Cake workshop

The Cake Workshop rules!!!! We baked 4 cakes (chocolate w/ ganache icing, mocha with no-melt butter icing, butter cake with whipped icing and lemon chiffon cake w/ boiled icing) and we got to bring them all home.

Since it's 9am to 5pm, it's kinda tiring... but seeing all my creations wipes everything away.

Attending the workshop made me realize that I still have other kitchen stuff to buy. Cakes require other equipment such as a heavy duty mixer, thermometer, cake turner, more piping bags and icing tips. My Goodie Cookie business didn't really need all of those. Things went well with just measuring spoons and cup and a couple of baking pans....

Making cakes are more difficult and mistakes can really have a high price. They're more enjoyable to look especially after putting the icing. I'd love to go back to the school for some cake decorating workshops....

The Letter R

Got this from another blog....
Rules: Use the first letter of your name to answer each of the following.Your answers have to be real places, names, and things. Nothing made up! You can’t use your name for the boy/girl name question.

Your name Rachelle
Four words Reaper, Rocker, Rhetorical, Rich
State/country Romania
Boy name Ronald
Girl name Rihanna
Occupation Restauraeur, Registrar
Word that describes you the best Resourceful
Something you can wear Ring
Something found in a kitchen Rice cooker
Name one object that is so valuable to you Rack
Something you shout Run!
Something you do at school Read, Review
Name of a friend/schoolmate Rollin
Name of an animal Rat
Name of a drink Rhum
Name of a holiday Rizal day
Name of a subject in school Reading
Name of a cousin surprisingly none
Name of a fast food chain Racks
Name of a person you’re crushing or had a crush on 'Rumpelstiltskin'
Name of a food you like Roast beef
Name of a food you do not like R*****
Name of a kid’s toy Rocket
Name of a flowering plant Rose
Name of a shopping mall Rockwell
Name of a person you like R*******
Name of a person you dislike R****
Name of place in your school Recess area?
Name of an object in front of you Ring binder

I Got In!!!

The Heny Sison Culinary School called me up this morning to inform me that there's a already a free slot for the cake session scheduled tomorrow from 9-5PM!!! yehey!!!

I inquired 2 weeks ago regarding this when I saw it on their website. Unfortunately that time, the slots were full and they had put me on the waiting list as the 20th person interested in the course. When my phone rang this morning, I got nervous as the number ain't familiar. I got overwhelmed and giddy and excited when they said, "This is Rita from Heny Sison Culinary School. Ma'am this is regarding the cake course... One of the participants backed out and we were wondering if you would still want to avail of it." Because I can't think and speak clearly that time (adrenalin really poured in kasi), I just said that I'd call her after 10 minutes so that I could fix my schedule -- but it reality, I needed that 10 minutes to settle down and collect myself.... If you really know me, you'd imagine my smile, my talkativeness and my katuliruhan of this one. And so I called.... and said YES.

This means... I should run to the nearest department store and grab myself one of those nice aprons. hahaha... and guess who'll be teaching tomorrow... HENY SISON HERSELF!!! OMG! The last time I saw her personally was when I helped with the tabulation of the Chefs on Parade competition.

In case you don't know her, she's one of the baking goddesses here in the Philippines. She has this show, 'The Good Life'. This is really an opportunity I can't afford to miss and it costs P3,800 only. woot woot!!!

Since this is totally unexpected, I have to reschedule my Christmas tree moment and the house cleaning moments on Friday. It's gonna be a very loooooooooooong weekend plus Monday. weeee.....

Dumating na!!!

Ang passport ko..... YEHEY!!!

Books....

When I had my desktop computer checked last Tuesday, I had this feeling that I have to go to National Bookstore... and what did I find? WHAT ON EARTH HAVE I DONE? by Robert Fulghum and BRIDA by Paulo Coelho. When the bear and I checked these at Powerbooks MOA, they're sold out. I even signed for a reservation. Weeee!!! but since the books cost P455 and P495, respectively, I only chose one. And the winner is.... What on Earth...

Robert Fulghum's books have come rare these times. Some people would only actually know his name if one mentions his ever famous book, 'All I Really Need to Know What I Learned in Kindergarten'. How did I become a fan? Well somebody gave my Kuya Robert the aforementioned book. I borrowed it and loved it. Another gave him the "Maybe, Maybe Not" and I did the same. The next is that I was buying his books as a gift for my brother. Dunno really what captured me to become an instant fan... Maybe because of his candid manner of looking into ordinary daily things that we often take for granted. His works mostly contain experiences, observations, insights and others that may help one be inspired to live each moment happily.

As of today, I still lack 3 of his books namely: Words I Wish I Wrote, It was on Fire when I Lay Down on it and True Love. I still see the second one in bookstores... but haven't encountered the rest yet... (I'm highly accepting these for Christmas presents!!!)

Still on books, my Kuya Raymond bought me an e-book, Day Trading for Dummies for $24, to widen my knowledge on invesment jargons and processes. Haven't started it yet because I still have to finish 'Money, Credit and Banking' and then start the What on Earth...

I really love to read.... and the good thing is that I have plenty right now to keep my brain busy outside work...

Edit:

hahaha....MOA Powerbooks just text me right now... informing that they already have Brida paperback! Yahoo! Good decision to get What on Earth... I'll be able to use the GC bear gave me. Pupunta na ko mamaya!!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY PERRY!!!

Dahil ngayon ay November 19 dito sa Pilipinas, nais kong batiin ang butihin kong kaibigan na si Perry Manzanida ng HAPPY BIRTHDAY.... ang tanda tanda mo na! hahaha....

Unang nagtagpo ang mga landas namin sa anniversary performance ng dati naming pinapasukang kumpanya. Siya ang naging partner ko noon na bumuhat sa akin na parang DARNA! ang dating. hahaha... (maliit pa ko noon...) Pagkatapos ng 'gig' na yun, nadiscover namin na meron pa pala kaming parehas na hilig gawin, ang pagkanta.... Siya ang pioneer sa paghahandog na makatindig balahibong awitin tuwing first friday masses. Tulad ng aking mga ikinikwento sa mga nakaraang posts ko, gustung-gusto namin kantahin ang Love is the Answer habang nasa fire exit pababa ng HR.

Madalas siya magtampo lalo na pag hindi ako nakakaattend ng mga practice dahil sa mga 'date' ko pag gabi.... Siya ang nagiging takbuhan ko pag nagkakaroon ako ng problema dahil sa LQ at trabaho...Kahit mega tulo ang luha ko, napapatawa pa rin niya ako sa mga 'corny' niyang jokes.... Hindi ko makakalimutan ang mga times naming magkasama, pag nagkakakayayaang magkape sa starbucks, mga tawagang 'tae' at 'bahaw' sa sametime....

Namimiss na kita tae ka. =) Sana mabasa mo to..... AGain, happy happy birthday... more blessings and good health to you my dear friend.

Chris Brown and Rihanna (woot! woot!)

I know some of their songs... but I'm not a big fan. But yes! I did watch the concert last night at the Fort Bonifacio Open Field.... The 'Bear' was adventurous enough to buy concert tickets for two. =)

The performances are good! Chris Brown is such a good dancer and definitely a crowd pleaser. He did some Michael Jackson moves. Rihanna on the other hand is also good. She makes sure that the crowd is alive by asking questions and shouting the word 'Manila' several times (to which the crowd always responds with a roar). She's not really much of a dancer but she puts awesome movements to her songs. In between, there was a fireworks display.

I enjoyed it really but after the experience, I said to myself that I would never want to attend that kind of event again. 'Seated' and 'covered' concerts are still ok for me.... but open field? uhhh... I think not. You might be thinking... e hello? concert yun... talagang magulo, madaming tao, nakatayo..... but I just don't like it.

It started at 8pm but we were there by 6pm. We witnessed the sun go down and the people starting to multiply exponetially.... (estimated attendance is 70,000 warm bodies). The waiting shares the great chunk of the hard part. Of course you have a choice -- wait while standing up or sit down on the grassless field to be stepped upon by people passing through. You would really feel your legs cramping up. There was a big relief when the music started but there's another problem, I can't see the stage. It's like a giraffe/ballerina moment for me (stretching my neck to its maximum capacity while tiptoeing to the best of my ability). Good thing there are large screens. The other chunk of the hard part is when the concert was over.... we had to walk to Market Market for transportation.... Since it's already past eleven, finding a vehicle that would bring us to EDSA was difficult. It's not just OUR problem, this dilemma was shared by the other thousands that don't have their own wheels. Everywhere you look, you'll find long lines, occupied taxis and people.... lot's and lot's of people. Ay naku.... of course, we were already tired especially me because I've been awake since 6AM to attend mass, attend driving lessons... I also had little sleep the night before because of our greenhills schedule....I was hardly speaking -- my legs hurt, I'm sleepy, I'm tired. After an hour, the Boni Shuttle returned and upon reaching EDSA, we were lucky enough to come accross a cab that's willing to take us to Las Pinas.... (plus 50 nga lang..) We took it and we reached the house at past 2AM.

Right now, as I'm writing this in the office, I feel so tired. I don't feel like working. Oh well, that's the not-so-nice thing of having an event like that on a Sunday evening. Of course it's inevitable that it'll finish really late but hey! It's a Sunday and the next day is a Monday, a working day. Sunday nights are supposed to be spent for resting in preparation for the week ahead. But anyway, IT'S FOR FREE and come to think of it... I'm with the bear so okay lang....hehehe.....

I think I'll sleep talaga ng lunch.

Wanting to go out.....

At this point in my life, I've never gone out the country yet... But on November 19, my first step in travelling abroad will be arriving -- my passport.... Yahoo!!! Woot woot!!!

I'm thinking of Macau or Singapore... Singapore because I'd be able to get a free tour courtesy of a friend.... Macau because one of my colleagues here has been there and he described the place as 'photo-worthy'. Both don't need a visa, just buy yourself a plane ticket, get a map and fly away...

Since the bear would be away for some time next year, I'm open for travelling engagements... Singapore/Macau anyone?

Tuesday.... hmmmm

It's another Tuesday and although I slept kinda early (around 12:30AM), I feel so darn sleepy. I already drank coffee but I'm still like this....

Anyway, updates.... Last Sunday after church and breakfast, we went to Hobbies (the concept mall) at the Macapagal Ave.... I usually go there for my guinea pig foodie, Vitakraft. Well this time, I didn't just go for the food but Leej and I purchased a new home for my well-loved cavy... It's green and bigger than her current one. I'm planning to put a second floor so that she could walk and climb and hide in tunnels and etc. Pictures will be posted once it's done but I will try to show the raw look of the cage.

Darn...I'm so sleepy (... yawns ...)

I have a new area.. well not really 'new' but my area moved one area to the left. Quite different because it's a bit brighter and I'm not at arms-length anymore to my best buddy, the watah dispenser.

*hello lolo, kelan ba tayo magmeet?