.  It helps too that he's always with me when I buy things. :D

5.  I think long and hard before I finally decide to buy a new gadget.  That's why after almost three years of employment, I only have two that I can really call my own. :)

6.  I don't like the feeling of paying for something that is already used up.

7.  I don't want to buy things that I can't afford, even if I could afford it through monthly installments.  ;p

8.  Lastly, (reemphasizing my point number 1) I think I can live without a CC because I am not obliged to buy things that I don't have the means for. :)

The 30 day blog challenge - Day 15

put your iPod on shuffle and share the first 10 songs that play

I remember when I started out this 30-day blog challenge not 15 days but (oh my gosh) 7 months ago, I had no iPod. Naisip ko pa nga, ang corny naman pag nareach ko na tong day 15, mp3 player ng cp ko lang magagamit ko (eh iilan lang kanta dun, haha).  Anyhoo... enough with the flashbacks. :)

Songs in shuffle mode (plus a little of their lyrics):

I'm a mixture of love songs-rock-rnb type of gal, so...

1. Droplets by Colbie Callait
Cuz I'm walkin down this road alone and figured all
I'm thinking bout is you, is you my love..
 
When I'm with you
To me everything is effortless

2. Glad by Tyler Hilton
You can't say what you want or
Take what you want or
Rest and wake anyway that you want
You said your life needed something special
Well here I am, baby..
Well, aren't you glad?

3. Things I'll Never Say by Avril Lavigne (one of my favorites)
If I could say what I want to say
I'd say I wanna blow you... away
Be with you every night
Am I squeezing you too tight?
If I could say what I want to see
I want to see you go down on one knee
Marry me today
Guess, I'm wishing my life away
With these things I'll never say..

4. I swear by All 4 One
For better or worse.. Till death do us part..
I love you with every beat of my heart..
I swear..

5. Dance with my Father by Luther Vandross
I know I'm praying for much too much
But could you send back the only man she loved?
I know you don't do it usually
But dear Lord she's dying to dance with my father again

6. For a Pessimist, I'm Pretty Optimistic by Paramore
I never wanted to say this
You never wanted to stay
I put my faith in you, so much faith
And then you just threw it away
You threw it away

I'm not so naive
My sorry eyes can see
The way you fight shy
Of almost everything
Well, if you give up
You'll get what you deserve

7. Because of You by Neyo
and I know this much is true
baby you have become my addiction
I'm so strung out on you, I can barely move
But I like it and it's all because of you

8. Please don't Leave Me by Pink
I forgot to say out loud how beautiful you really are to me
I can't be without, you're my perfect little punching bag
And I need you, I'm sorry.

9. You Smile by Justin Bieber
If you need me I'll come running from a thousand miles away
When you smile, I smile.. ;)

10. There's No Easy Way by James Ingram (I so love this song, I will paste the whole of its lyrics, hihi)

I held her close to me
'Cause I know she breaks so easily
And then I told her
But I knew no matter how I tried to console her
She's just do the best she could
But there are times the best in no damn good
And no matter how you try to be kind
There's always still a part of you you leave behind
When it falls apart
 
There's no easy way to break somebody's heart

I lied and told her she'd be fine
Though we both knew it was just a lie
I had to do it
'Cause I'd a' said anytihng to help me get through it

Then she reached out for my hand
And her simple touch was more than I could stand
And I had to turn away
'Cause I knew all the hurt
That she was feeling I was feeling too
'Cause when it falls apart
 
There's no easy way to break somebody's heart

She could've gotten angry
And made me feel like a guilty child
But I realized that never was her style
I wanted her to hurt me
And not treat me like a friend
I wanted to to say there'd be someday
I'm come crawling on my kneeds to ask her back again
But she acted like a lady 'til the end
Oh, what a lady

I thought that she'd break down
But she smiled at me and never made a sound
And I guess she understood in her way
Cause her silence told me everything she could not say
When it falls apart
There's just no easy way
 
There's just no easy way
There's just no easy way to break somebody's heart.