Keep calm and save up!

At the start of this year, I made a resolution to cut back on my shopping sprees and impulsive tendencies to book flights. I have come to realize that, at 24, I should probably be saving more moolah if I want to be taken seriously as an "adult". I looked at my closet and saw clothes I have barely worn twice. I saw my photos of thrice (or more) a year travels just to satisfy my insatiable wanderlust. I looked at my savings account and realized that I have to give up either my dreams of independence or my shopping and travelling habits.

Credits

Short of cutting up my credit card, I needed to stop buying clothes I don't need and quit booking trips I don't really have to take. I told myself there's plenty of time for that in the future. In fact, the only thing that's keeping me sane is a promise to myself that I will travel my heart out in two years if I managed to curb my wanderlust whims.

On a bittersweet note, I'm very happy to report that my efforts to monitor my spending habits are somewhat effective. My accountant office mates have devised a surefire way for me to monitor shopping sprees. Every pay day, I would only spend the allocated amount on my "wants". They also devised an Excel sheet for my needs, which I also use along with my own Excel savings sheet on my mutual fund investments, salary savings deduction, and some expenses. Mitch even gave me a Beabi handy dandy organizer where I can stash my cash!

I'm normally a fluke when it comes to keeping new year resolutions, but I'm proud to announce that it has been TWO WHOLE MONTHS since I shopped for clothes or shoes. Mind you, it's pure torture just passing by my favorite shops. I barely spend fifteen minutes inside Zara, Topshop, or Mango in fear of relapsing. I'm also guilty of mock booking trips on airline websites at least twice a week but have never gotten around to actually confirming the flights. I'm taking it one a day at a time with small baby steps. It's not easy, but I'd like to make it work. Here's to adulthood and maturity!

Downtime

It's been a relaxing long weekend (the perks of working in a university) and I've done nothing but break my diet and play with my dogs. In between watching Jake's basketball game and The Impossible, I managed to catch up on some much-needed zzzzs.

After Jake's game last Saturday, he finally took me to check out Eat Fresh Hong Kong Famous Street Food near his house. I've been dying to eat there ever since he said they offer cheap HK food reminiscent of the street food we tried in Macau. The place did not disappoint! It's exactly the no-frills cheap thrills place I need in my down time. I had six huge pieces of yakitori for only 95 bucks!

On Sunday, he visited my house and I "surprised" him with cupcakes from Sonja's I bought the night before when we picked up the sister who was hell-bent on eating at IHOP even at midnight. I ate two and I am not even ashamed. Is it just me or are the cupcakes now smaller and have less icing? Get your act together, Sonja!

Monday had me waking up at 8 freaking am on a work-free day just to catch the Oscars. I spent an hour freaking out over the fact that our cable provider, Destiny, has no Velvet channel which has exclusive access for the live preview. Jake was kind enough to FaceTime me the whole time. I won our bet when Argo won best picture (he rooted for Lincoln) and I'm looking forward to my free lunch on Saturday. And can I just say how amazing Jennifer Lawrence is? She's the funniest, most down to earth celebrity I've seen in a while. Way to go, J-Law!

Oh, and the besties say hi. They kept me company while reviewing for graduate class midterms. I love my dogs.

When in Baguio, eat local: So-so hot chocolate at Choco-late de Batirol

Hot chocolate is definitely my preferred drink when I can hardly feel my nose on a cold night. While in Camp John Hay, we decided to check out the highly recommended Choco-late de Batirol and braved the dark winding roads to get our hot chocolate fix. I was expecting to be blown away by the best hot chocolate evurrrr I'm gonna have in a while, I only set myself up for disappointment.

For starters, while I appreciate the location in a secluded road, I didn't like the "kubo" ambiance with KKK revolution paraphernalia. The place could have had a rustic countryside ambiance if it weren't for the  signage everywhere. Insects and mosquitoes also abound since the place is heavy in foliage. It's not exactly an idyllic location for a mosquito bait like me.

The chocolate itself is also my main disappointment. Upon watching the waitress prepare our hot chocolate (Php 95) from scratch, I was expecting a smooth, creamy, kind of tablea-ish flavor but was surprised when I tasted a peanut-heavy drink. It tasted more like a thick and creamy peanut butter drink instead of the hot chocolate I was craving.

I ordered mine with marshmallows on top, hoping for a Swiss Miss effect where it would get toasty. Wrong. The marshmallows were the cheap kind that you can buy in the grocery and didn't even blend with my drink despite futile attempts to mix it with the chocolate. I ended up scooping some of the marshmallows out so I can drink my peanut-y chocolate in peace.

Overall, I probably wouldn't make an effort to go here in the future just for their "renowned" hot chocolate. I prefer mine without the peanut flavor and texture. I did spy some bibingkas and other native goodies on their menu which would be nice for breakfast if they would serve decent coffee. 

Choco-late de Batirol

Igorot Garden, Camp John Hay

Baguio

When in Baguio, eat local: Milkshakes and burgers at 50s Diner!

I like milkshakes and burgers. Growing up on Archie Comics, I've always wanted to eat at a diner ala Pop's. Here in the metro, we're stuck with Johnny Rockets and Mile-hi for that 50s diner vibe. I tend to stay away from overly commercialized places promising a certain experience and have never tried both.

We decided to finally check out 50's Diner while in Baguio to see why everyone makes a pit stop here. Personally, I liked the jukebox music vibe with the neon pink fluorescent lights and 50s decor. They had a SUPER cheap menu (burgers at less than P100!) with a wide variety of items from cheeseburgers to tempura (weird for a diner!).

Since I'm a very cliche person and hell bent on living Betty and Veronica's lives, I ordered the most cliche thing you can order in a diner: a milkshake and cheeseburger! Yes, sir!

Cotton On top, Dorothy Perkins knit semi-cardi, Debenhams scarf

We all ordered ice cream milkshakes even though it was around 18 degrees and raining outside. I went for vanilla since I was a bit sick of everything strawberry related. At only Php 75, it was creamy and smooth! The cheeseburger was nothing to rave about but I have to say that it was huge. In fact, I think all their servings are HUGE.

All in all, this is a great place to hang out and pig out! I'm happy to report that I've finally had my Pop's diner dream experience. Go figure.

I think there are two branches of Glenn 50s Diner in Baguio. We went to the one along Military Cut-off Road just right around the bend. It's hard to miss what with the parked cars on the side of the road. If you want huge meals at el cheapo prices, come here!

50s Diner
Military Cut-off Road
or
Upper Gen. Luna cor. Brent Road
Baguio

When in Baguio, eat local: Breakfast at Cafe by the Ruins

Cafe by the Ruins gave me one of the best breakfast experiences I've had, right up there with El Nido's Pukka Bar and Cafe in terms of memorable coffee and omelettes. This easy-to-find eclectic restaurant right in the heart of the town has an interesting menu with unique twists to otherwise standard dishes.

Even though it's right smack in the middle of the town proper on Chuntug Street right off Session Road, once you step inside it's an entirely different world. The place is artfully decorated in wood and teak furniture with art pieces and paintings scattered all over. It feels like you're dining in a secluded garden when inside. My only beef with the location is that there's a huge Eurotel right behind the restaurant which pretty much ruins any facade photos.

Although a tad expensive (meals range from P180-350 and above), every bite is worth the price. The real winner for me was the strong Benguet coffee that came with a meringue-like sugar candy. I like my coffee strong and with a distinct flavor. The only downside to drinking coffee in perpetually freezing Baguio is that if you don't drink it right away, you'll end up with lukewarm coffee in a matter of minutes.

I also went gaga over my Tortilla de Patatas (P180) omelette which was sheer genius. Who would have thought to fill an omelette with crispy fried potato strips? It was perfectly done and served with a freshly baked bun. I barely managed to finish my order due to the huge serving. Definitely a great way to start your day! I can't wait to try the cheese omelette next time I find myself here--I'm already dreaming of carabao and Parmesan cheese!

Mitch, on the other hand, was still thinking of the longganisa I ordered the night before at Everything Nice. She ordered the Filipino Lon-si-log (P245) which, compared to my order at Everything Nice, had a generous amount of longganisang hubad cut up into cubes. She gave me a couple of pieces and I had to concede that it was a waaaay better version of the Baguio longganisa.

Dana ordered the Fisherman's Breakfast (P245) which came with a huge piece of daing na dalag, with sinangag and ensalada. I'm not that fond of dalag and would prefer bangus when it comes to daing.

All breakfast sets come with coffee or tea. I especially liked their shot glasses where they put the cream or honey for both.

Next time, I'm itching to order other items on the menu for brekky. I can't wait to try their champorado with dilis, ensaymada de los ilustrados with hot chocolate, and bibingcakes! Perfect place for an authentic Baguio breakfast experience!

Cafe by the Ruins
23 Chuntug Street, Baguio
(+074) 442 4010

When in Baguio, eat local: Everything Nice Cake Shop & Cafe

Camp John Hay was the nearest place of interest near the bossing's house where we stayed in Baguio. We had her driver drop us off at the R.O.X. store on Loakan Road and we walked uphill to check out the restaurants by Pitstop before hoarding raisin breads at The Manor.

I found this cute organic kiosk at the back of Pitstop while we were waiting for our campfire. The place, called Little Soapmakers, lets you buy organic soaps by the pound ala Lush. They were reasonably priced and offered a wide variety of scents and ingredients.

I was a bit disappointed when I saw our bonfire. I had envisioned a campfire-like bonfire where we can sit around and tell ghost stories. There was hardly any room to sit so we ended up ditching the fire to eat dinner back at the Ayala Technohub.

We decided to eat at Everything Nice mainly because the place looked cozy and inviting on a freezing night. Everything was warmly lit inside and we were in a hurry to eat so we can head to Batirol for some hot choco. 

Food-wise, we were not all that impressed. The quality was so-so for the prices. For instance, my boss hated her callos upon tasting it and ordered a different meal right away. There were some stand-outs, though. I think the trick is to know which dishes to order for a worthwhile experience.

My boss had the spinach soup which we split into two. I loved this creamy version with spinach bits. It was piping hot and perfect for a 15 degree Baguio night.

Ms. Remy, our assistant, ordered the pork spareribs (P195) which was a huge slab of tender ribs in barbecue sauce served with balatinao rice. She seemed to enjoy her meal and had no complaints, taste-wise.

I was in a breakfast food kind of mood so I went with the "renowned" Baguio longganisa (P165) served with balatinao rice and two eggs. While I liked their version of the healthy brown rice, I was underwhelmed with the teeny pieces of longganisa. Taste-wise, I would still prefer Vigan longganisa but this wasn't too bad. It was a bit bland and could use more garlic.

I mistakenly told the girls not to buy desserts there, thinking that Batirol would surely have pastries to go with our hot choco. It was drizzling outside when we were done with dinner and these signs from the kitsch shop outside amused me while we waited for the car. I'd love to buy one and put it outside my room for the benefit of my inspector grandma. Ha!

Everything Nice Cake Shop and Cafe
Baguio AyalaLand Techno Hub
Camp John Hay

When in Baguio, eat local: The best strawberry shortcake at Vizco's

I'm a sucker for cakes. When I'm feeling particularly peckish, I become a sucker for strawberry shortcakes. I always order Dulcelin's strawberry shortcake whenever I find myself in Parvati. Mary Grace's strawberry shortcake is another regular favorite. I also made an effort to require my officemates to surprise me with one during my birthday (WHICH THEY FAILED TO ORDER). 

When we were in strawberry-filled Baguio, I researched on where I can get the best strawberry shortcake. All blogs pointed to Vizco's on Session Road. I went out of my way to call ahead and reserve three cakes (YES, THREE!) and dragged my companions all the way to the shop. I bought two as pasalubongs--you just need an air-conditioned vehicle to maintain the cake's freshness, and we bought one for our secretary's birthday.

Needless to say, I'm still dreaming about Vizco's strawberry shortcake to this day. Aside from the heapfuls of giant strawberries on top and in between layers, the cake was soft and creamy and wasn't too sweet. It had the right amount of flavor and sweetness without the umay factor. And did I mention that it was cheap? An 8-inch cake only costs Php 610 and the 6-inch size costs Php 375. Hands down, one of the best cakes I've had! You can't beat fresh ingredients!

Vizco's isn't hard to find along Session Road. It's right beside Don Henrico's and you won't miss their colorful yellow and green sign. It's a no-frills restaurant which also serves meals all day. We ate breakfast there on our last day and I really enjoyed their tapsilog. Fresh strawberry shortcakes were also on display for dine-ins. I noticed a lot of locals eating there so I guess they're already a well-known institution.

If you want to bring one home, it's best to call ahead to make sure you get a fresh one upon pick-up since they sold out quickly. I ordered my two cakes a day ahead and made sure that they gave me a freshly made batch when I picked up the cakes on the morning of our departure. The staff was very nice and accommodating. They also have other cakes on display but I was on a strawberry shortcake mission so I ignored those. They always display strawberry shortcakes when you'd rather dine-in and there's no need to reserve ahead.

In light of my Vizco's withdrawal, I'm very tempted to order Mrs. Yulo's famous strawberry shortcake and go all the way to Forbes just to get my cake fix. OR just head back to Baguio, at the very least. This is one place you shouldn't miss on a trip to the City of Pines!

Vizco's Restaurant and Cake Shop

8GF Puso ng Baguio Bldg. Session Road

(beside Don Henrico's)

+639175790962

+639209642407

When in Baguio, eat local: Happy Tummy

First on our Baguio Foodie List is Happy Tummy located at Kitchen, this brilliant compound in front of Wright Park which houses foodie restaurants in a cool, organic set-up. I wish we have a similar place in Manila where independent restaurant owners can set up shop.

We actually found Happy Tummy by accident since we had no idea where it was. The boss's son recommended the area when we asked where we could eat lunch at such a late hour. It was serendipity! For a person who hates eating at mainstream places, especially when travelling, this place was like a dream discovery for me. I wanted to try Canto and Green Pepper but they were closed for the afternoon. We arrived for a late lunch at around 2pm and Happy Tummy was the only place still open after the lunch hour.

All the restaurants had an open, hippie vibe. I also loved the tall trees surrounding the area which gives the feeling like everyone's having one big picnic. Ambiance-wise, it's a relaxing place where you can eat and hang out without feeling like you're in a mainstream joint. Of course, Baguio's cool breeze probably helps a lot.

Happy Tummy is a Thai restaurant that serves cheap dishes ranging from Php 150 to Php 250. All the dishes we ordered were good for two to three persons. I'm a sucker for cheap Thai food, which is why Jake and I love eating at Jatujak and Soms. It's also the main reason why I've been nagging him to say yes to a Bangkok trip because I miss eating legit Bangkok street food (that, and riding an elephant again).

We ordered the pad thai for starters. I'm personally not a fan of pad thai and would prefer tom yum as an extra dish but this wasn't too tamarind-y, if you catch my drift. I like my pad thai with lots of egg and hate it when I can taste too much tamarind. Happy Tummy's version managed to balance the flavors that I ended up eating more than I usually do. Not bad for Php 150!

We had two orders for each dish so everyone would get a fair portion. On hindsight, we should have asked for three orders of the catfish with green mango salad (Php 130). Everyone loved it! It was crunchy, had a nice shredded consistency, and the green mango didn't overpower the catfish. 

We also had the fish fillet with sweet and sour sauce. This was nothing special for me, but it wasn't bad either. I would have gone for the chicken sate if it weren't for veto power.

We also opted for the beef curry which was very spicy and therefore a winner for me. It also had a strong curry flavor that complemented the vegetables really well. I found myself stabbing at the veggies and mostly ignoring the beef. This is a dish that I can eat alone with rice, or just by itself. It was another cheap dish at Php 150.

I normally hate chicken pandan because I feel that it's too bland. Happy Tummy's version didn't really amaze me. However, the peanut sauce that came with it managed to convince me to eat the chicken just so I won't look like a fool eating peanut sauce with rice. I happily drenched my chicken in the sauce the whole time. Another cheap thrill at Php 150!

Of course, we had the requisite bagoong rice and the crab meat fried rice at Php 150. Both orders were good enough for ten people. If it weren't for my diet, I would have piled on the crab meat rice. I say you can't really go wrong with bagoong rice, but the crab meat was a happy discovery.

My companions tried the Thai iced tea, which I normally hate because of the overpowering sweetness. I went for the tamarind juice. Both were priced at Php 120 a pitcher. The tamarind juice was TOO sweet and I barely drank half before I gave up and asked for water.

All in all, mission accomplished! You made my tummy happy, Happy Tummy!

I also found out that they have a branch in Taguig near Heritage (so much for being an exclusive Baguio foodie find). I have yet to drag the boyfriend there for some requisite cheap Thai food date. I'm more than willing to pig out on Thai food again so I hope they have the same price and quality here in Manila! 

And this funny scarecrow!

Happy Tummy
(in front of Wright Park)
Romulo Drive, Baguio City
+63923-8784968

Baguio at a glance

My last trip to Baguio was back in grade school. So yes, I was beyond excited when my officemates and I went to the cool City of Pines last January. I was so excited that I downloaded and religiously followed Our Awesome's Planet guide to all the best spots and restaurants in Baguio. We managed to check out and try most of them and I'm already itching to head back!

Zara striped knitted top, Mango jeans, Rubi leopard flats, Debenhams scarf

First things first, we stayed at my boss's ginormous rest house. It is HUGE. And by huge I mean it had nine bedrooms and managed to house the ten of us with plenty of space to roll around.

While going to various places, I also kept wondering if I could ask my boss's driver to stop while driving along the roads since I thought these little flowers were sunflowers. I was literally pointing at every bend and curve, amazed that my favorite sunnies were in full bloom and, more importantly, free for picking!!! Imagine my disappointment when I saw a bunch up close while at Camp John Hay only to find out they were technically wildflowers or "weed". STILL PRETTY!!!!

 

This being Baguio, we were greeted by strawberries and strawberry-based products everywhere we went. We arrived at 4am in the morning and the first thing we bought was a strawberry taho from a street vendor. It was just like your ordinary taho but with strawberry syrup and bits. Yummy! We tried it again while pasalubong-shopping at Mines View.

And who cares if it's freezing? We couldn't resist getting some fresh strawberry shake! I asked them to put lots of milk so it was creamy and had strawberry bits. I didn't mind the brain freeze that came with it!

We also bought giant strawberries for pasalubong. We went to the public market along Session Road and haggled with the palengke vendors. We were told that the "shoga" variety is the best since they're big and don't get mushy right away. I lugged a kilo going home.

What else is there to do in Baguio besides sleep and eat strawberries? Pose with a pink unicorn horse! The men at Mines View literally counted how many shots were taken and billed me for each one. I was like, WHAAAAAT? You managed to count all that? I can only hope the moolah directly benefits the horses. Poor, cute things.

Forever 21 sweater, Zara floral skirt, Dorothy Perkins tights, Bass Mary Janes

There were also some cute and cuddly St. Bernards available for photo ops but I chose this pink thing. I have a weakness for horses. I'm a frustrated equestrienne, just ask my mom.