I had dinner last Friday with my close friends. We went to Cyma. It’s becoming to be my favorite restaurant of all time. I love their salad, Roka Salata, which is mainly fresh arugula, chopped Romaine lettuce, sun dried tomatoes, candied walnuts, served with shaved Parmesan in traditional Greek vinaigrette. Love it, love it, love it. Partner it with red wine and it’s the perfect meal. I could have that everyday for the rest of my life. Not really. Make that every other day until time comes that I puke just thinking about it.

And guess what, that night I played paparazzi. Here’s a photo of the celebrity:

How about it? Can you guess who the girl with the white cap is?

This long vacay is making me do unusual things. Like cooking something from scratch last night. Well, not really. I just had to open 3 cans of different items, dump the contents in the pot, let it simmer then voila! A soup made from opening cans…

still simmering

the ‘no difference’ finished product

And that afternoon, my kid and I went to Greenhills and I had eyelash extensions. I just had to take a pic.

now, can you see the difference?

What’s next? Oh, I don’t know. I’m having this urge to dye my eyebrows one or two shades lighter. So, please don’t tell me where I could have that done.

I’m happily exhausted and yet can barely contain the Christmas excitement. I admit I’m a huge fan of the holidays. I’m not sure where it comes from, honestly. I just am. I suppose a large part of it is that the older I become, it seems that I have more control over what to give, what to cook, what to feel. More than that though, every year I cannot help but think of the time I would spend with my kids. And how each year, I see them grow and grow old with me.

By the way, here’s a virtual organic Christmas pudding from me to you.

If you want the real thing, you may order here.

We did some serious shopping yesterday. The mall was packed with last minute shoppers just like us who tried to cram a week’s worth of shopping into a few hours. What do you think happened? Disaster? Not really. It proved interesting, surprisingly. My son turned out to be the ideal shopping companion. I had someone to hold all my purchases. With minimal to no complaint at all. He was content to follow me around and quietly checking out items for himself.

My little one was neither tired, cranky nor hungry. She was on euphoric high with the chocolate and candy I fed her after we had lunch. The shopping marathon had been a productive one. We had some bonding time while accomplishing my shopping ‘duties’.

Shopping is proving to be one family activity that should be done on a regular basis. Only if you have extra money. Because it’s frustrating to walk for hours without buying anything. Don’t you think?

I’m loving the holidays. I started mine a little late. Actually, I’m just starting. With the frenzy of last week, it’s only now that I get to relax and really think about the meaning of Christmas. And speaking of Christmas, I just remembered that I still have some shopping to do. I don’t know if I should go to the mall or to ‘flea markets’ like Greenhills and St. Francis Square. What do you think? Where do you prefer to shop regardless of budget?

I hope you all have an amazing week and come back to next year all ready, refreshed and recharged. I’m not gonna greet you yet. I’ll wait till Christmas for that. In the meantime, have a nice day.

photo: tata.moto-merry christmas!

My highschool friends and I had a mini-reunion last Friday, a Christmas dinner. Mini because we were only a handful that came. Some confirmed but never made it for some reasons like traffic, something came up more important than our reunion crap. What’s the point of confirming? Hmmm. Anyway, we had a blast and it was nice to catch up. I think we went home around 2am. And for people who have children, that’s quite late.

My little girl was there with me. And she, too, stayed up late. Bad me again.

nancy is now based in Cary, North Carolina

ces, owner of elan

nette is an interior designer and chu works for TV5

Pinky is a makeup artist and part owner of ARUBA bar and Grachel is a producer for Boy & Kris

mitch, an engineer and charm is an architect but they don’t work together

It was sure nice to get together. Till next time, ghels. =)