Frannywanny

"Dear xxx, You'll always have the biggest PIZZA my heart." "To my one and only, I PEPPERON-ly have eyes on you." "My love, you had me at PIZZA." Sounds cheesy? Well, you are allowed to be as cheesy as you want this Valentines Day (all the way up to this weekend) and surprise your special someone with a box of pizza too! That's what I did as Paul and I opted to stay home with our twins on this special day. 

Fire up the grill! For the past weekends since April, buffet diners of The Carvery have been enjoying a very indulgent meat buffet where the meat are carefully roasted over the restaurant's brand new Argentinian Grill. What makes this different from all other barbecue pits or grills is that it has an adjustable platform allowing the chef to control the heat depending on the type of meat being grilled. He can raise the platform higher for those that shouldn't be in close contact with the fire and lower for those that should have a smokier flavor. It also evenly cooks the meat as all are laid down on the platform and are cooked in one go. As you all know, the secret to getting that perfect barbecued meat lies on the wood being used to cook. Chef Robert Chan specifically made sure that he uses a mix of firewood -- Hickory and Mesquite to bring out a distinct flavor that we later got to enjoy in our cuts of meat. For our preview dinner, we got to try a good selection of ro...

*SPONSORED POST* Here are just some of the perks of being the first born: 1) Having the entire family (and this includes the extended members too) in the hospital hours before you came into this world and the same set of people rejoicing the moment the doctor has announced that you have...arrived! 2) Getting everyone’s undivided attention to your every move and to every word you say. 3) Being able to build a relationship with everyone in the family for a longer period of time. Needless to say, from the moment I was born, I’m lucky to be loved not only by my parents but even by my aunts, uncles and most especially my grandparents. For my maternal grandparents whom I lovingly call my Kongkong (Grandfather) and Amah (Grandmother), I was their first grandchild and I would remember spending every summer breaks with them. Unlike other kids, both Pan and I loved every moment with our grandparents. Who wouldn't? As Kongkong would spoil us by cooking all the yummy dishes that ...

Who doesn't love pizza? Growing up, this has been our staple during group meetings in someone's home, during a class party or even one's birthday party. Nothing beats the bonding experience as you share a box of pizza with your closest friends. At home, Pan and I would always have pizza for our afternoon merienda back when we were studying for our quarterly final exams. Mommy would leave additional allowance for us to be able to have a box of pizza delivered and this is something we both always look forward to quarter after quarter. To me, pizza is a comfort food. Someday, I'll be a cool mom and have pizza nights with my family. Haha! However, when it comes to pizza flavors, I like the basic ones. The simpler, the better. This has been my motto ever since. Call it fate that Paul actually believes in the same thing. He has been loyal towards Hawaiian flavored pizza which is also one of my favorite pizza flavors equally same with the all cheese or seafood flavored pizz...

For as long as I can remember, Christmas Eve has always been spent with Mommy's side of the family. We always get together for dinner normally in a Chinese restaurant, then we all head to church to hear the Misa de Gallo mass as a family. Thus, even after getting married, Paul and I immediately agreed that December 24 is dedicated to my side of the family while the 25th is to be celebrated with his. This year though, we took a break from the usual Chinese lauriat dinner and decided to try Buffet 101 . It's cool that lately the family has been game to try various restaurants whenever we celebrate someone's special day. I guess most of us are starting to get tired of the usual Chinese dishes already. It's no secret that we, Filipinos, love to avail of eat-all-you-can promos. Take a look at the rising popularity of Yakimix and Sambokojin where you can grill and eat all you can! Taking inspiration from the posh hotel buffets, Buffet 101 gives you hotel-like ambiance...

*SPONSORED POST* I just came home from a fun evening spent with my barkada. I’ve known these girls for more than 15 years at the very least. In fact, T and I have been friends since we were in kindergarten! That’s how long we’ve known each other and it’s truly amazing to see how our bond continues to grow and strengthen through the years. In fact, they’re like family to me. Thus, it was definitely a no-brainer that I immediately chose all three of them to be part of my bridal entourage when Paul and I tied the knot two years ago. This is because I simply wanted them to play a meaningful role in such a momentous occasion in my life. 3 of the 4 Musketeers : Best Friends for LIFE After high school, we each went to different universities and later on took different but quite similar career paths. Despite our hectic schedules, its amazing that we continue to stay connected thanks to the power of the internet and mobile communications . Just recently, when Typhoon Sandy hit New Jersey...

I'll let you in on my mom's secret. :) When my sister and I were still babies, she would make fresh Tomato juice for us to drink. We all know that Tomato has lycopene and it has a very strong anti-oxidant and anti-cancer power. Aside from this, Mommy believes that tomato juice is also very good for the skin. Of course, she wants that for her two daughters and I must say that her daily practice of feeding us with tomato juice has proven its benefits for the two of us. My sister and I have never had a facial treatment done and our only daily beauty routine includes washing our faces at least two times a day and to moisturize, moisturize and to moisturize. Luckily, we were also spared by the terrible facial acne problems that a lot of our peers got during our teenage years. Someday, I wish to do the same for my kids. However, I can hardly imagine myself having the luxury of time to create these fresh juices for them. In fact, I hardly have time to make a glass of juice for mys...

After weeks of consecutive weekend getaways, Paul and I found some downtime this weekend where we were able to wake up later than usual, have longer meals with the family and go out to watch a movie. Given our busy weekend schedules, believe it or not, going out on movie dates doesn't happen that often anymore. *sigh* Which is the reason why I totally get ecstatic whenever we get to really go out on a date...just the two of us spending more quality time together. Yesterday, we headed to the Powerplant Mall to watch a movie. I totally love my husband for giving up watching Dark Shadows over the very girly romantic comedy movie What to Expect When You're Expecting as he knows that I've been wanting to watch this movie since I learned about it months ago (..and after hearing me say, "this movie got an all-star cast in it!" probably a dozen times) . Yay! Thank you Paul for spoiling me. ♥ It was indeed a fun movie with a couple of my favorite Hollywood stars like...

When I first met Paul 9 years ago, all I remembered was that he's the guy in a blue shirt and who was wearing a gray cap. He barely spoke a word the entire evening and just sat quietly beside his friend N who invited him to our group's dinner that day. I was busy catching up with my girl friends and was obviously oblivious to the fact that there, at one corner of the room, the same quiet guy was staring at me...or so he claims he was. *blush* Fast forward months after that, we began exchanging messages online and via SMS. Later on, as we found out that we live so close to each other, we began meeting up for afternoon merienda or after dinner coffee chats once in a while. One of the first things that I liked about Paul was the fact that he makes a great eating partner. Having met guys who have a million and one conditions when it comes to food (read: no veggies, no spicy food, no exotic dishes, etc etc etc) , I was elated to find out that Paul was really game to try anything a...

"I'll always be your Mommy even if you're married and you'll someday be a Mommy yourself..." That's my Mommy's constant line whenever she would nag me about certain things and I would tell her not to worry because I'm a grown woman. Up until this day, Mommy never fails to call me at exactly 7PM to ask for my whereabouts. I never really got off my curfew as Mommy would start looking for us (yes, Paul included) and wouldn't sleep until she knows we're on our way home. She would always ensure that our helper would prepare breakfast for us and that I have lunch to bring to work. Initially, I thought my Mom must be the most protective Mom in the world...that was until I saw how my Amah (grandmother) was when Mommy went to Japan for a vacation. Amah would call me every single day asking if I was able to talk to Mommy online. On days where her favorite radio announcer would announce that it's a rainy day in Japan, she would call and ask if Mommy...

Off I go again! For the next four days, I'll take another break as I go incommunicado to a not-so-far-away-land for a short business trip. Here,  I look forward to enjoying the majestic structures that has been standing for centuries, to indulge in the richest and yummiest food and to somehow reconnect with my roots. Yes, I'm flying off to Beijing, China and believe it or not, it will actually be my first trip abroad that I'll be on my own. No Paul, no family, no friends or colleagues to be with me. I'll surely miss Paul as he would automatically hold my hand as the plane takes off and lands on the ground. How he would take care of packing our bags and carry all of them while leaving the lightest baggage for me to pull around. How I wish he'll be there to experience Beijing with me. Without him, all the more I'll strive harder (and save more) for us to be able to visit China soon. ♥ Click here to learn how to apply for a Chinese Visa.   Don't you ...

Hi readers! I've been blogging for five years and what really keeps me going is YOU ! I still get the thrill out of receiving messages that you guys would leave on my comment box and most especially when I get the chance to meet some of you outside. This Saturday, I'm heading to Mercato Centrale and will be hanging out there with the cool Jollibee crew as they will sample the new and totally yummy Jollibee Sundae Mix-Ins MILO Blast to all market visitors that day! To make things more exciting, I'll be spotting groups of friends enjoying this cool treat and will be rewarding them with Jollibee GCs ! I hope to see you guys on Saturday! Mark your calendars, March 17; 7AM to 2PM at Mercato Centrale , Bonifacio Global City! It'll definitely be one cool day!

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 .

"Hada Adai, fellow bloggers!" -- This is the way people say HELLO in Guam. If I were you, I'd read up on Guam and learn a phrase or two as you and a friend might just be on your way to the beautiful island of Guam for an all-expense paid trip brought to you by Heinz Tomato Ketchup ! Before I share the great news with you on how to join this exciting contest, let me share some Guam 101 first. Guam is actually part of the US Territory thus a VISA is required prior to entry. Unlike California or New York, Guam is just a 3-hour flight away from Manila! Even closer than Singapore or Korea that takes us 4 hours to get there. The weather is fairly similar to the Philippines so no need to lug around your boots and coat for this trip. As for the food, Filipinos won't have a hard time adjusting as the food in Guam is really similar to ours. This is brought by the early Filipino immigrants who transferred to Guam as early as the Spanish colonization. Thus, don't b...

Finally, the judges have spoken! After going through more than 32 valid entries and choosing my top 3 entries, the judges from our dear sponsor, Unionbank have finally chosen THE ONE ! CONGRATULATIONS TO..... Joy S. Cabaltera ! She's the lucky reader who will be receiving Php. 5,000 CASH from Unionbank ! :) Thank you everyone for joining my very first contest for 2012! Watch out for another exciting one coming very soon! Joy, please expect an email from me within the day.

A couple of months ago, I had the privilege to borrow the Ford Fiesta for the weekend. This invite then led to an impromptu out of town food trip to Paul's hometown in Angeles, Pampanga . Paul and I really had fun driving the Ford Fiesta as we would take turns taking this on a test drive around the city. It's small, compact yet very spacious that we were surprisingly able to fit quite a lot of Allies Wonder Peanuts ! Read more about my Ford Fiesta Food Trip over at their Official Facebook Page . Click here to access the application. See where I brought the Ford Fiesta and learn about the FOUR Fab reasons why I love it to bits! Let's go on a ride!!! Zoooooooooooooooom!!!

Earlier I woke up and I suddenly realized that September is over and October is finally here. This just means Christmas is just a few hops away and we are pretty much on the verge of saying goodbye to 2011. With the holidays coming soon, it's time to plan for that much-needed vacation. It's then perfect timing that there will be a BIG Outlet and Travel Sale happening on October 14-16, 2011 at The Megatent in Ortigas. I can't wait to book for a weekend R&R as travel merchants such as The Tides Boracay, One Tagaytay Place, Hotel Elizabeth and a lot more will be there! Paul, on the other hand, is ready to check out products from his favorite brands such as Rudy Project, Crumpler, Digital Walker and of course, PowerMac Center. Lastly, here's some great news! If you have a BPI Credit Card you'll get to enjoy these additional perks: Free Entrance to BPI Cardholders (with valid ID) Additional perks for BPI Express Credit Edge and Petron Mastercard holders...

Last week, Paul and I were privileged to be invited to an intimate dinner to sample a number of signature dishes which will only be available for a very limited time at the Jasmine Restaurant of the New World Hotel in Makati . From September 19 to October 1 , that's a total of 13 days only, Chef Wong Kam Chung from Shanghai will serve his specialties to the patrons of the restaurant. Being the executive chef of the famous YUE 1525 in New World Hotel in Shanghai, Chef Wong is a veteran in preparing a number of Cantonese dishes including his special Double Boiled Whelk Soup with Chinese Herbs and a lot more. Since the drive from my office to Makati took a while, we arrived quite hungry and ready for our lauriat dinner. We began with two appetizers which were totally different from the usual cold cuts platter that we're all used to. We had Lotus roots stuffed with Glutinous Rice (Php. 480). A long platter where you get eight bite-sized pieces. It has a very sweet taste...

Times surely flies when you're having loads of fun! I can't believe June is about to end and July is just a few days away! June is always a fun month for me. Of course we open the month with me turning a year older which also prompts the start of more than a week-long celebration with friends, family and basically everyone who matters in my life. This is followed by a couple more birthday celebrations in the family -- 4 cousins and my ever loving Kong Kong who incidentally is celebrating his 83rd birthday today (woohoo!!) . Since I'm definitely in a celebratory mood, I'd like too share the happiness with you guys by running a quick contest that will give 4 lucky readers the chance to receive a special gift from ME! Wanna know what I'll be giving out? Here they are! For the food lovers out there: (2) P1500 City Delivery gift certificates P600 worth of Boulevard Diner GCs Because a girly-girl just needs her Beauty Loot: Pond's White B...