I'm Bad This Lenten Season Because...

May the Almighty forgive me for I have sinned a thousandfold this season of Lent. Instead of penny pinching, tummy trimming and soul cleansing, I indulged and fell victim to my earthly cravings. But before you judge me with my wicked ways, allow me to defend myself. And please pretend that this is serious.

1) Because I ate beef! I dread having anemia (heaven forbid!) and poor memory (oh no!), so I need to stock up on vitamin B12. And for me, the most tastiest beef meal is beef chelo kebab meal!

2) Because I ate a fat burrito! I think I need calories and fiber to survive the daily grind. Believe me, I think I can survive without cheesy tater tots and nachos but the cashier insisted they're part of the meal. So I blindly said yes. I also think I helped make their cash register ring that particular moment.

3) Because I've been eating juicy mangoes, plump avocados and sweet bananas nonstop! I want to nourish my body with vitamins and minerals, so I ate a lot of delicious fruits. Summer time is the time of delicious tropical fruits. Lenten season always falls on summer.Okay, you get the picture.

 

4) Because I spent a precious hour admiring future Her Royal Highness Princess William of Wales. That's only because I love the British Royal Family and the fact that fairy tales can happen to real people. And oh, since it's fiery hot these days, I almost devoured this tub of heavenly chocolate ice cream.

5) Because I ate half of that meaty pizza! I badly need protein. It's a fair share, after all. I skipped lunch that day just to have that pizza I badly covet.

6) Because I ate pizza fries! For analogous line of defense, see # 5. I love pizza fries. Never did I love any kind of fries, only pizza fries. Even that flavorful twirly fries that entice the Mcdo Republic once a year, I abhor. 

7) Because I couldn't resist eating a plateful of spaghetti! Tomato sauce is a tremendous source of lycopene and I need all the antioxidant properties to endure our present unhealthy environment!

I know I'm bad. But not bad bad. Just this Season of Lent.

I may have transgressed the teachings of the Catholic Church regarding fasting, but I still thank the Almighty for all the blessings I have received. My cup of gratitude is overflowing at this very moment. Holy Week reflection doesn't have to entail supreme sacrifice on your part. I live by the Golden Rule and I always try my damndest to follow the commandments. That's all that matters! :)

Goodreads Loot

I consider myself a bibliophile.

When I'm too lazy to stay at home (read: do household chores) or in a so-so mood, I always rush to a bookstore. My lazy or so-so day won't be complete without scanning the bookshelves, picking up a book, reading the summary at the back (if there's any) and scanning to check whether the text and font are friendly to my peepers. Yes, I'm that picky. But I can always adjust to the genre or writing style of the author. Weird eh? :) I even influenced fiance with this by hanging out at Booksale every now and then.

So when I saw a white card on our mailbox  telling me to claim a package at Window 37 from Q.C. Central Post Office, I was beyond happy. I went there immediately, paid Php 40 as customs inspection fee (not so happy about it) and got this. What a happy Holy Monday it was!

 From Arcata, California to Philippine Islands (sounds pre-war to me) with ♥

 

My first Goodreads loot. Hoping for more giveaways.

 Hmmm... must be one of the reasons why the author picked me.

Short & simple

I'm addicted to you, Goodreads. I vow to update and post my own book reviews soon. I swear by placing my hand in my own copy of Mostly Rapscallions. So help me God.

The Ring!

 

This is the ring that:

• makes me giddily happy while staring at it;
• makes my heart skip a beat while staring at it a bit longer;
• makes me apprehensive when I commute (go figure);
• makes me feel I'm Citizen Kate of his life (blame the media hype!); and
• makes me think that I must have done something good that God rewarded me with this kind of happiness!

Uber cheesy? Pardon my silliness! I'm just happy sharing the good news to you! :)

Eat-All-You-Can Hainan Rice @ Hainanese Delights!

First week of March

Robinsons Galleria

I know, I know. It's a serious mortal sin to stuff yourself with scoops of rice during dinner. In my case, I had four (4) scoops of rice that fateful day, excluding breakfast & lunch. I can give construction workers a stiff competition when it comes to Hainan rice.

                           

Blame Hainanese Delights. It was relatively new when we dined here at the LGF of Robinsons Galleria. They serve delicious Hainanese chicken with rice till you burst!

Would it be too much to say that I love their Hainan rice? I do. So so so much. So, I had two servings. Pffft, gone!

 

So I asked the server to gimme two more cups. Oops, the chicken looks untouched. Okay, I lied. That's fiance's chicken. Hihihi. BUT the rice was all mine.

 

The secret weapon to my rice frenzy - ginger & chili

 

So there goes my rice adventure. And I ain't gonna repeat it again. Not too soon. Give me a couple of months to shrink my waistline a wee bit. :)

T.O.S.H., UP-Ayala Technohub

Last week of March

UP-Ayala Land TechnoHub

Even with the extra pounds I desperately want to shed off, I still give in to my cravings once in a while. This time around, I obeyed my pasta craving at the most convenient place near our new home (oh, yes!).

 

Appetizer basket (calamares, chicken fingers & onion rings)  ~Just something to tide us over.

Methinks my love affair with pasta started when I first learned how to cook spaghetti. And this oh-so classic spaghetti with meatballs failed to satisfy my craving. First, I want Italian spaghetti sauce and not the sweet spaghetti sauce. There's a big difference between the two. Second, I want my meatballs to be -what else but - meaty! So I just comforted myself with the fact that I can make excellent spaghetti than this. Flatter thyself once in a while, you know. :)

Spaghetti with meatballs ~ The taste didn't impress me. But I got impressed with my ability to finish this order!

 

Spaghetti  with seafood alfredo sauce ~ Fiance loves anything seafood. 'Nuff said.

Now, lemme check if I still have that big can of Italian style sauce. Hmmm...

Yummy Dinner at Pizza Hut Bistro!

2nd week of March, I think.

SM Megamall

Mere mention of Pizza Hut evokes not-so-delish pizza memories. But when I heard that it has added the word "bistro" to its name, I figured out that maybe this pizza parlor did some upgrading. It actually did and I'm definitely coming back! Below are the delicious items that captured my picky taste buds. :)

 

Oops, not this. I took a picture of their condiment caddy because I find it simple yet classy. :)

Then the yummy dinner items...

 Strawberry salad ~ I heart this salad! I never thought that strawberries make a delicious salad! I think this salad is being offered only this Lenten season.

 

Buffalo wings ~ Now, who doesn't love crispy chicken wings with midly spicy sauce? Not me!

Bistro paella ~ My fiance and I shared this dish and we found it flavorful with an interesting hint of lime. Nice presentation also.

Since I'm still hesitant to whip up my own strawberry salad as good as Pizza Hut Bistro's, then I think I'm destined to visit PZB again and again... PZ peeps, please make it the whole year round! :)