Step It Up

Once upon a time, I would go to any lengths to suffer for fashion. When it came to shoes, it was always the higher the heel, the better. That was 10 years, 3 sons and *cough, shudder, choke* 20 pounds ago. Girl, I could strut all day AND dance all night in those 4-inch heels like nobody’s business!

Now, my reality is those “Come Hither Heels” only get used for date nights and special occasions. After deciding to go Supermom mode when my first son was born, my shoe closet underwent a total makeover. I don’t know about you, but running around after a yaya-less toddler is no easy feat in heels.

 

So I went all sneaker crazy and practically lived in sneakers. Those years of balancing on sky-high heels helped me really appreciate the comfort of sneakers! Comfy and effortless. Effortless being the key word. Once you stop putting effort into the way you dress...well, let’s just say Sweat Suit Momma BEWARE!

 

And so when my wise fashionista guru Bolso Babe Rorie said, “Life’s too short to be in jeans and sneakers everyday” (or something like that), I got out of my uniform of jeans, polos and sneaks. I’m getting too old to be in sneakers all the time and since my boys are now older and have a yaya, I can dress like a lady of leisure.

 

While I have not returned to full force fashionista heel-clicking mode, I thank the fashion goddesses and Tory Burch for making flats fashionable again. While the Sneaker Connossieur in me will never hesitate to splurge for those Adidas Y-3s and Pumas by Alexander van Slobbe and Mihara Yasuhiro, the Preppy in me will forever have Tod’s driving shoes and loafers in my closet, the Lady Who Lunches will keep on collecting those Reva flats, Tod’s Ballerina Dees and Repetto Ballet Slippers and put my best foot forward everytime! - KGG

 

Sources for photos: instyle.com, adidas.com, only-sneakers.ru, stylefeeder.com, toryburch.com

We HEART Rainy Days!!!

The Philippines' weather forecast: Now that the Rainy Season has begun, we can say that Summer is officially over...One thing all four of us have in common is a love for rainy days. This is how we stay dry during Manila's wet months....

 

KARISIA

I ♥ rainy days...

 

I've always loved reading, but nowadays I find myself whipping out my Spanish grammar workbooks instead. Brushing up on mi Español has become my rainy midnight activity.

And because the gloomy weather makes me want to stay in bed all day, I love lighting my oil burner and filling my room with Body Shop's Satsuma scent. I love, love, love this scent. I also have the soap, the body butter, the shower gel...everything!!!

Just so I don't feel like a total sloth, I try to force myself out of my room sometime during the day. Since I have been TRYING to live as healthy a lifestyle as possible, I have made it my mission to workout, rain or shine. Thus, my Mumsy's treadmill is this season's "frenemy".

 

I have a black Zara asymmetrical cardi that has now become my rainy day staple. It is perfect for curling up in my bed, catching up on shows and surfing the web for things I can only dream of buying.

Ever since Bestie y Bolso Babe Kit (and her adorable brood) gifted me with my very own PINK KitchenAid, my nieces (Feliz Cumpleaños Bambina!!!) and I have declared rainy days as baking days. We love to go on grocery runs for ingredients and trying out new recipes from my growing cookbook collection. While we wait for the goodies to come out of the oven, we sing and dance away to our fave song of the week. Our current combo: Baking Mexican Wedding Cookies to Shakira's Hips Don't Lie.

Sources: greatmodernpictures.com, thebodyshop.co.uk, oneshotfitness.com

KIT

1. I actually like rainy weather. But I hate getting my shoes wet. And even when it rains, Manila weather is just too hot for rain boots. Thank the fashion goddesses for jelly shoes! I love Tory Burch’s Jelly Revas and Vivienne Westwood Anglomania + Melissa Three Straps Boreal. Who says you can’t look fab while weathering the stormy season? 

2. I love drinking Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf’s Moroccan Mint Latte. 
A blend of Moroccan Mint tea, Special Dutch™ chocolate, steamed non-fat milk and foam.

3. There is nothing better than a hot bowl of soup on those rainy days. I really love clam chowder but I have yet to make this from scratch. So in the meantime, Campbell’s Chunky New England Clam Chowder is good enough for me!

4. I am clumsy enough as it is, but more so when I’m carrying an unwieldy umbrella that limits my line of sight. I love the Burberry Clear Panel Bubble Umbrella because I can see where I’m going and the bubble shape keeps me dry. And if you want to be fashionable and charitable at the same time, check out the Hunter for Water Aid version as well. 

5. I love to curl up with a good book, and reading by the window on a rainy day just about does it for me. There is nothing I love more than my Kindle and reading all those classics you never got around to that you can download for free like The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, Pride and Prejudice, and Crime and Punishment.

Sources: www.melissaplasticdreams.com, coffeebean.com, amazon.com, stylebakery.com

 

JENNY 

Okay, let me start by saying that I LOVE RAINY DAYS... as strange as it may seem, i'm probably one of the few people who actually enjoy rainy days over sunny days... and here are five of the reasons why... 

 

ONE... I get to wear all the sweaters, jackets and scarves I own!
- i am so not a sunny/beach person so i actually have more gloomy rainy weather wear than sun-play-fun wear... I like that I actually get to wear my rainy day garb outdoors, not just indoors like in cinemas or theatres like Meralco or RCBC when i'm in shows and need to keep myself warm backstage. ;P
 

TWO... I look forward to lazing in bed the whole day!
- my inner Garfield gets channeled during rainy days... must be my inner feline coming out making me just wanna lie down, get cozy and get swallowed by my bed. ;)

THREE... Tea, tea and more tea!
- i'm a tea person on any given day, but... rainy days bring out my "tea monster" more than usual... i always keep a stash of assorted teas at home (whenever i go to healthy options i pick a box and try something new)... traditional medicinals rocks! ;)

FOUR... S squared= Soup and Sudoku! - i love love love soup so if it's an uber rainy day and i'm trapped at home, i'll whip up some soup in the kitchen, put it by my bedside and solve some sudoku puzzles... i'm so delayed, i know... sudoku is so a thing of the past, but believe it or not, i just discovered it recently and i'm hooked. ;)

 

FIVE... Last but not the least... I get to use my nice musical notes umbrella! - okay, there's a story behind this one... for years i've been looking around our wonderful country for a nice folding umbrella with musical notes as a design... i finally gave up the local search and decided to order it online a few months back on amazon... and voila, now i have not just one but two unique umbrellas... Yes, two... I keep a spare one at home in case any one of my singing friends who've been eyeing my umbrela successfully gets to make klepto when i'm not looking. ;) 

Sources: www.gap.com, wordpress.com, amazon.com

RORIE

I love gloomy, rainy days. There's just something so relaxing about a dim surrounding and hearing the pitter-patter of rain on a window. Here are the things I love to have around when the sky is grey:

Chocolate Hits the spot every single time. My favorites are the plain Hershey's bar and Teuscher's Champagne Truffles. I can finish them off in one go!

 

Good book I love thrillers, mysteries and horror novels best.

 

Comfy bed Fluffy pillows and fab sheets make me want to stay in bed the whole day.

 

Anokhi nightgown The best!!! Super comfy, inexpensive and the prints are to die for.

 

Being with my fam They are my best friends and the world feels safe and complete when they're around. :)

Sources: www.teuscher.com, inmagine.com, www.anokhi.com, www.natori.com

Show Stoppers

Aside from fashion, another thing I'm crazy about is watching TV shows. Growing up, I didn't really listen to music because I was always glued to the boob tube.

Favorite shows growing up? Family Ties, Silver Spoons, The Facts of Life, The Golden Girls and Dynasty.

(The latter started my love affair with glamor and overdressing.)  

 

All-time favorite show? Felicity. (Sigh. Ben FOREVER.)

While I’m currently obsessed with a ton of shows and they’re too many to mention (and most are on hiatus anyway save for True Blood, Entourage and Royal Pains), I’ll discuss my new favorites that are being aired right now:

NOW PLAYING

Pretty Little Liars
 

This series is based on the novels by Sara Shepard. It revolves around the lives of four girls and how their group falls apart after the disappearance of their mean queen bee, Alison. A year later, they begin receiving messages from a certain "A" who threatens to expose their secrets — even their deepest, darkest ones that they thought only Alison knew.

 

The Gates
 

A cross between Desperate Housewives and True Blood, it’s about a family that moves to a posh and perfect community called, what else, The Gates. They soon realize though that their neighbors are not who they seem to be (i.e. vampires, werewolves and succubi).

 

Hot in Cleveland
 

Three, not-so-young-anymore best girlfriends from L.A. were on their way to Paris for an all-girls jaunt when their plane unexpectedly lands in Cleveland. They soon discover that they’re “hot” property once again so they decide to stay and rent a house together. The always hilarious Ms. Betty White plays their sassy landlady.

 

COMING SOON: In a future post, I’ll talk about the new fall shows I’m excited about. - ROC

Sources: www.collider.com, www.edhumphries.com, www.thisweekontheinternet.com, www.sitcomsonline.com, www.sunskier.com, tvdoom.com, www.facebook.com, www.watcherswatch.com

World Cup Fever

World Cup Fever is on and you know you’ve been bitten by the bug if:

Your under eye circles are darker than usual (no thanks to the 2:30am games) ✓

Coffee and you have become inseparable BFFs (okay, fine I'm trying to excuse my addiction to caffeine) ✓

You’ve virtually painted your FB profile pic care of Bud United ✓


 

And you instinctively pull out your VISA when asked for a credit card (Thanks to Morgan Freeman and the powers of advertising) ✓✓✓



With the quarter-finals coming up this weekend, my kitchen and I have found ourselves in the midst of it all with a new project. 8 countries = 8 cuisines. Of course, half the remaining 8 is latino, but it got me thinking, now’s the time to use all those cookbooks I’ve accumulated and maybe find me some new staples to my cooking repertoire. So here goes Cooking 101 a la World Cup 2010...

  

GHANA

Being the only surviving African country in the World Cup, I thought I should find a recipe for their favorite snack sold by street vendors.

 

Kele Wele 

2-3 ripe plantains (I used our native Filipino saba bananas)
½ tsp chili powder
½ tsp fresh grated ginger (Ugh! I am NOT and never will be a fan of ginger)
1 tsp salt
2 tbsp water
3 tbsp safflower oil (the recipe actually called for a mixture of 1 tbsp palm oil and 2 tbsp peanut oil, but ever since I read Skinny Bitch, I do my frying with safflower oil.)

1. Slice the plantains/bananas into discs.
2. Mix all of the spices and water together in a bowl.
3. Stir in the plantains/bananas until covered with the mixture.
4. Fry the slices in very hot oil until crispy and brown; about 5 minutes on each side.

SPAIN 

Just because everyone needs to drink something other than agua sometimes, I had to add this one. I think everyone has their own versions of the beloved sangria, but here are mine:

Sangria Roja

For every bottle of red wine:
½ bottle (liter) or 2 cans of diet orange soda
Rum, vodka, gin or whatever your chosen poison is - put as much or as little (or fine, none...corny!)
Diced fruits - apples, oranges, pears or whatever fruits you like (I've tried this with raspberries, too, yum-oh!!!)

 

Sangria Blanca

For every bottle of white wine:

½ bottle (liter) or 2 cans of diet Sprite
Splash or more of your chosen poison
Diced fruits - my current fave is a combo of pineapples and watermelons, but peaches are my staple

* I like to keep the fruits in the freezer once diced with the wine and sodas chilling in the fridge - the colder the sangria, the better, and ice just dilutes it.

GERMANY 

When I think Germany, I think Oktoberfest, sausages and Heidi Klum’s “Auf Wiedersehen”.  My nephew, Tommy, suggested I tackle the sausage issue. So here are 12 of the most common German sausages: 12 Must Try German Sausages

NETHERLANDS

Famous for their cheeses, here are some of their finest:

Gouda - Their most famous cheese can be eaten fresh or aged and makes a wonderful table or dessert cheese
Edam - This popular cheese usually comes in the form of a cheese ball coated in paraffin
Leyden - The traditional spiced farmhouse cheese is the perfect snack
Maasdam - Known as the Dutch emmental
Smoked Gouda - Sausage-shaped cheese perfect to take along on picnics and road trips

BRAZIL

I've been dying to make Pao de Queijo ever since my BFF in Florida made them. Here is the recipe she swears by, which I plan to try out this weekend: (Yes, I do have her permission to post this. Obrigado, Paulyn!!!)

 

1 ½ cups whole milk
2 ½ cups tapioca flour
1 ½ cups shredded parmesan cheese 
¾ cup corn oil
4 eggs
1 teaspoon salt

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
2. Lightly grease a 12- or 24-cup mini-muffin pan or small dariole molds.
3. Combine all ingredients in a large bowl.
4. Mix well until batter is smooth.
5. Fill each muffin cup three-quarters full. Bake for 15 minutes or until golden brown.

Bread should be crisp on the outside and hollow on the inside, like a popover. Best served warm.

P.S. I know how frustrating it is sometimes to not be able to find certain ingredients (I've searched all groceries and specialty food stores for tapioca flour to no avail; however, in my desperation I found a new favorite site: The Cook's Thesaurus

ARGENTINA, PARAGUAY Y URUGUAY

 

Probably as popular as futbol in Latin America, Dulce de Leche is a staple in many desserts and can now be bought just about anywhere. But because I like making things harder for myself and I love a good challenge in the kitchen, I decided to make my own homemade stash and now I just cannot imagine my life without it.The recipe I used is:

Dulce de Leche

1 ½ cups of condensed milk
1 ⅔ cups of evaporated milk
½ tsp baking soda
Generous pinch of salt (optional) 
1tbsp maple syrup (actual recipe called for light corn syrup)
Cinnamon sticks (optional)
1 tsp vanilla

Sweet little Alba gives her pretty smile of approval.

Because corn syrup has been getting a bad rap, I changed it to maple syrup which I read somewhere is full of antioxidants and calcium. It is optional to add cinnamon sticks (I didn't) just remember that 1 cinnamon stick equals ½ tsp cinnamon powder.

For a step-by-step guide, please go to: How to Make Dulce de Leche

You have to be extremely careful with the temperature and the stirring, it took me two tries, but BFF & Bolso Babe Kit (she gives me the most honest reviews for my goodies) says it is perfect. I now know never to turn down homemade latin desserts. Talk about labor of love!!! So now I start my days with a cup of brewed coffee with a heaping teaspoon of my homemade dulce de leche. I have truly found heaven in a cup. And as I impatiently wait to see Ronaldo once again (end August/early September), I will be perfecting my Pasteis de Nata. - KAB