DIY: How to Fix a Tunnelling Candle

I've recently gotten a bit obsessed with candles and it's a pretty expensive obsession, so it's really annoying when the candles don't burn evenly.  Bath and Body Works candles usually burn beautiful but once in a while, you get a bad one and it tunnels.  Tunnelling basically means, only the inside burns and the outside stays solid, which will eventually drown the wick and once the wick drowns, you won't be able to use the candle anymore!  

I always have problems with the 4oz, small candles (my 3-wick candles burn perfectly!) maybe it's because there's only 1 wick?  Anyway, here are pictures to help you guys solve the annoying problem!!

Get a piece of foil, puncture a hole and put it over the candle tightly.

Take another piece and wrap the whole sides of the candle too

Burn for a couple of hours and.. viola! :)  Just be patient and you will have perfectly even candles! YAY!

Book Review: "The Cuckoo's Calling" by Robert Galbraith / J.K Rowling

I don't really get the rave reviews about this book.  It's OK - good enough to make me want to finish reading to find out who the killer was - even though I already had a good idea who it was, but it's not a book that I would RAVE about.  I have a feeling people only like it and rave about it because it's a likable author using a pen name.  *shrugs*

 

Anyway, the book is filled with annoying, unnecessary characters.  Robin, for instance is completely useless.  I kept waiting for something to happen to her.. either hook up with the main character or get kidnapped or whatever, but she just kept serving tea and cookies and acted all "i'm so innocent but so good at this detective work thing".  UGH.  Sure she helped Strike with some detective work, but seriously, he could have done that himself.. he SHOULD have done it himself if he wanted to be called a "detective".  The other thing that annoyed me was the ending - it was way tooooooooooooo long.  It was so long, that the character was like "I was thirsty from all that talking" - HAHAHAHA!  Anyway, check it out if you want to read something light and easy, just don't expect too much.

 

Book Review: "Coming Clean - A Memoir" by Kimberly Rae Miller

It is posts like these that I wish I didn't have a kindle and had real books with beautiful covers instead, but I guess I will have to deal with it!  I love my kindle because it's sleek, handy and I can take it anywhere with me!

 

Coming Clean is a memoir about hoarders.  Unlike the usual stories and TV shows on the hoarders themselves, this focuses on the little girl (who eventually grows up) living with her parents who are extreme hoarders.  I watch the show Hoarders on AE a lot and I find it fascinating how some people can live under piles and piles of filth.  Some episodes, I think they are disgusting and once in a while, I feel bad for them because I remind myself that hoarding is a type of disorder.  Anyway, what I liked about this book is the relationship between the author and her parents.  You can tell that they really loved each other despite the fact that they lived in shame and secrecy about the way they lived.  Every time she would describe how their house looked like, I would think about the show and imagine piles and piles of junk in every corner of the house.  I can't imagine people living like that on a day to day basis.  :(   

 

Anyway, this is a really good read and it's something different.  I recommend this to everyone!

 

 

Book Nerd

At the beginning of the year, I signed up for the Goodreads 2013 reading challenge!  You set up a goal of how many books you want to read within the year and you try to reach it and if you can, exceed!  I've seen people with goals up to 100-150 books a year, and seriously, I don't even know how they do it!  Do they work?  Do they sleep?  Do they socialize?  Do they have 4 set of eyes?  I gave myself a modest 25 books for the year - that's roughly 2 books a month and I'm not struggling, but it's not the easiest thing to do, because I want to do SOOO much with my free time and I have to make a conscious effort to read instead. 

 

Anyway!  On my way to work this morning, I decided that I was going to start doing book reviews on this blog.  Definitely nothing eloquent and goodreads worthy (some people on there are hardcore reviewers) but I just want to have an outlet where I can let out my book hangover! HAHA!  I always talk about the books I finish to my friends who are not into reading and I always get the same "I don't give a shit" reaction! HAHAHA!

 

What are your book recommendations?  Let me know!

Xx

Girls Night Out!

{ Bandeja de Jamon, Chorizo y Quezo }  For starters, the girls shared a plate of cheese, chorizo and ham paired with unlimited Sangrias.  I am starting to really enjoy cheese and ham!  It's a pity, I don't drink alcohol!  Drunk Monday evenings seems fun! :P

 

{ Calamares Fritos }  While waiting for the other girls to arrive, we munched on Calamares.  They were ordinary, but who doesn't love deep fried seafood dipped in mayonnaise? 
 

 

 

{ Salpicao} Tender pieces of beef marinated in garlic.  SOO amazing.  You need a bowl of plain rice to eat with this because the sauce is so amazing!  Drools.

 

{ Paella Negra - Squid Ink } This was sooo good.  This is always what I order if squid ink is available. So much more flavorful than the regular variety.

{ Paella -Tomato Base } - Really good even though I prefer the squid ink variation!

{ Baked Chicken} .  Fall off the bones tender, juicy and extremely flavorful chicken. YUMMY!

{ Garlic Crabs } The star dish of the night was definitely this garlicky, lemony herby crab.  SOOOO good.

{ Churros!!!  } I loved the crunchy, chewy warm churros dipped in glorias cinnamon/sugar AND chocolate.  SINFUL, but so damn worth it!!!

Random Pictures Sunday

I'm trying to be a good blogger, so I am posting regularly - even if it's really random.  Uploading pictures directly from my phone to flickr makes it SO much easier, now that I don't carry around a camera with me anymore.  Anyway, here are a bunch of random pictures I found on my phone that I wanted to share with you all.  Mostly food pictures, so prepare to get hungry! :P

A friend printed out this super cute Rilakkuma for my sister!  He matches the interior of the restaurant!

A wall of Sake. 

Edamame 

After our gown fitting for Mimi's wedding, me and mom had lunch at Mitsuyado Sei Men ramen!  It was pretty greasy for my liking, but I loved the chewy ramen.  I wish the broth wasn't so salty and oily though. :(

Burger Backed Macaroni.  I was on a diet when friends ordered this for their midnight snack.  The oozing cheese was torture for me.  It was SOOO hard to resist.  Next time, I will attack! :P

Caramel Macchiatos after Baclaran last Wednesday. 

I try to eat clean during the week and pan fried grouper, zucchinis and onions does the trick.  So healthy but really delicious.  It's so easy to diet when you prepare yummy food in advanced!

My sister and her hubby went to Japan and came home with Yoku Moku cigares!  At first, I thought they were nothing special (very similar to lengua) but the more I eat it, the more delicate I think they are!  Japanese sure know how to impress people with their beautiful packaging!

Dad's 59th Birthday Dinner!

Last week, we threw my mom and dad a joint surprise birthday party.  It was the first time we successfully surprised them!  My mom's reaction was totally priceless!

Today, we celebrated my dad's actual birthday with just family and had a delicious dinner at House of Wagyu in Greenhills.  Happy birthday dad!  We love you!

Seafood Salad.  

 Baked mussels!  Loved how it was so buttery!

Creamy mashed potatoes

I got the Ribeye.  Sooooo fatty and relish! :P

Cooked to however doneness you want! 

Dessert # 1 - Poached pear ala mode.  So yummy!

Dessert # 2 - Fudgy flourless chocolate cake with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. SO SINFUL.

Friday Five: Austerity

Friday Five

 1. When you have to cut back on spending for a time, what are the niceties you’re least likely to give up even though you could (or should)?  Eating out with friends.  It's seriously one of the things I love to do and will have a hard time doing. :(

2. In leaner times, what are your go-to “famine foods?” I don't believe in being "thrifty" with food, but if I had to save up, it will be eating ramen for one meal. It's cheap, delicious and fast. :P

3. How do you keep yourself amused or entertained in times requiring great frugality?  Download movies and watch it at home instead of going out. :P

4. When was the last time you had to go into austerity mode?  I am blessed enough that I don't have to deny myself of anything that I need, but I imposed a beauty product ban for myself because it's a whole lot of stuff I don't need.  It just accumulates into junk.

5. What’s a necessary expenditure others might consider an extravagance?  Does driving everywhere count?

Friday Five: Scattergories

 Friday Five:

 

1. What random letter was generated by the online random-letter generator?  "B"
2. What geographical location, whose name begins with the letter, would you most like to visit someday? Brazil!  To experience Carnival in Rio de Janeiro.  I've also never been to any part of South America and Brazil is definitely somewhere I want to go in the near future.
3. What’s a yummy dessert whose name begins with the letter? Bread Pudding!  There's not a lot of restaurants in Manila that makes this amazing dessert but Heat in Edsa Shangri-La makes a killer one.
4. What’s an annoying or unpleasant task whose name begins with the letter? Brisk Walking.  I need to get my ass back to the gym.
5. What implement, whose name begins with the letter, would be good to take on a camping trip? Definitely need a warm Blanket! 
6. Which of your body parts, whose name begins with the letter, needs some attention or maintenance? Butt.  Time to do some squats! HAHA!

Hello!

Hello blogging world!  It's been over a year since my last attempt at blogging.  I don't know why I stopped writing after I spent most of my adolescent years talking to myself infront of the computer!  Anyway, a couple of days ago, I got a sudden urge to start writing again.. this time with no specific audience in mind.  I just want to write about whatever I want without trying to impress anyone!  

So what have I been up to aside from the usual?  I recently travelled to Bali, Indonesia (a first for me!) for a few days with my best friends and enjoyed every single minute of it!  I guess the only negative thing was that our flights (Manila-Hong Kong - Denpasar) were filled with at least THREE crying INFANTS!  I usually zone out during flights and sleep almost right away, but it was SOOOO hard to tune out the wailing babies!!  Note to self: BUY earplugs.

We stayed at this AMAZING 6 bedroom villa in Seminyak with our own personal chef, butler, driver and housekeepers.  Similar to staying at a 5 star hotel, but so much more personalised.  Definitely an experience I will never forget and I am very blessed.  Bali is surely on my to-visit again list! 

Anyway, I hope this will be the beginning of my re-blogging endeavour.  Till my next post! Xx.