Frannywanny

As a mom, how many times have you felt like you're all alone in your own worries and thoughts?  Most especially for newborn moms, I'm pretty sure the answer is every day . Well, I felt that way when my twins were born. I honestly felt like no one can ever understand what we're going through as everyone had singleton babies and here we are, trying to learn the ropes of parenthood x 2! I got to admit that there were nights when I would burst out crying and it's not the kind that you would cry yourself to sleep because..well... you don't get to sleep! I was just overcome with so much exhaustion, fear and anxiety. I just wanted to do things correctly from the way I breastfeed my babies down to making sure that I get to keep them alive and healthy. I got to say though that Paul has played a huge role in keeping me sane. He never left my side and I'd say that it's because of him that I didn't fell into depression but to all new moms about there, believe me...

It has been said over and over again how Singapore is Asia's food mecca. With a wide selection of gastronomic options here, eating in the Lion City is always something that one can look forward to. Ask anyone from locals to foreigners on what is their favorite Singaporean dish and most likely you'll get one that is readily available at any hawker centre. You see, the history of hawker centres dates back to the 1970s as part of the government's plan to clean up the street and to provide a better dining establishment for both the vendors and customers alike. I'd say that these hawker centres played a vital role in Singapore's growth to what it is today. To honor these hawker heroes, a couple of my fellow food bloggers, Derrick, Maureen and Ian, created a fun one-day event called the Ultimate Hawker Fest that is happening on the 22nd of November 2014 in  Suntec Singapore Convention & Exhibition Centre . Participants of this event will be able to taste the...

I strongly believe in the saying that "health is wealth" . After all, the worst thing is to spend your hard-earned money on medications and hospitalizations when you can try to avoid all these in the first place. I'm glad that as I'm trying to up my physical activity level lately, I'd come across local activities that would challenge me to go even further. No more excuses now and I'm learning to push myself to the limits and to see what else I can do. A month ago, I came across a Facebook sponsored ad about a fun yoga and wellness event in Tanjong Beach Club, Sentosa . The name is Soulscape Singapore and browsing through their website, I was immediately drawn towards the two exclusive yoga sessions -- Sunset Yoga and Yoga Rave . It was to be conducted by True Yoga making it even more enticing. I asked my dear friend D, who has been a great influence to me to eat healthy and to stay fit, if she wants to join as well. It only took D a few minutes to brow...

I know the week has just begun but my mind is already all geared up for the weekend! It will be a very busy weekend for us as we're celebrating C's birthday, will be meeting up with an old friend, will be heading out for some last minute errands, will be visiting IKEA for their weekend sale and lastly, we will be at The Big Ohm Theory ! When I first heard about this, I instantly knew that this is one event that I would love to check out. No, I'm not an expert in yoga nor am I really the healthiest person in the land but I promise to make 2014 the year where I'll seriously try to live a healthier, happier and a more holistic life. We're half-way through the year so I really have to start somewhere and The Big Ohm Theory might just be my first step in reaching my goal. The Big Ohm Theory is happening this coming weekend ( June 14-15, 2014 ) from 9AM to 6PM at the National Design Centre  (MRT: Bugis) here in Singapore.

When my dear friend and fellow blogger Ria told me she's coming over, I was really excited to take her to try some of my favorite restaurants. Over our chats, the idea of her conducting a yoga class led to us organizing this exciting activity happening on Monday. Come December 9 (Monday), we would like to invite all Singapore-based readers to join us in a Benefit Vinyasa Yoga Class from 730PM to 9PM. It will be 90 minutes of slow flow poses that will surely relax you after a crazy day at work.  What makes it so meaningful and exciting is that all proceeds will be given to the Malongs for Mothers, an organization that Ria strongly supports. They provide malongs to all mothers affected by Typhoon Yolanda in the Visayas region.  I really look forward to meeting all of you however there are very limited slots available so.....please sign up NOW and help me spread the word too! http://bit.ly/yogawithlove

In between travels and food trips, Paul and I also like enriching our cultural selves by either watching a play, visiting a museum or watching a good show. We make it a point that in every country we visit, we don't just spend the entire stay eating and shopping. After all, traveling should always be a learning experience . In Bangkok, it was really a good choice to spend an evening watching the Siam Niramit Cultural Show . I will never forget how amazing the production was for this much-talked-about show. I won't mention what happened as I don't want to spoil it for you. Recently, in Seoul , Paul and I joined our friends in watching the world-renowned Cooking Nanta Show . The ticket may have costs us a small fortune but believe me, it was worth it. I would watch it again if I get the chance to. We're pretty lucky to be able to catch some good shows here in Manila too. Of course there are a couple of musical plays that I truly enjoyed and who can ever forget our ...

Last year, Yummy Magazine launched Yummy Eats -- a fun eating and cooking fair that took place at the NBC Tent . More than a thousand readers and food-lovers flocked to the Bonifacio Global City to sample more than 30 food finds which were all specially chosen by the editors of our favorite food magazine -- Yummy Magazine ! It was indeed a fun event despite me, running around the place all day checking up on concessionaires, making sure everything goes as planned. Indeed, I went home with a big smile on a face. The buzz about the event continued days weeks months after Yummy Eats with fellow bloggers and media friends talking about it . The clamor for a second Yummy Eats was loud enough to be heard and so... ..... we're back! On May 26, 2012 at the Rockwell Tent -- we are excited to reunite, once again, with our growing Yummy Magazine community . Expect to see more than 50 concessionaires who will entice you with their mouth-watering creations. Meet some of the country...

It’s BACKKKKKKK!! A year ago, my food-loving colleague excitedly told me about S M Megamall having a 3-day Food Sale . Imagine having at least a hundred food establishments offering discounts, free dishes and a lot more! It truly felt like a food lover’s holiday! I wasn’t sure what happened last year but sadly, I missed the fun weekend. Well, I’m not going to let that happen again this year. In fact, as early as last weekend, Paul and I headed to SM Megamall to check out the participating establishments already and took mental notes on which ones we will definitely visit this coming weekend. We mean business which means, we need a surefire strategy. This is WAR! Food War! :)

Yep! You read that right..true I had a shot of this cocktail called Kiss on the Lips and I think it actually hit me even more than just a soft, tender kiss. With my low tolerance for alcohol here I am typing away as my brain is starting to head to la-la-land...Before I completely doze off, I'd like to share with you this great news from our friends over at Crumpler Philippines ! They will soon be having a big event where you can exchange a bottle/can/case of beer for your very own Crumpler bag!!! I don't know about you but I'm definitely hoarding probably a dozen cases of beer just for this. See you there!! For more info, visit the official Facebook page of Crumpler Philippines .

Unknown to many, I am a neat freak . I spend most of my free time (and in between busy schedules) organizing, cleaning, sorting, color-coordinating and a lot more. This is also the case when it comes to my clothes. I hate having a lot of unused clothes stored in my closet just gathering dust. This is the reason why I regularly go through every single piece of clothing and I quickly discard the old, worn-out ones to give space for the new ones. I love keeping my clothes tidy and clean. However, as we go out, especially when we travel and dine out, it's inevitable that we perspire and we leave stains and bacteria in our clothes. While eating, we sometimes accidentally have sauce dripping on our jeans and oil stains on our long sleeves. These are really hard to remove and not even the most powerful stain remover can sometimes do the trick. Luckily, I was invited to the launch of one of the country's leading brand in fabric care Ariel as they launched a new product called th...

On the 1st day of July, I was lucky enough to be invited to a celebration that was held at the US Embassy in Manila. It was a dinner hosted by Ambassador Harry Thomas as the United States of America celebrated their 235th Independence Day . I arrived early as requested in the invite and my car underwent very strict security check (I think the most strict that I've have ever seen in my life so far) . I was dropped off right at the front door where it was filled with security personnel and ushers ready to assist you. Not knowing where to go next, I just followed the long line which they called the receiving line . In my mind, I thought this would lead to a registration table where I will be meeting J, my fellow blogger who invited me to this very exclusive celebration. Little did I know, as we inch our way closer to the ballroom, I would reach the welcome committee headed by no other than Ambassador Harry Thomas himself. He was a very nice man that I was initially speechless ...

Save the date guys!! Chef Daniel Green is coming to Manila! He's a popular TV personality, an award-winning author and a chef who has successfully lost 65lbs (amazing!) without having to hit the gym and has managed to keep the weight off simply by....eating right! Now, isn't that what we've all been dreaming off? So be sure to catch him at Dusit Thani Manila on the dates listed above. Calling all food entrepreneurs!! The UP Junior Marketing Association (JMA) is organizing a food bazaar called COCINA tentatively scheduled on August 12, 2011 at the UP Diliman Campus. This event aims to raise funds for the K.I.D.S. (Kids Integrated Development through Schooling) program which provides educational assistance to 25 less fortunate students who are at the top of their class but is in need of financial support. The bazaar is open to up to 50 interested concessionaires. Contact the following to know more on how to be part of this fun event! Jet: 0917-8245077 MJ: ...

May 21, 2011 -- The day that I will never forget. It was the day that we've all been waiting for while praying to God that everything will just fall into place. We've all worked so hard making sure we stick to our objectives and that is to give all Yummy Eats visitors the best experience ever. It was a mix of sweat, fright and tears (luckily, no blood shed here) and I'm proud to say WE DID IT! Yummy Magazine 's biggest event to date was a HUGE SUCCESS and we got all 1200++ guests, our dear sponsors and media partners to thank for. It surely was a fun-filled day where NBC Tent was filled with food-lovers in all ages. There were 3 cooking demos, one major culinary school cook-off and more than 30 food booths to sample from. Everyone had a great time but I think I'll just let my fellow bloggers tell you more about it. Before that though, check out this cool video created by Yummy.ph . Yummy Eats from Yummy Magazine and Yummy.ph on Vimeo . Read more ...

Hello May! We are getting a lil bit closer to the end of the first half of 2011 and I welcome May with some GREAT news! The countdown begins (yup! 20 days to go as of this moment) , Yummy Magazine will have its first ever food fair and YOU'RE ALL INVITED! Check out the Yummy Eats which I promise to be a fun cooking and eating fair for all of us! It's on May 21, 2011 from 10AM to 6PM at the NBC Tent, Bonifacio Global City . Just last week, I was fortunate enough to meet majority of our hand-pick food concessionaires who will be present during the event and was able to sample their best-selling items! All I can say was...they're all YUMMY ! The entire day is also filled with various activities such as cooking demo, culinary school cook-offs and a lot more! Of course, lots of prizes will also be raffled off! So, mark your calendars, spread the word and see you all on May 21 !! :)

2010 is a year that brings more optimism and hope. With a new president whom every Filipinos hope will be able to improve the current situation of the country to the growth of several business sectors, everyone is eager to welcome 2011 with a brighter, happier start. I've noticed that this year's Christmas is more festive too. Bright lights line up the streets, children are once again singing merry tunes and at the corner of Ortigas and Meralco avenues, stands a beautiful well-lit compound where the public can visit and enjoy with their entire family. Meralco once again opens its doors to the public this Christmas with a Paskuhan (Christmas) Village, Toy Town and a life-sized electric train. I was privilege to witness the lighting of the entire Meralco compound which was headed by Meralco's chairman Manny V. Pangilinan himself. After the countdown, the Meralco logo on the building lit up and the sky was filled with bright and colorful fireworks. Christmas is t...

As we ignite our entrepreneurial spirit, Paul , my sister and I will be at the Candy Fair 2010 selling our ever-famous hotdog poppers, chicken nuggets and more! It will be a fun event as all visitors will be able to join the games, engage themselves in the fun activities lined up, watch cool performances and enjoy our yummy food!! Look for the Big Bite booth on Saturday, September 4, 2010 at the A.Venue Hall anytime from 10AM - 5PM. Bring a copy of the September issue of Candy Mag to enter or pay the P100 entrance fee (but I promise it will be worth it!)!!! Hope to see you there!! :)

It was our first Saturday night out after the wedding and boy, were we excited! Thanks to my dear friend N who invited us to an private auction party organized by Chocolate Fire , we headed to Salcedo Village eager to check out the lovely photos of the ever-famous Raymund Isaac and of course to indulge in the delicious chocolate creations that N has been telling me about. The place was packed! As we slide ourselves in, we found N who was waiting for us by the chocolate counter. My eyes widen at the sight of the different chocolate bars available. What caught our attention thought was the huge strawberries covered with chocolate that was being passed around. It was so delicious! Around the store, they have displayed the different chocolate-themed photos taking by Raymund Isaac of local celebrities and fashion models. All throughout the evening, we were given different chocolate treats, sandwiches and drinks while swaying to the music of the bands entertaining the crowd all nig...

This year has been a busy one for Entrepreneur Philippines . It all began with our 1st Networking Night featuring three of the well-respected entrepreneurs in the food industry . Readers of the magazine all trooped to 360 Resto Bar at A.Venue for an evening of learning from the experts and building their contacts. The second one was all about the Franchise Business and despite having a typhoon that evening, Amber Lounge was still filled with participants eager to learn and interact with one another. We're nearing the end of the year and with that, Entrepreneur Philippines be having the last Networking Night focusing on the Innovators -- Entrepreneurs who took up the courage to face the industry giants and succeeded in their own way. It's an interesting mix of a gas provider, a business innovator and a well known salon catering to the mass market. Get to know them on September 7, 2010 (Tuesday) from 6PM onwards at the 360 Resto Bar at A. Venue Mall along Makati Ave...

A food lover will always be a food lover. No matter where we go, Paul and I make it a point that we get to have a wonderful gastronomic adventure in our trips here and abroad. Luck must have been on our side as we just recently found out that the Singapore Food Festival will happen just around the same time that we're there. Of course, this was immediately included in our itinerary. It has been drizzling all day but it didn't stop us from taking the MRT all the way to Clarke Quay in order to check the festival out. From the station, it was a short walk crossing Swissotel Merchant Court and soon you'll see the Singapore River with lots of small stalls selling shirts and other retail items. The Clarke Quay Food Street was located along the Read Bridge. It wasn't difficult to locate this as all we had to do was to follow the steady stream of people going in one direction. After going around each and every stall, we decided to buy our very own Kopi Tiam card ...

Yesterday, I was invited by my fellow publisher Mello to join her and her editors to visit the Center for Culinary Arts in Eastwood to ignite our inner passion. Despite being so busy, I immediately said yes even without reading the email. It was only that morning when I found out what exactly we will be doing and how long it will take. I've always dreamed to be a chef. Nothing makes me happier than bringing out my creativity on a plate. I love food and food loves me. 'Nuff said. During the introductions made, we found out that the Kitchen Discovery Class is a pre-requisite for all aspiring culinary students of the CCA. Here, the students will be evaluated based on their kitchen readiness and as they will be given the chance to get a better glimpse of what to expect for the two-year diploma course. That afternoon, we just had our session for two-hours but man, it has really ignited my love for the kitchen.I love the kitchen auditorium! It's fully-equipped with all...