Jenna Blum's Those Who Save Us

I have a small collection of both fiction and non-fiction books centered during World War II and its aftermath, specifically of the Holocaust.  All these are usually focused on Jewish protagonists and how they were able to survive the nightmares of war. 

So when I saw Jenna Blum's Those Who Save Us, I figured it was about time to read about the "other side."


Jenna Blum's Those Who Save Us

Lunch at Bizu Patisserie & Bistro

I've been dying to try out Bizu Patisserie & Bistro for quite some time.  There's just something about this place that truly fascinates me.  So while looking for an acceptable venue to hold the Little One's baptism lunch reception in Makati, the Hubby and I decided that lunching here would be just as good a time as any.

Bizu Patisserie & Bistro

My Rogue Vintage Suitcase from SimpleJoys

I used to stash all my precious keepsakes and mementos (cards, trinkets, and the like) inside an old, and sadly now empty, cardboard box of Patchi chocolates (which, by the way, was a gift from the ex-BF, now Hubby.)

However, when the Little One arrived, I found my old keeper lacking in enough space.  I've been meaning to include some items of hers to serve as keepsakes too, and there's only so much you can stuff inside a cardboard box before it finally bursts at the seams.

Good thing I came across a SimpleJoys store one day and found this...

Simple Joys' rogue vintage suitcase

PR: Healthy Summer Drinks for the Young & Active with Easy Pha-max Wheatgrass Honey

It’s getting hot and cold sweet drinks are starting to seem so irresistible.  And although it's ok to indulge once in a while, we also have to take in consideration our health, too.  So this summer, why not have the best of both worlds, deliciously sweet and also healthy?  Add a little zing to your drinks with Easy Pha-max wheatgrass honey.

Easy Pha-max wheatgrass

Heat Wave Summer Bazaar (April 13 - 15, 2012)

From the same team behind the Noel Bazaar series, Cut Unlimited, Inc. once again comes up with another shopping extravaganza that's just in time for the summer season -- the Heat Wave Summer Bazaar!

Heat Wave Summer Bazaar

Grab all your summer essentials in one convenient and gargantuan location right in the heart of Pasay City. 

The Heat Wave Summer Bazaar will run from April 13 to 15, 2012, 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the World Trade Center, Pasay City, Philippines.

A Day of Pampering at Asian Clinic

I felt like such a manang (old woman) last year.  Prevented from using hair treatments because of the pregnancy and then facing the challenges of adjusting to my new mom roles had me at such a fix that I find myself foregoing my usual beauty regimens.  Pathetic, I know!

December was a different matter though.  Knowing that a number of events were lined up for me and the family (including the Little One's baptism), I just knew I had to venture out and do something with my hair.  Good thing, too, as my Asian Clinic voucher from Ebay.ph's kuponan was just about to expire.

Photo credit: makati.olx.com.ph

The Good, the Slightly Off and the Salty at Johnny Chow's

Johnny Chow is one of the many restaurants located at Resorts World Manila.  Serving a mix of Thai, Korean and Chinese fusion cuisine, it aims to reinvent one's dining experience by bringing a contemporary pop feel to what is considered comfort food for most Asians.

Another interesting tidbit -- it's also managed by the same team behind Sumo Sam, Mr. Kurosawa, and John and Yoko.


Johnny Chow


Curious enough?  Well, here's the low down on what's good, what's slightly off and what's salty at Johnny Chow's.

Finding my Own Voice Through Blogging

Everyone is given a voice on the web.  It's very refreshing, really, since information is accessible to everyone regardless of location.  Aside from the The Average Jane blog being used as a stress reliever for me, it is also my way of sharing my experiences that I think other people would be interested in knowing too.  And with technology as it is today, it's so easy now to build a website.  

Over the couple of years I started this blog and from the online friends I've met, I've learned that there are a number of considerations you have to take when deciding to create your own website, most of which, admittedly I overlooked when starting the blog.

Thinking...

Hate Late? DOST's Juan Time Campaign

DOST's Juan Time campaign suddenly entered my mind as I, once again, found myself waiting in a booth at a corner cafe near the venue of an event I'm supposed to cover. 

Arriving at 5:45 p.m. for an activity that was scheduled (as the invitation states) at 6:00 p.m., I was sort of expecting to simply sign the registration form, be urshered in a small corner and patiently wait for the festivities to begin.  But alas!  It was not meant to be for I was "early" (as the people at the registration table said) and that actual show was moved to 6:30 p.m.!  Catch my drift?

Just chillin'

Ice Cream Cakes Made More Affortable by Bake & Churn

One sees Bake & Churn Ice Cream Cakes kiosks in almost all of the major malls in the country.  I, however, being such a late foodie bloomer, only recently had the pleasure of tasting a Bake & Churn cake.

Bake & Churn kiosk in SM Bacoor

VSO Bahaginan's Volunteering Expo

VSO Bahaginan invites you to the Second Volunteering Expo on March 13, 2012 at the Intercontinental Manila, Makati City.

Entitled "Active Communities, Sustainable Future," the Volunteering Expo will serve as a platform for celebrating and inspiring volunteerism in government, non-government, corporate, and academic sectors.

For more information, please click here to view the e-poster.

This post is re-blogged from BLOGGERS 4 CHANGE.

Escape to the Land of Themeparks through OrlandoEscape.com

Note: Paid post but views expressed are purely mine.

Who doesn't love themeparks?  Regardless of what age, these attractions bring out the crazy, care-free kid in all of us.  And what other place hosts a number of interesting attractions all in one convinient area?  Why Orlando, Florida of course, which is home to the world-famous Disney World theme resorts.

And although vacations provide that much needed rest and relaxation that we all crave and need once in a while, it can also oftentimes become a source of great stress when you think about the costs you will be incurring on your trip. 

The trip itself to these major themeparks and attractions could already burn a hole in your pocket.  Wouldn't it be so nice to stay in a place where you can have the best of both worlds -- major tourist attractions right next door and affortable accomodations all at the same area?

Well, fret no more as Lake Buena Vista has the answer to your problem.

Lake Buena Vista map

Best Western Premier F1 Hotel: the Tastes of F (2 of 2)

It recently started to become a habit of mine to just make a single blog post when it came to the topic of hotels.  I'd usually include photos of the room, food and sights all in one go simply because it was less of a hassle (for me anyway) and, I believe, easier for the reader to digest.

But I find that I just had too many food photos from F restuarant, Best Western Premier F1 hotel's signature dining establishment, that I absolutely adored.  Simply put, I had a really hard time picking out my favorites, hence, I decided to make an exception and share my F food entry in another post.

F

And so, without further adeiu, I present some of the treats one may find at F.

Best Western Premier F1 Hotel: The Sights (1 of 2)

NOTE:  A waaayyyy long overdue post.  My sincere apologies.  L

I was browsing through a set of pictures in my computer files when I discovered a whole folder of photos we took during the family's stay at Best Western Premier F1 Hotel last November 2011 (yes, I am weird that way.)

So, if you would permit me, I would now like to share them with you now.  J 


Best Western Premier F1 Hotel



Reportage on Crime by Quijano de Manila

Every now and then I find a really good unexpected read stuffed in between old, dusty tomes in book fairs and events that the public usually disregard.  Reportage on Crime by Quijano de Manila is definitely one of them.

Quijano de Manila's Reportage on Crime