Frannywanny

"Happiness is a state of mind. It's just according to the way you look at things." - Walt Disney Lately, my positive and generally happy disposition are being put to the test by various stress factors around me and I have to admit that there are just days when I feel like I'm going to crack and allow myself to suck in the negativity. Thankfully though, I got friends and family around to remind me to keep on floating and to just let things be. It's not easy, I tell you. This week has really been a challenging one but you know what?! I am very optimistic that the weekend will bring a better vibe and the coming week will be a good one. So on the way home today, I started thinking about happiness . It's then that I was reminded of this quote above which came from the man who has brought so much happiness to millions billions of people in this world.... me included. Happiness is indeed a state of mind . It's really up to you whether or not you want to be...

Summer is here! I can't believe it's already March which means we're almost done with the 1st quarter of 2013. Time is running on high speed, don't you think? Anyway, with the heat getting to be more intense outside, all the more I crave for cold desserts. Ice cream, yogurt and our ever-popular halo-halo. Just the thought of it is making me miss Manila more and more. *sigh* Aside from my dessert bar staples such as creme brulee and a scoop of ice cream, I am also a big fan of crepes. I tell you, I can have crepes at anytime of the day. The savory ones for breakfast, lunch or dinner and the sweet fruity ones in between. This is also why my family and I frequent our neighborhood creperie a whole lot ever since it opened its doors to the public. Let's just say, that's our way of giving our all out support in hopes that it'll be there to serve us forever and ever. During one of our not-so-frequent trips to the SM Mall of Asia , Paul, Joan (a.k.a. Mrs. Fo...

I got to admit, if given the chance to choose between rice, pasta or bread, I would definitely go for pasta any day. This is also the reason why I tend to be extra picky with the type of breads that I eat. I love freshly baked pan de sal paired with a spoonful of peanut butter and a cup of hot cocoa. Soft and fluffy ciabatta bread has been my favorite when I'm making myself a sandwich. As for the type of breads that I avoid, these are ones with raisins, dates or the fruity type. I really do not know why but I always end up plucking each tiny fruit out before biting into the bread. One day, I received a box of freshly baked goodies from Bread Story Philippines . It was after visiting their Facebook page that I found out that the brand actually originates from Malaysia . We had some of their specialty breads for lunch. Among the four breads on the plate, I liked the Flossy Signature which had buttery pork floss on top. The Flossy Hottie , on the other hand, was topped with spicy...

After a month of flying in and out of the country, finally, Paul and I were able to double date again with our friends L and T before they leave for their much-awaited honeymoon ♥. We usually would meet up somewhere in Ortigas or most recently at Eton Centris where their Chatime store is located. However, with the growing number of restaurants opening at the Bonifacio Global City , most particularly in the newly built complex called Bonifacio High Street Central , L and I decided to visit one of the many restaurants there. Bonifacio High Street Central is also where Jamba Juice and Aria are located. Coincidentally, I was invited by the Bistro Group to have dinner there with me and my friends as they just opened a new restaurant called the Village Tavern which was a franchise from North Carolina, USA . I checked with L how she feels about trying this new restaurant out with me and just as I've guessed it, she and T were game! Yay! The place was filled with groups when we ar...

I'm addicted once again. After being witnessing my long running addiction to Serenitea , here I am again falling in love with another milk tea brand that has just recently opened its doors to the Philippine market. I would like to introduce you to ChaTime . It's actually a big milk tea company that originated in Taiwan and has a number of branches in Malaysia, China, USA, Vietnam, Hong Kong, Indonesia, and Australia, plus new stores opening soon in Korea, Japan and the Philippines! (source: ChaTime Philippines' FB Page ) I'm lucky because ChaTime's first official branch is located once again just a stone's throw away from my workplace. Just like Cab Cafe , I can easily go there via a short tricycle ride. On my first visit, it was after doing overtime work at the office as Paul and I made it to ChaTime at 9PM. Despite being a few days old, there was already a long line inside the store. I like the clean and brightly-lit interiors. They also have a ...

It has been a yearly tradition that I spend the first two days of the new year listing down restaurants and places that I would like to visit that year. It somehow becomes my guide when friends would ask for dinner recommendations anytime we plan to meet up. I was fortunate enough to be able to crossed out quite a lot last year and I am hopeful to be able to do just as much this year. This is, of course, without compromising my physical and financial being. A new restaurant a week sounds reasonable, right? Right! :) Today, Paul and I joined Mommy as she went to Greenbelt 1 for her appointment. While Mommy headed to meet her client, we went around the mall and was surprise to see certain new establishments and developments here and there. Then we decided to check out the stores outside, we were greeted by a new kid in town that's right beside Starbucks Coffee and Pancake House! Bonchon Chicken is in TOWN! Bonchon Chicken is part of my places to visit this 2011 and I excite...