Serenitea: That Extraordinary Happiness in a Cup of Tea

I'm not a coffee drinker. I think I'm the only one who didn't join the bandwagon when Starbucks became a hit here in the Philippines. I just can't drink coffee. It doesn't appeal to my taste. Although I like some coffee infused drinks/food. As long as it's cold and not bitter. I especially love Selecta's Coffee Crumble. Going back, my alternate for a caffeine fix is a hot tea. Although I'm not a regular drinker as well. I occasionally drink coffee when I was still studying, after a heavy meal or anytime I like. Oldies na oldies, diba? Hahaha! After the froyo craze, came the milk tea craze. My favorite, and Jap's favorite as well will forever be Serenitea. 

Our forever order:

Bea: 1 large Hokkaido, 50% or 25%, Pearls, Extra Pearls (Forever Number 1 for me)

Jap:  1 Large Okinawa, 50%, Pearls

Aaaaaand.... one order of chicken chops, please!

Our orders. See those pearls? :)) Our forever fave: Chicken Chops (inside white paperbag)

Serenit(y)ea

Jap and I love trying out the latest milk tea in the Metro but we will forever go back to Serenitea. We love the chicken chops. It has this herb-y, curry-ish taste. It also comes with crispy basil leaves which I adore. I love the combination of chicken chops + milk tea, they compliment each other's tastes.  Another reason why I love Serenitea is the fact that they use fresh tea bags in every order. I also love the relaxing feel of every store. Combination of white and mint green is love. Very relaxing. Very serene(ity). Chos! Drinking milk tea is one of my instant pick me upper just like eating Hello Panda. LIterally a pick me upper especially when the caffeine starts to kick in. :))

Jap and I at Serenitea, Alabang Town Center being vain and matakaw

I love that Serenitea opened a lot of branches already but I honestly miss those times when one of their few branches were in Alabang in ATC and in BF Parañaque. Maarte ako e. :)) Serenitea fix soon please! I miss it already! <3

Look for Serenitea's branches near your place: http://iloveserenitea.com/branches.html I love their website as well. Overused word for this post= love. Hahaha! <3

Bag of Beans: Itsy Bitsy Cinna(mon)bites

I was raving about the mini cinnamon rolls from my Bag of Beans post three months ago but I didn't have pictures as proof then. :)) So apparently, they are called Cinnabites and NOT Mini Cinnamon Rolls. Hee. I love the dip that comes with it- melts in your mouth yumminess. I feel one pound heavier after every bite though. Haha. I tried partnering these munchies with hot chocolate. It's loooove! I haven't tried the main courses from Bag of Beans yet so when I visit Tagaytay again, will definitely try them. <3

A bit pricey for me (the kuripot inside) but it's delish. :)

I HATE raisins. Threw them away before eating. :))

THE DIP. I think it's cream cheese. It tastes like their cheesecake.

Bag of Beans

115 Aguinaldo Highway

Mendez, Tagaytay City

An Excerpt from an Old Facebook Note: Of Pain and Realizations

I am posting this because I would like to be reminded of my realizations from three years ago. Not the pain, only the realizations. There's no reason to remember the pain anyway because I have moved on already and I am very happy now. 

What I learned/realized...

Experiencing pain has a purpose.

"I think besides change, another thing that is inevitable in this world is pain. It comes in different shapes and sizes. It may be abstract or concrete, sometimes in disguise. It has its own levels of importance.. and inconsistencies too. Like an oxymoron. It's like saying pain is sweet.. But only if you see the meaning behind the pain.. the purpose of experiencing it."

Crying has always been my outlet and it's okay to cry.

"Whenever I feel in pain, I cry. And cry. And cry. And cry once more. I take in all the pain, swallow it but instead of vomiting, I cry. It's my outlet. It's my way of coping."

It's okay to share your painful story/ies. 

"I read a quote once, 'shared happiness is double the joy.. shared grief is half the pain'. It really helps especially when you're experiencing the latter. Go to your best of the best of friends or to your family, tell him/her/them everything what you're feeling. He/she/them may not be of help when it comes to advices but in the end, a simple and sincere hug would help ease the pain."

I honestly think that my view on pain before was one sided. I was experienceing a personal hurdle in life. Teenage drama and what have you. Fast forward to today, I think what everyone of us can share from my realizations is that at the end of the day, the world would not stop and adjust for us because of what we're experiencing. Heck, you can cry your heart out and no one will even bother. It's okay to feel sad when you're really sad. We should in fact, acknowledge our feelings. If we're sad, say or show it. Likewise if we are happy. 

I am guilty of being fixated to a certain situation  that I tend to forget that I still have a life to live out of the box I created. Maybe one reason why we are  put in a painful situation is to realize one thing. That there's a bigger world out there that we need to appreciate. <3

33rd MIBF: A Booklover's Haven

Sea of booooooooooooks

Our loot! :)

What's for breakfast?

Forever Purefoods Corned beef girl! 

33rd Manila International Book Fair

It's been a long time since I attended the MIBF. I want to go here!!!! Book haven!

Source: http://www.manilabookfair.com/

A Prelude to Christmas: Love, Forgiveness, Time

I heard my first Christmas song yesterday, just in time for the start of the ber months. But the weather didn't coincide with the festive feel of the song. Yesterday was very humid and Mr. Sun I guess, was on steroids. Even then, everytime the ber months officially start, I get excited for the upcoming holiday season. It gives us all a reason to celebrate. We all have more reasons to see our friends, family and relatives, to take a halt from dieting and to burn those credit/debit cards. As for me, I can only relate to the first one I mentioned. Haha. Christmas' meaning for me is Celebration. They are partners. They go well together just like Kare Kare and Bagoong. Champorado and Tuyo. Heee.

What I hate about the ber months are the traffic jams it creates in the streets and the sea of people everywhere. Come October, people start panic buying. I don't have anything against it because I, for one is guilty. It's just that I feel that most of us are always rushing. Most of us get blinded by the material things that we forget the real reason why we are on a festive mood. 

CHRISTmas is a time for giving. Growing up, this has been instilled to us. From our parents to our teachers to the priests doing homily during simbang gabi. For me, CHRISTmas is a time for giving LOVE. What's good about love is that it's priceless. We don't have to spend anything.  I don't have anything against spending because I love buying things I want. What I'm trying to say is that we should look beyond the material things. Yes, we can show our love by the gifts we give but at the end of the day, it's the immaterial love that matters. We just have to make people close to our hearts, feel it. After all, a dose of hug won't burn holes in our wallets. 

We can also show our love by forgiving and asking for forgiveness. CHRISTmas is a time FOR GIVING, right? It's high time to say goodbye to all the resentments in our hearts. Let's not wait for that moment we would utter the word 'sayang'. It's easier said than done, I know because I'm a person who rarely say sorry when it comes to personal matters. That I would have to change. It's the pride that I would have to let go. 

CHRISTmas is for giving TIME. The holidays should not be the sole reason for seeing our friends and family. Days wherein I spend time together with them, eating and catching up with everyone's life is precious to me. It makes me teary-eyed when I see my family and friends complete in one table. I understand that it's hard nowadays to do that. Like for me, my mom is not here with us because she's working abroad. I got used to it already but we're very luck because she can go home every year or even anytime she wants. But when she's here, we make sure we make up for lost time. Giving time for someone or something is for me, giving importance. When someone or something is important to you, you make an effort to give time. It's just that most of us are busy with our own lives that we tend to forget. Let's not wait again for the moment we would utter the word, 'sayang'.

I always tell God that despite everything, I am always blessed by Him because I have my family whom I know, will always be there no matter what, friends whom I don't see much often but makes an effort to make you feel, 'hey, I'm always here for you' and Jap who sees me beyond my shortcomings. They are the reason why I'm writing this. I am blessed beyond words and material things. Christmas is a celebration of love and everything that follows from it.

I hope everyone of us would find the real meaning of CHRISTmas. I know you know it. Just open your eyes and heart and I'm sure you will. :)

Words to Live By Today

Challenge yourself. Never settle for anything less than what you deserve. Hard work pays off. Learn new things. Improve yourself. Pray hard.

2 YEARS

Jap and I were officemates. That's how we met. Two months after graduation, I landed the job I wanted. I felt very blessed and I was determined to work hard and take care of it. Getting in a relationship was far behind my mind when I started working. I actually told myself that I will never enter a relationship anytime soon if ever someone would show intentions. I was scared that things might not work out again and I might end up experiencing the things I experienced before. For the mean time, I didn't want any emotional baggage. I got tired so I thought it would be best to rest my heart for a while. Aside from that, I didn't want any office romance especially because I'm in HR. I thought that was unethical. Funny how things turned out. So much for words because I fell in love with my officemate.

When he started courting me, I learned that he was also undergoing a big career move. I was surprised when he called me after the panel interview he underwent. Seconds after, he called me again and told me that HR called him. He got the job. I was so happy for him. It seems that things are going well for us. I was starting with my job and loving it at the same time and his career was off to a new start. His new job also meant we would not be at the same office again. Jap in Mandaluyong. Bea in Makati. I thought that would work well for us. At least, we would not be together in the same office. More space for our own lives. But more than a year later, we were transferred to the same office where Jap currently works. Funny how things really turn out. 

The first few months of our relationship was a breeze. Like any other couples, we went through the 'courting stage'. We often go out for dates. The usual things dating couples do. You know the giddy kilig feeling every time you reminisce the first time he said I love you. Hee. But when work suddenly became stressful especially for him, arguments suddenly became a staple in our relationship. Jap would always tell me that he hates arguments and as much as possible, we try not to resort to arguing because it worsens the situation. 

Honestly, we never had a major fight. Major in the sense that the things we argue about are petty things (e.g. late sms replies, planned dates not pushing through). Things that can be solved in seconds or things that we really should not be arguing about. One thing I lacked when I entered our relationship was the sense of maturity. I had to learn it.. from Jap himself. He would patiently listen to my rants and read them as well through text. I didn't choose my words.  I was very insensitive. If I didn't get what I want, I would throw a tantrum session. In short, Jap's patience was always tested. I would always tell him that I am very blessed to have him and he's not because I'm always a pain in the neck. Literally. Jap already learned how to deal with my attitude while I try my best to change it. He would call me bratty Bea and we would laugh about it. But of course, I didn't want to forever stay as the bratty girlfriend. I want to be mature. I want our relationship to grow, stay stronger and last forever. I'm just really thankful this guy came into my life. When I get hit by problems, I would just think that I'm still blessed because of Jap. 

Fast track to today, we recently celebrated our 2nd anniversary last September 5. Yay!! Two years have already passed since that giddy kilig scene when he whispered to my ears those three words a girl longs to hear from the guy he sees her future with. Until now, I still get that giddy klig feeling. Hee. We both knew we would make it this far and we won't let any problem (petty/big/small/major/minor) get in the way of our relationship. Bring it on! Haha. Oops, I take that back. I don't want our relationship to be filled with problems of course. But just in case, we know we can handle them. I just know.

Here's to more years of love and new experiences together!!! <3

Bea's Cooking Adventure v.1

09.04.2012. One Tuesday afternoon, I decided to get my lazy butt in action. No, not in the gym but in the kitchen. Haha! After a minute or two, thinking of what food to cook.. I opened our fridge and saw frozen chicken breast fillets. Lightbulb moment. As you all know, chicken is our default meat at home. We rarely buy pork meat. So my experiment turned out like this: 

I don't know what to call my recipe though. :( Maybe Herbed Crusted Chicken Fillet in white rice or french bread topped with cheese? Way tooooooo long! Hahaha!  Before grilling the chicken, I used Thyme, Ground Pepper and Salt to add flavor.

Will blog about the details of the recipes tomorr... nope, the soonest time! Promise! 

:)

Instant Pick Me Upper: Hello Panda

People close to me know that I have an obsession with Hello Panda. It's my default dessert/snack. I eat it almost everyday. I eat it when I need that extra energy for work (sugar rush). I love to eat it whenever I feel "umay" after a heavy meal. Those kind of meals when you feel very unhealthy as if you gained gazillion pounds after eating AKA Chinese food. Haha! I eat it when I'm sad. In short, it's my instant pick me upper. My happy food. Well, one of. Haha!  :)

Going back, I was feeling very tired this afternoon after spending half of the day in Makati. I commuted and the weather was terribly hot- sweating like crazy when I got home. But! Before going home, I bought snacks. Chips, chips and Hello Panda of cooourse!

After cleaning up, I went straight in front of the computer. While browsing the inter.. Boom! I had an idea. I grabbed the left over chocolate ice cream from the fridge, opened my Hello Panda treat et voila!

HAPPINESS comes in three pieces of my favorite treat and chocolate ice cream. :)

What a very ingenious idea, righhht? I was being sarcastic of course. Haha! I was just giddy happy that this idea hit me and of course, thanks to the leftover ice cream in the fridge.

What's your instant pick me upper food? :)