In my previous post, I wrote about the wedding as one of my reasons for disappearing from cyberspace for days. Yet there was another one I haven't said yet. This:


Because I was busy killing the zombies in my lawn! :-p Call it so shallow but like other peeps and guys out there, I also discovered the game they are going gaga about--Plants and Zombies. I once saw this game being played by my dear brother J and yet, while he seemed to be too glued to it, I didn't mind the whole thing back then seeing that it was just a plain, usual game like the others out there.

Funny but out of curiosity days within my disappearance from social networking site Facebook (but I was still tweeting my status updates on Twitter), I tried a hand at the game itself and as crazy as it could be, when I thought the game was darn boring, I ended up playing the game 'till three in the morning.

Nowadays, I use my cousin's laptop as it contains the complete adventure. ABS CBN Interactive offers the game at 99 bucks (I saw it at the mall countless times but I haven't tried it yet--maybe one of these days).

So what did I find out? The game is addicting and yet I was able to decompress from the stress of Facebook. But I'm still into nerdy games like BookWorm and Hangaroo.

My grade school best friend Barbie Bell Vi Ariquez became Mrs. Jeffrey Carandang over the weekend through a solemn church wedding held at St. Clement Parish Angono Rizal. It was such a sweet surprise as this wedding is the first meeting for Barbie and I after 13 years. While I took my camera with me to the wedding, I decided to borrow some shots from fellow bridesmaid Celine Ugat who took nice shots--I simply needed the help of Adobe Photoshop to adjust some settings, as these photos were dim. The ceremony was attended by the bride and groom's immediate families and colleagues. Oh, and not to forget the wedding is among those things that made me disappear for a few days from my social networking account. The other reason will be posted next.

A few months prior to this wedding, Barbie and I had been connected over the social networking site and from there exchanged stories. It was in early January when she told me that she was off to tie the knot and asked me to be one of her bridesmaids with one of the groom's relatives as my partner. Originally set for February, the wedding was moved to April because of a lot of circumstances and there really were a lot of it. After all, being one of the member of her entourage, I've witnessed how the preparations were and it wasn't that really easy.

Anyway, back to the wedding like what I said it was one nice affair. A jolly one indeed. Everyone had their role to play. Most weddings tend to be way too expensive because couples hire and pay for a wedding planner or coordinator but in Barbie's case it was a brilliant move to have one of her friends to do that. And the wedding cake that's pictured above was taken cared of by the bride's friends from Accenture. All Barbz needed was state the design and flavor that she wanted and VOILA! The bride's wish is their command.

During the couple's toast we were rooting for Barbie as there is this superstition that the first to finish up the wine will rule the marriage and as luck would have it, she did! Way to go girl!

The dove supposedly should come in two but when it was their turn, Barbie accidentally let go of the other one so of it went and the couple just sent off one into the air.



Days before their wedding, I found these words: Marriage is a leap of faith. But it takes faith in God, faith in people and faith in each other for two individuals to decide and take that huge leap. And these two proved it as they had already took that leap. Congratulations Barbie and Jeff. Barbz, your name now has a dash as you have found your Ken in your dashing husband. Cheers to a happy and more meaningful life together.

I'm off to the wedding of my grade school best friend in a few days. And while the big day is fast approaching, there still are stuff to attend to. Just a few days ago, after being notified of a seemingly disastrous wardrobe mishap (it turned out that someone else took home my gown), I was able to retrieve it together with the invitation for the wedding.

The invitation follows with the pink motiff.

The first page reads the passage from 1 Corinthians 3:4

If you were to observe what's common in these two photos, it's that address. Yes, there's still that Ms. just before my name. While I am still not that used to being called that way, I guess I should start being okay with it.

I decided not to post the photo of the gown yet. I'll just have photos taken on the day of the wedding. The event's in six days and while I am not the bride, just the bridesmaid, there still are some matters I have to address prior to this event--the make up, the shoes and the gift.

And I plan to have them all addressed this afternoon.

At least not for me (because in French au revoir is more like farewell right?). While MMLDC also boasts the Food Hall, I'd be biased to say that I prefer the Areva Pavilion. Who'd have thought that behind the tall white gates that welcome guests lies this relaxing open restaurant. Now I've been with MMLDC for four years and while the center also boasts of a Food Hall, I'd say I favor Areva.

During the recent SBM activity that I attended, the crew had been frequenting the venue for debriefing and of course the food. And while I have frequented the restaurant many times, I still keep coming back for the refreshing ambiance (the restaurant is overlooking a pool) and the yummy dishes (too bad for a small-framed lass like me, I can't eat like a man. :-p)

What did we have during the instances we went on an after work food trip? Here:

This was the crisy pata we had for dinner during our overnight stay last March 23. Sorry for the poor quality the photo (I'm still striving to befriend the digicam) anyway the dish was enticingly good that it's gone in as fast as three to five minutes.



This was the siding we got during the after work lunch last April 5 after visiting the last school. Prawn carcklings like the store-brought ones but the taste is like that from a Chinese fast-food chain. Being the junk food (if you consider so) junkie that I am I'd say being served this is favorable :-D I like this one dipped in vinegar and though the chips was served with a dip, it tasted a bit sweet actually it tastes like the vinegar used in atchara.

This shot's better finally! Main course for lunch--fried chicken and again with the prawn chips (now the prawn chips are more likely to that of the fast food chain). The chicken is good I'd like to think it broiled rather than fried because it's not too greasy. I don't normally eat the skin but with this one, I did.


For the veggies, we had Pinakbet. Yup the native Ilocano dish. Full of flavor and cooked just right--with the veggies maintaining it's appetizing crunch.

Their Sizzling Chinese Chorizo is one perfect alternative to the usual pork liempo sisig. Just for a change. For me who's not fond of meat sisig with lots of onions, I prefer having this instead.

We had brownies of dessert and it's the same luscious treat. Not too sweet and it doesn't taste bland. The whole food experience was one gastronomic treat. If there was one thing I regret for not being included in this post, it's their Strawberry Banana Smothie--another treat that to me is sooooo heavenly.


Areva Pavilion is located at Meralco Management Leadership Development Center, KM. 27 Sumulong Highway Antipolo City

Do you Google yourself?

This is among those quirky questions I heard on the radio before. Hollywood people admitted to it and at a certain point, I tried doing so -- Googling myself.

Call me shallow but such achievement to me is enough to consider one to be famous. Yes. You see, once your name's on the web, everyone gets to know you--at least by name if for a consolation.