Diet & Exercise

In our small office, there's constant talk about diet; and losing weight in general. The talk is almost unbearable because at one point, everyone's counting calories or points with every food that comes their way and discussing it with everyone in every detail.

Losing weight is simple: exercise, portion control and healthy food.

I hate people digressing about their every calorie intake. Or talking incessantly about going to the gym or not going to the gym or thinking about going to the gym, or not going to the gym...it is absolutely oppressive!

Larry's Birthday Party

It's Luau time for Larry! Manny opened the doors of his new home, to Larry and all of his/their friends to celebrate Larry's 44th Birthday. Yep, can't believe he's that old!! Because, he absolultey does not look his age. Absolutely! He definitely inherited good genes from his parents.

Larry made sure all his guests were well fed and had a drink in their hand. Manny mixed the drinks and Larry flitted around making sure everyone was drinking and happy.

The guests: all of Manny and Larry's choir friends from Holy Family Church in Glendale. Plus "us", meaning Gigi and Jim. Ted and Wee, Ling and Dolly, Lisa and Steve, Roy and I.

Well, needless to say, as in most Pinoy parties, we stuffed ourselves silly with good Filipino food. I think I had a plate and half. The desserts were from Paradise Bakery (local Armenian bakery which has a good many loyal customers from the Glendale area). I personally, think their desserts are not as good as say...Porto's. Lots of cream and not much taste..but that's just me!! The birthday cake was fine and they served little mini cream cakes, which I couldn't eat anymore so I just took a picture of it.

Manny's effort to mix drinks was successful for a novice Mixologist. The mai-tais were pretty sweet and strong but still good to drink. It set up a perfect mood for revelry and celebration. Larry thought of everything. He made sure the kids (and there were many...at one point Gigi commented that it was really a "children's party!) were entertained by having a movie projected on a brick wall. They spread little blankets on the grass, the kids were all huddled together and they all looked happy and content watching a Disney movie. And of course, there was also a touch of a "Debut" party. Manny made a slide show of Larry's life in pictures...with very funny images of Larry 25 years ago...ha! Roy especially loved it. Although he was waiting for a cottilon dance to come next. Which never came. What was presented instead was a Hawaiian dance performed by one of the cute little kids running around. That was a treat. And Larry loved it.

On a side note, really loved Manny's new home. He should be proud of his accomplishment; the house has lots of potential (the master bathroom renovation was very well done) and I'm sure he's very excited planning his future renovations!

I thought of Lawrence (in Manila) and hoped he celebrated his birthday as happily as Larry did (which I actually think he did...for sure!)

Dainties Cupcakes

Started the day with a mad rush to get my place tidy...as in, spotless tidy!

I rewarded myself with this...yummy!



Most of the Dainties cupcakes I've tasted in the past (which by the way, are the current rave in LA for cupcakes...) are pretty good: very decadent frosting, cream filling and moist cake. There are many to choose from, my favorite is the Tiramisu , Caramel, and the very rich Stupid Chocolate. However, the cupcake I tasted today, wasn't as good as before because the cake this time was pretty dry. This was a vanilla cake cupcake. In fact it crumbled when I cut the cake in half. Must be a fluke. Because as I said, never had it like this before. It is usually very moist and perfect. Gladly, I bought a couple more so I will have the regular Devils Food cake with tiramisu frosting...my favorite.

Thing with "current rave cupcakes", they have to be extra vigilant that what they put out there is consistently good. Because as "raves" go, reputation is spread through word of mouth. And a word about one dry cupcake might put off potential customers. Which worried me, because I love this place. So might give the owner a call and tell her...? Not really into making a fuss, but I do want her to succeed! As I said, their cupcakes are almost always, always the best!

Lisa tasted it and thought it was just okay. But then again, I don't think she's into cupcakes that much. Steve is still in his Nutrisystem diet. Eric liked it. I had Erica and Jessica tasted Dainties last week and they both loved it: very rich, they said, "it's all in the cream!". I may give Nolet cupcakes for his birthday...!

Tofu Ya

It was lunch at Tofu Ya with Erica today. Our first time to eat lunch together on an expense account (yipee!!) This will be real good for our budget!

Only one more month before my trip to Philippines...I can't wait! I've been browsing the internet for photos of Bohol and Cebu and I'm excited. Gave me ideas on what I want to photograph.

Off we go!

I've been scouting for a blog page that is 1) free, 2) easy to use and 3) ...free! And hopefully I found one.

My blog is mainly to keep families and friends informed of what I am doing (not that they particularly care or want to anyway...but what the hey) and where I can post photos and ask questions and get people to care (if I have something mildly important that I want people to care about).

But anyway: this blog will be about things I love, namely photos (or "images" as real photographers call their work), travel (because there is nothing more I love than travelling, meeting new people and learning about new cultures) and food (not that I'm a foodie but I do appreciate good food)

So as I said "off we go"... Let me try to post an image right now and see if I know how to work this thing...hmm.



Okay that worked. That's me with my closest friends (haha!)

Okay what did I do today: woke up at 4:30 am (again!), watched "Top Chef" which I TiVoed the night before....and got so hungry watching top chefs cook delectable dishes, that I got up from the couch and made French Toast for breakfast...FRENCH TOAST! And I am trying to lose extra lbs. gained!! Eating french toast is really...well, a BAD thing to do. (Hmm this blog is actually good to keep track of what I'm eating...)

The judges kicked out who I wanted kicked out: awful Howie! Not that I think he's a bad chef. But I really think being a "Top" chef also means getting along with people...that is why that awful Marcel didn't win last season.

I'm starting to think that maybe Casey has some talent (can't stand the Jennifer Aniston look-alike) and I still don't know who I am rooting for. With six remaining contestants, I actually feel like anyone of them is okay to win. I wouldn't feel bad at all.

Next, checked my email, shower and got ready for work.

Work: Ho-hum. Next...

Lunch: I got sick! I've been taking colonic herbal pill (wrong!) which according to my sister works wonder...yeah right! I had painful cramps all day!

After the cramping subsided, I was able to enjoy Salmon Teriyaki with California Roll (okay that means, no more dinner for me...)!!! It actually crossed my mind that I was going to skip spinning today...no way Jose! I have to spin for a full 60 minutes just to make up for the French toast and heavy lunch today.