I Heart Book Sales Round Two!

Because I just couldn't get enough of the unbelievably good deal that I had last weekend, I just have to visit another Book Sale and try my luck again!

I dream of having this in my room

Here are the interesting books that I found, in my 1 hour of book haggling ( we're just there for an errand )

Php 115

Php 115

Php 75

Php 75

Php 90

Paulie looking through the books

Php 45

Php 115

Php 115

Php 75

Php 45

Php 45

Php 45

Php 99

Php 99

I forgot how much this cost

Php 99

Php 320 ( this is originally 700 plus, but for me if it's from a book sale, it shouldn't cost over 150! )

After going through the book section, The hardest part of being in a book sale is going home only with one book since I can't get them all. It's a good thing I was able to buy at least one, because I get depressed when there's a book sale and there's nothing good to buy. I pretty much judge the book by the title and cover, then the description at the back before I give it a go. 


I usually buy Chick Lit (Chick Literature) books, which, as defined by Wikipedia as:

 a genre fiction which addresses issues of modern womanhood, often humorously and lightheartedly. The genre sells well, with chick lit titles topping bestseller lists and the creation of imprints devoted entirely to chick lit.Although it sometimes includes romantic elements, chick lit is generally not considered a direct subcategory of the romance novel genre, because the heroine's relationship with her family or friends is often just as important as her romantic relationships.

I discovered the Chick Lit genre when I bought my very first Jane Green book by just getting intrigued at the cover:

O diba? Liborga naman talaga teh! 

And I've never laughed so hard reading a book, I feel like I was transported to some place. I remember lending the book to my agents back then and they were hooked as well.

And that's when I fell hard... and in love with Chick Literature. From that moment on, I started collecting Jane Green books although now her classics are just so hard to find!

Tips when buying in Book Sales:

• If you find something good, grab it before anyone else does, even if you're not yet sure to if you're getting it. You can always change your mind once you get to the counter.
• Look for other versions in hardbound cover, while still holding on to the book.
• If there are at least two - three copies of the book, it might not be that good.
• For reference books, check if there are pages torn, or something was written on it, or erased.

• If you were not able to see/buy something that you like --- it happens.
• Take time to dig in, you never know!

They said that we shouldn't just judge the book by its cover, but honey, if you want to sell your book, you have to be prepared getting judged starting from the cover. :) 

Terribly Missin' Chimayne Blackett & that 2009 Vday

We've been missing our "Ate" Chimayne Blackett since she joined in the World Cruise and got really busy working as the Ship's Assistant Manager, so when her itinerary included a stop over in the Philippines, we all had to file for "leave" to those who are working, skipped school, travel all the way from Laguna just to see her.


We thought we would only have ten minutes of her time since her job requires her to carefully watch people and passengers but it's a good thing that we were able to be with her almost the entire day... well up until before 5pm. :)

It was the first time that we're going to meet her boyfriend and it just so happen that almost all the "Aunties" are here! We were hangin' out at Gerry's grill after the meet and greet (while the oldies went somewhere else), between drinking beer, smoking and having a casual afternoon chitchat, Ate Chimayne suddenly asked: " So how did you all spend your Valentines Day? "

And as if on cue, Apy, Ate Chimy and I laughed.

Valentine's day 2009. How can I ever forget?

It was the first time that we were all single ( Me, Chimy, Apy, Stew and Johran). And we all went out, had dinner, got drunk and had a wickedly good time! We went to this place where... you have to surrender your camera and any other video recording device, or else you cannot enter the area or if they caught you recording stuff, you will be thrown out of the venue. oh shucks! Maaaaaaan, it's so hard to write like this. I wish I could really tell the whole story without getting into "trouble" but I can't! I guess I really am sticking to my description of how we all spent our 2009 Valentine's Day: We all had a wickedly good *with eyes widening* time!!!

I was just thinking, trying to reminisce about my past Valentine's day during the recent Feb 14. I never knew how the celebration of Feb 14 in UPLB can be so overwhelming. If it wasn't for the planned dinner with grad school friends, long before Feb 14 even came up, I wouldn't step outside the house. 

Evey where you go, roses are sold every where, frat men holding huge teddy bears, girls having that giggly smile across their faces that I feel like I am too old to get out ( sans bitterness!) It was my first time, after 10 years that I spent Vday in elbi that I didn't know that it was this serious! (Haha!) Not to mention, the opening night of the annual UP Feb Fair opened on the day of Valentine's day!

I've been ransacking my brains out trying to remember what was the best Valentine's day ever. I was trying to associate it with whom I was going out with at that time, was I in a relationship or not? Am I out on a date? Just broken up? I was so into associating the best Vday with a former flame when the Best-est Valentine's day that I ever had in my entire life, did not involve a boyfriend but it was with my cousins! *evil, wicked grin* 

That's it. I'm terribly missin' Chimayne Blackett, I am really hoping that after 10 months, she gets to stay for a vacay and make her entire vacation, "Daily-2009-Valentine's-day"!

What was your Best Valentine's Day? 

Personalized your Yogurt!

Apy is way more into Frozen Yogurt than I am. I tend to only stick to one liking when I finally find something that I like, like White Hat's Italian Frozen Yogurt (Paging Camille!) so when we were hangin' out yesterday at Gerry's Grill in Manila Ocean Park, Apy just couldn't resist on trying another frozen yogurt from this Frozen Yogurt place right beside Gerry's grill.

View from the inside

View from the outside

Pinky place

Apy choosing which flavored yogurt

Instructions

 I like to personalize things, so when this yogurt place lets you do that, we just couldn't resist!There's something about making you have it your way than just telling the staff about the toppings that you like to put on your yogurt. It let's you be more in control of everything and at the same time, it feels like it's something that you can claim that "it's yours" and not just another flavor in the menu. ( Mehganon? Umo-ownership? )

Start

She's getting the strawberry banana flavor 

Couldn't even tell if you mixed it up. The "color" flavors comes in very faint shade that you can hardly tell which one is plain and which one isn't. But you definitely tell from the taste.

  

Toppings

Ate Jess must have toppings

Then you go to the counter

Looking at the place from a different angle

They weigh your stuff in

And once done, Voila!

Have it your way! Ain't called "O My Yogurt" for nothing!

Rating: 8
Price: Reasonable
Taste: 8.5
Recommendations: Try the Strawberry Banana flavored yogurt! You will like it even if you're not really into strawberries and bananas. :)

My Yogurt is located at the ground floor of Manila Ocean Park ( right beside Gerry's grill) , Philippines.

The Best Break Up Songs Playlist

I like music but never really the all-music genre enthusiast. In fact when it comes to new songs, it's my sister who first knows what's the latest. Before I can even find out the title of the song, she already downloaded it. In fact, she was the first one who discovered Lady Gaga, back when Gaga is still Nada.

Back in 2008 I purchased my very first iPod and I'm glad that I got the real iPod Classic that's 160GB. They don't sell them anymore and the new generation now is only up to 120GB. I'm glad that I have the first ones because I am just so into classics!

I've had it for two years now and I still was not able to fill it up, I think I have more than 50GB free left and that's after all the movies, songs, I have not erased a single one. I even have songs in there that I don't even listen to. I remember when I got my iPod, I paid someone in Glorietta to fill up the 20G space with songs and movies all for the price of Php500 only!

I still get a little stressed out when I have to reset my iPod. I still have to text a friend to teach me how, or Google the net because it's not everyday that I reset my iPod.

Reset Indicator

For instructions on how to reset your iPod, click Here.

Anyway, I discovered how music affects my mood when I started to live on my own and commute to work. I wear my iPod just to jump start my day (or night) while getting coffee. And when I had my heart broken, I decided I will prohibit myself to have an "alone moment with my thoughts" so I created my "Best Break Up Songs" Playlist. I had it on repeat mode until I was ready to go back to "Hip Hop" (Hip Hop talaga?Lol!)

Note: Some Artists revived the songs, but I like the new version better.

1. Someday - Nina
2. Little Wonders - Rob Thomas
3. Rihanna - Take a bow
4. I Love You Goodbye - Nina ( Original: Celine Dion)
5. Eh Eh [Nothing Else I can say] - Lady Gaga
6. Aint it Funny - JLo and Ja Rule
7. The Heart of the Matter - India Arie
8. Already Gone - Kelly Clarkson
9. So What - Pink
10. Gives you hell - All American Rejects
11. Burn - Usher
12. Shake it Off - Mariah Carey
13. Don't Speak - No Doubt
14. Happily Never After - Pussycat Dolls
15. Better in Time - Leona Lewis
16. Big Girls Don't Cry - Fergie
17. Only Love - The Braxtons
18. Can I go now - Jennifer Love Hewitt
19. For the Record - Mariah Carey
20. Irreplaceable - Beyonce
21. Louboutins - Jennifer Lopez
22. Bust Your Windows - Amber Riley
23. Heartbreaker - Mariah Carey
24. My Happy Ending - Avril Lavigne
25. Say Goodbye - Chris Brown
26. So Sick - Neyo
27. Survivor - Destiny's Child
28. Thanks for Nothin' - Mariah Carey
29. Try Sleeping with a broken heart - Alicia Keys
30. Bye Bye - Mariah Carey
31. 4 in the Morning - Gwen Stefani
32. Tattoo - Jordin Sparks
33. Dear John - Taylor Swift * New addition, I started to love her when I found out that she writes her own songs. Have you heard of this song that she wrote about John Mayer? Oh Buuurrrrrnnnn!!!

So what are the qualifications to make it to this list?
First - it should be about losing someone you love
Second - it must talk about acknowledging the pain
Third - it must have acceptance/determination not to get back together. :D

Do you have a break up song playlist?

Now I am opening the Comments section of this blog so you can share your songs too! :)

Palmeras Garden Restaurant

One of the hardest thing last Valentine's day was to go a new place that's not within elbi community or vicinity. Since we figured out that every decent resto  might probably be jam-packed, we just decided to have a simple house party instead, that within a few hours later we succumbed to the power of Tequila Rose and had and instead sleepover instead.


So I swore to my self that the next time I'm going to a new nice restaurant that I want to share to people, I will take pictures and get the contact number. I've come across some blogs with the restaurant's name in tags somehow the entry did not mention how to get there or what's the contact information. So for starters:

How's that for information?

Unfortunately, they don't have an official website so for a quick guide, here's the info:
Location: Near SM San Pablo, but on the opposite side. If you're coming from Manila, it'll be on you right side. If you're coming from Quezon or San Pablo Town Proper, it'll be on your left side.


If you plan to go there via Commute:

• From Manila, take the Lucena Bus ( usually Jaq Liner Bus or Lucena Lines ) located at LRT Buendia Taft Manila
• Ask the driver to drop you off at Palmeras Garden Resto which is along the highway.
• The nearest landmark is SM San Pablo. In fact you can see SM San Pablo from the entrance of the restaurant.
• You won't get lost, I swear! :) 

Let's check the place out while the 'oldies' order

Palmeras Garden Restaurant is probably the favorite restaurant of my aunts including my mom. I've heard her talk about it and we were already planning on having dinner there in the coming weekend weeks when my Ninang Sue declared she will treat us! Yey!

View from our "place"

You can roam around as well

Lillies

Falls

Other view

Towards the entrance

Native Feel

Romantic Ambiance

My sister Apy

Live Band area with bar

With flash

This place looks so much better at night

Entrance from Parking

Some plants that Apy took photo of

Price: Reasonably priced. The most expensive food on the menu costs P295.00

Add Ons:

• Live band! When we got there, may violin effect pa ang band. Valentine hang over lang .
• Free fast WiFi! Was able to update Facebook and twitter real-time.
• Good Filipino food. They also have French Fries. :)

Friends, add this to your secret getaway with your ...ehem...loved one! Mehganon?