Belle de Jour Power Planner 2011 Fresh-Off-The-Press

Hey, bellas, do you wanna be one of the first ladies who will get fresh-off-the-press Belle de Jour Power Planner 2011?  Well, here's the squeal IT girls!

The BDJ 2011 Planner will be launched on October 2, 2010 (2 p.m.) at Venice Piazza Mall, Taguig City.  I still have no idea of the price yet, but for sure it is worth it and so affordable.  As I remember, for the girls who attended the BDJ Fair, they got a certain discount.  I was able to buy my BDJ 2010 Planner for only P480 at the launch but (in malls, it costs around P550).  See the big difference!

You will surely enjoy the event, guys and gals.  Belle De Jour Power Planner supporters will also enjoy perks and freebies at the fair.  Last year, there were free massage from The Spa, free hair makeover from Azta Urban Salon, free ice cream from Selecta, free lunch, open bar with The Bar, free photo sessions, free fortune telling, free hand wax from The Strip, free Garnier samplers and other freebies from Motolite and Ace Water Spa.  (This is aside from the coupons that you will get from the planners.)

The event is not just about freebies, girls.  After I have attended the fair, Bellas like me were very happy to meet new friends, learn new things and feel more confident after the affair.  I am sure Belle de Jour will again, this year, arrange exciting activities and a wide range of fair talks wherein speakers will talk about fashion and beauty, girl power and a lot more.


Check the post on my BDJ Power Planner 2011 Launch experience last year:
http://chicandcheaps.blogspot.com/2010/02/belle-de-jour-2010-planner-launch.html


Register to be part of BDJ Circle:
BDJ Webiste: http://belledejourpowerplanner.com/
Become a Fan: Belle De Jour Power Planner

Kraft Eden's Sarap ng Pasko: World's Longest Christmas Celebration

It was a busy Saturday afternoon because after attending NomNomClub's first anniversary, I, together with the other bloggers, rushed to SM Mall of Asia to witness the world's longest Christmas celebration with Eden's Sarap ng Pasko: 100 Days of Christmas.

As early as September 4, Eden Cheese -- the country's well-loved cheese brand spearheads the world's longest Christmas celebration with Eden's Sarap ng Pasko:  100 Days of Christmas.


We were surprised to see 100 unique cheese-based dishes from 100 towns nationwide to compete as the country's number one dish.  I was happy to see representatives from Las Pinas City (yes, everyone knows I live here), La Union and Pangasinan (and yes, I spent my teenage years on both towns.)  I am really proud they are included in the list.

Las Piñas Boys Choir serenaded us with early Christmas carols.  Cute little boys!

Pilipinas Got Talent Finalists graced the event as Kraft Eden unveil it's blue-lit Christmas tree at SM MOA Music Hall.

And as "The Company" singers grace the audience with their soothing voices, foodie bloggers enjoy Cafe 5845's  oozing-with-cheese recipes.

First time to see a cheese fountain and I love to dip small, soft churros-like bread here.  I thought it was salty but surprisingly the taste was subtle (not so salty, not so sweet).

And I keep coming back for these sweet treats especially the cream-puff-like dessert.  Crunchy on the outside, chewy inside and drizzled with chocolate on top.  Heavenly!  It was made more creamy by Eden Cheese (but you won't notice the cheese.)

From Cafe 5845, let's go to some of the participating towns and their very own original cheese dish.

Vote for your town and help them win P2,000,000 support fund and P100,000 for yourself.  Just send an Eden carton and be counted.  Visit www.sarapngpasko.com or call 72-PASKO for more details.


NOW, these are the town dishes I will surely vote for.  You know why?  It's either I used to live in these towns or there's something special I love about these towns  (i.e. my parents grew there, I've visited the place, I was born on that city, and there's something I love about that place).

Vegetable Florets con Cheese -  Agoo, La Union

What's the town known for?

The town of Agoo is known for their strong faith and devotion. The miracles that have happened in this place like ; the resurrection of a dead five-year old girl and the earthquake of 1892 where the image of Nuestra Senora de Caridad was not damaged have made Agoo famous. So get to know more about this town and have their Vegetable Florets con Cheese while you’re at it.

Cheesy Gluttonous Rice Roll - Alaminos, Pangasinan

What's the town known for?

Alaminos is the home of the world-famous Hundred Islands Natures Park, the very first National Park in the Philippines. With the Hundred Islands known the world over, Alaminos is one place a nature savvy would want to go to. But as for the foodies, indulge in their Cheesy Glutinous Rice Roll and get to appreciate their caves and giant clams as well.

Cheese Boom Bomb (Granada) - Las Piñas City

Once home to former President Emilio Aguinaldo, Las Piñas City is an one of the prominent tactical locations in the South during the Spanish Colonization. Recognized as the most peaceful and cleanest city and Hall of Famer in “clean and green” by the Prestigious Global 500 Roll of Honour of the United Nations Environment Programme, (UNEP), it houses the Bamboo Organ–known as a National Cultural Treasure. Hear the chimes of this monumental spot and be blown away by this city’s Cheese Boom Bomb.




*UPDATES*


After posting this,  I have already collected 3 wrappers and that means I have 3 entries!!!  Good Luck everyone!  Last submission of entries will be tomorrow, December 1, 2010.

Thunderbird Resorts: Run For a Cause - Ondoy No More

Remember about my posts on how great Thunderbird Resorts is?  Well, Thunderbird Resorts in not only beautiful "outside" but they are also beautiful "inside".  As Thunderbird Resorts Rizal invites everyone to join ONDOY NO MORE run for the benefit of CARITAS Manila on September 26, 2010.

Guys and gals, for only P500.00 registration fee for 3k/5k/10k, you get a Singlet, RaceBib, Thunderbird Resorts discounts, and most importantly you give a donation to Caritas Manila and help the marginalized communities to prepare for calamities such as typhoons.

I really wanna join but  I hope my work schedule will change in order for me to attend this event.  My last was Condura Run (oh, no! It was way back February 2010!).  I really need to get physically active again!


I also wish to see other bloggers I met at the bloggers tour.  I really miss you, guys!

For more details and to download registration forms, visit http://www.race.greenpeaks.net/

Website:  http://www.thunderbird-asia.com/

Facebook Page:  http://www.facebook.com/pages/Thunderbird-Resorts/161064168411?ref=ts

All New Chikka.com

Have you checked your  Chikka account lately?

If you haven't, well let me give you first a round up on how different Chikka is right now.  I was also surprised too see the changes from Chikka because I haven't really opened my account for months.  (Maybe it is because of the Facebook invasion).  But now Chikka gave us a new reason to "chikka" again...

Chikka Releases New Version

In 2000, as world Internet and mobile players were discussing the next “killer app” in the form of a mobile instant messenger that might hopefully soon be created, a Manila-based company quietly released Chikka Text Messenger on beta.

Chikka’s breakthrough had been in marrying IM technology seamlessly with SMS, and then building a back-end that would withstand its use by the world’s ‘text capital’ – The Philippines.

2010: Chikka for the new digital generation

Ten years later, Chikka has served over 68 million people who had registered on-line and via mobile to enjoy the way Chikka had united on-line Filipinos with the sea of SMS users.  The company is also releasing the latest version of its Chikka Text Messenger.

“Back in 2000, Internet penetration in the country was a mere 2% but many had mobile phones and we were already a texting culture,” said Chikka founder Dennis Mendiola. “We enabled Filipinos to connect to an on-line IM community via texting which was second nature to us.”

Today, a “digital generation” has emerged and 30% of Filipinos have Internet access taking part in social networks and becoming active in social media. Mobile penetration is closer to 80%.

“We saw this during the great reawakening and national mourning for the passing of former President Cory Aquino. We witnessed it again as Typhoon Ondoy brought great floods to the Capital and the Youth, with their Internet and mobile tools helped relay information for mobilization and disaster relief,” said Mendiola.  

Thus is setting for Chikka latest version release.

“Chikka is more relevant than ever. We observe for example that a lot of casual messaging previously exchanged via text has shifted to the social networks. Our latest version is being released, combining the cool convenience of sending an IM message when one is on-line with the personal warmth, immediacy even urgency of receiving a message as text, instantly read on ones phone,” Mendiola added.

  

Lighter “load” 

Promoting even higher utility for the community, the new Chikka version features P1.00 replies during off-peak hours when a lot of Global Filipinos are driving message traffic to friends and loved ones mobiles in the Philippines . Unlimited text packages akin to popular UNLI packages being offered by Philippine telcos are also now available all day.

It is also interoperable with Google Talk while Chikka is working on partnering with other instant messaging applications to make it easier for users to keep in touch.

“In 2010, there were over 16 million visits to the Chikka site from 215 countries during a one month period,” CIO Dennis Mendiola said. “Even though there are a lot of technological advancements in the communications industry, Chikka still remains to be the preferred communications tool for Global Pinoys.”

The future

According to Mendiola much of the work that went into the “new Chikka” actually happened in the back-end with a major re-architecture.

This allows the company to pursue a technology roadmap that will very soon enable Chikka for any platform and operating system, for any IM aggregator, and also for any mobile device, Already a 3^rd party developer has released an iPhone App. Chikka for its part is set to unveil its own app for the iPhone, as well as Blackberry and Android devices.

“The idea is for Chikka users to be able to access it on numerous communications platforms,” Mendiola said. “Simply put, as long as you have a computer or mobile phone, you can use Chikka.”

Here's a sneak peak of the Chikka Bloggers Event:

Chikka Time with Melissa Ricks and Dimples Romana through Chikka.com!

Visit your Chikka account now!!!

Chicketarians at Buffalo Wings N' Things

One of my colleagues (Ate Eden) coined the word "chicketarian" which means chicken lovers.  She's on diet and only eats chicken and eggs and that's how she described herself, a chicketarian.  Love for chicken also runs in my blood so from then on we love to use that word.

July 9, 2010 - I brought my friend, Ate Myla with me to claim my P750 GC prize at Buffalo Wings N' Things BF Homes Parañaque Branch. Yes, I won in one of their promos. (Thanks to QTV's Ang Pinaka for featuring BWNT and showing BWNT's Facebook fanpage.)

As we enter the resto, it reminds me of the game Diner Dash and I also remember vintage American style diners that I see on movies.  (Black and white photos on the wall, flashing lights outside, black chairs and white tables, green board and route 66-like road signs.)

Buffalo Wings N' Things Menu

Buffalo Wings N' Things Menu

And now to start the experience... I didn't find it hard to order because I already saw their menu at their Facebook fanpage.  And I have also read blogs on how creative BWNT is by coming up with the idea of serving chicken wings paired with signature sauces (with different hotness level in particular.)  Of course, self-confessed chicketarians (Ate Myla and I ) will order what Buffalo Wings N' Things is famous for, "hot wings".

I ordered BWNT's Fan Faves Meal D.  It consists of 3 pieces Buffalo Chicken Burger, fries and iced tea.  I chose one of BWNT's signature sauces, ROOKIE, for my chicken patty.

The chicken is crispy on the outside and the red sauce that coated it? Whoooo! That has full of zing.  But I think it's just on the hotness level of 1.  It will give your taste buds a nice workout.   The soft bread, mayo, onions and tomatoes complimented it well.

Ate Myla on the other hand picked Fan Fave A.  She's not a fan of spicy foods so she tried garlic parmesan sauce for her 1/2 pound champion buffalo wings.  For me, this is BWNT's best savory item.  The wings have a crunch and we love the sauce that's dripping.  And then the dirty rice has full of flavor and spice.  (It tastes like Persian rice called massala.)  This combo meal that also comes with an iced tea is definitely a winner!  Ate Myla loves it!

As the evening comes, the place gets crowded by yuppies because Buffalo Wings N' Things also serves after-dinner drinks like Slushee partnered best with buffalo wings and Chili N' Cheese Nachos.  We also tried their nachos and we love their salsa dip.

Chicketarians are now full but we will still be coming back for more as four (4) more super spicy sauces and one (1) non-spicy sauce awaits us.

Here's my checklist:

Non-Spicy Sauces
1.  Honey BBQ

Signature Sauces
1.  New York's Finest 
2.  Firehouse Classic


For-those-who-dare Sauces
3.  Nuclear 
4.  Armageddon


Now, I dare you to try them all adventurous foodies!

Buffalo Wings N' Things

Home of Champion Buffalo Wings, All American Chicken Fingers, Burgers, Burritos, Ice Cold Beers, Super Slushees and More!!!

 

Facebook Page:  http://www.facebook.com/get.buffaloed

 

Location:

Food Street, Ortigas Home Depot; Aguirre Ave., BF Homes Paranaque; G-Strip, Greenhills Shopping Center

Phone:

Ortigas Home Depot: (02) 9948887; 

BF Homes, Paranaque: (02) 7034867; 

G-Strip, Greenhills: (02) 7886900

Mon - Thurs:

12:00 pm - 1:00 am

Fri - Sat:

12:00 pm - 2:00 am

Sun:

12:00 pm - 12:00 am

My Levi's Badge: What Do I Believe In?

I believe that peace begins with a smile... (",)

We all hope for world peace but we also know hat this is a broad advocacy.  But every small step counts, small actions can make huge differences.  And that small action that I can give and I believe will change everyone's perspective in life is just a simple smile.

What that, I will share a poem that inspired me... a poem entitled SMILE.



A SMILE  It cost nothing, but creates much. It enriches those who receive, without impoverishing those who give. It happens in a flash and the memory of it lasts forever. None are so rich they can get along without it and none so poor but are richer for its benefits. It creates happiness in the home, fosters good will in a business, and is the countersign of friends. It is rest to the weary, daylight to the discouraged, sunshine to the sad, and nature's best antidote for trouble. Yet it cannot be bought, begged, borrowed, or stolen, for it is something that is no earthly good to anybody till it is given away! If someone is to tired to give you a smile, leave one of yours. For, nobody needs a smile so much as those who have none to give. -----Anonymous

And remember smile to the world and the world will smile back at you.

Create your own Levi's I Believe Badge here!