Chicken Charlie and its double-fried Chicken :)

There's no rest for the weary especially in Dylan's case.  Even after such a tiring day because of his field trip, he still has speech therapy the following day.  The good news is, technically, it was a national holiday on Friday because of Ramadan so they didn't have regular school.   But speech therapy goes on despite the holidays so there we all were waiting for Dylan to finish his 1-hour session :)

After that, we decided to head to a new restaurant that Patrick heard about.  It was Chicken Charlie and it's located at 592a N. S. Amoranto Street cor Banawe Street, Quezon City.  The 2nd picture will tell you what makes their chicken different and unique from other fried chickens that you may have tasted.

I love their warning on the box:  "The chicken you are about to experience is highly addictive." And it's true! haha  You just have to be prepared to wait at least 20 minutes because they only cook it once you order it :)  The trick is to call them up ahead of time and just pick up your order :)  Their dining area also has limited seats but they're planning on opening another branch in the future.   


The chicken is really crispy and the spicy flavor is just enough to give it that sing but not hot enough to make your eyes water and your nose to run (snicker!) Though I'm sure some people want that experience hahaha  Here's a sample of their menu (as taken from their website) :)

Needless to say, we've found a new restaurant to patronize :)  It's also a good thing they have a Facebook Fan Page so it's easier to be updated with new products and promos :)


So what are you waiting for, head on over and enjoy their great chicken! :)

Dylan's First School Field Trip

September 9, dawned bright and early though too early for Dylan who was used to waking up at 8am :)  It's his first school field trip, and let me tell you, he was really excited for it.  He didn't give me a hard time when I had to wake him up at 5:30AM because they had to be in school at 6AM :)






Their first stop was at the SM Megamall branch of Pizza Hut.  Here's Bus #1 and Dylan walking on the overpass to get to the other side :)  Obviously, he was very excited and can't stop jumping while walking on the way! :D

At Pizza Hut, they were told the story of how Pizza Hut started and what other food chains are its sister companies (of course, that's more food for thought for the adults hehe).  The kids can't wait to start making their own pizzas although the organizers also planned a few games, like "Bring Me"and the "Longest Line" to get the kids in the groove :)  Participants get to win prizes too!

They got really amped up when they were given their chef hats and their aprons which signaled that they'll be cooking next!  It became even more chaotic when the servers brought out their ingredients.




They were making Hawaiian Pizza and those who can make it as close to the sample pizza will get a prize ;)  Dylan was so focused on  putting his ingredients that he was really oblivious to what's happening around him.  He was doing it slowly but surely despite other kids (and their parents) were rushing to finish the job :) I let Dylan do all of it by himself! :)  Next, they fell in line to put their pizzas in the oven and went back to their seats to wait.  Drinks were distributed so that the kids can eat their pizzas as soon as they came out :)

After Pizza Hut, we all headed straight to Goldlilocks along Shaw Boulevard.  Here only the kids and their teachers were allowed to tour around the cake factory.  They were instructed to wear hair nets and they were able to see how the cakes were made.  After that, they all trooped to another part of the building where they experienced decorating their own cake.  Unfortunately, I fell asleep in the waiting room (I must have been really tired, imagine having to wake up so early when we slept so late), and didn't have a chance to see how Dylan fared.  He did good though when I saw what he did and he must have been hungry still because the box was already half-empty LOL The funny thing was, we almost got left behind because Dylan had to poop! LOL It's kind of a ritual with him that after he eats, he poops hahaha Fortunately, the others were taking their time buying some Goldilocks products so even though they all left the building they still hadn't boarded the buses.  Whew! LOL

The last stop in the field trip was the Fun Ranch playground at Tiendesitas.  Though we had plenty of time to go around and have lunch at the Tiendesitas food court, we brought our own lunch.  But Dylan wasn't really hungry (blame it on the pizzas and cake) and he was more interested in getting to the play area.  He's been here before so he knows what to expect hehehe

Since we finished early, we took our time taking pictures and just walking off our lunch :)  Here are more pictures:

They had 2 hours of playing time in the Active Fun indoor playroom.  I can guarantee that it was tiring for him but more so for me!!  See, with as many as 40-50 kids running around and bigger kids having a tendency to bully their way through the area, you want to protect your kid, right?  Of course! So there I was following Dylan wherever he wanted to go.  I climbed, slid, crawled, got my butt stuck in a small crawl space, got stepped on by kids and that was the last straw.  I left him to his own devices and just monitored him from a safe distance LOL  After about an hour of playing, he soon got tired and wanted to leave.  So, I thought that was good because perspiring that much wasn't really good for him.  I changed his clothes, got him refreshed and we went outside and strolled around the area.  He rode the bumper cars, the plane ride but I drew the line on the carousel because that's a scary one!  It spins so fast you're going to get dizzy! LOL

It was a very fun but tiring day but it's a day that I don't regret because it gave me a chance to bond with Dylan.  It gave me lots of wonderful memories to look back on.  We took a lot of pictures not because we're required to create a scrapbook out of the experience but because I would have done otherwise even without that requirement :)  It's good that kids get a chance to play because they're kids!  It's also a chance to get to know your classmates to have fun with them!

I hope to have more of these as the kids grow older :)

Sofia's 2nd Birthday

After getting our fill of vacation spots at the Philippine Travel Mart, we headed to my sister Sharon's house in Valenzuela.  The trip was an adventure by itself because we've never tried going there on our own since it's a bit far, a bit scary (from my perception) and a bit dangerous (for Stanley, from Patrick's point of view) hehe

Regardless of our misgivings and armed only with verbal directions from my sister, we braved the streets of Valenzuela from Megamall.  Our first folly (although Patrick won't admit it) was getting on the North Luzon Expressway from EDSA.  Actually, on hindsight, we didn't have any choice because that's the only way (I think) and my directions didn't include coming from EDSA, only coming from the house.  If we were coming from the house it would be no problem as we can safely navigate away from the NLEX and use the bridge over it.

Anyway, so there we were on the NLEX and I was talking to Sharon over the phone so we would know which exit to use.  From there, we were told to exit at Valenzuela and travel via the service road.  This is the scary part hehe This service road is only a 2-lane road and you have to share it with trucks, jeeps, taxis, tricycles, private vehicles and pedestrians.  And, if you've been driving around the Philippines you know that this can be a hodge podge of traffic situations - people walking on the road, tricycles that veer here and there and God knows where, vehicles that counterflow to no end and rickety trucks that either move so fast or so slow which are both a danger to everyone.

So there we were, not really traveling blindly because we had a map but it's really hard to navigate when there are no street signs to navigate with! LOL  We were told to simply go straight so we did but we must have over-driven because we ended up crossing the NLEX again! LOL At this point we had to stop because I remember Sharon's instructions that if we were to cross the NLEX that meant we'd gone more than we should have.  Since, our route now was traveling in reverse from her original directions, to me it meant that we were on the ride side of the road now LOL  So we waited on the side of one street (which was really a feat in itself considering Stanley's size and how narrow the roads were) until my nephew drove by in his little motorcycle (and little is was - it was a mini!) which caused me to contemplate on the many ways my nephew could have died from riding that thing! LOL  It turned out that we were already close to our destination but we still had to pass a one-way bridge.  One way because it can only accommodate one lane of cars so there was a man controlling the traffic 5 vehicles at a time.  Really scary! LOL

Finally, we got to a familiar part of the area but it was hell getting to maneuver Stanley to fit in the tight passage from the road to Sharon's house hahaha Patrick even said that if ever Stanley gets a scratch it should be on my head LOL

When we were finally able to relax, here are some pictures that we took.  Most of the time, we just talked and caught up with each other's lives.  Kids played on the street.  Kids played indoors.  Kids ate.  Adults talked and ate.  Very simple things really but the important thing was family is family.  It's just the two of us here (Sharon and I) so it's necessary to communicate, be on each other's radar and let the cousins grow up together despite living apart.  What's a few scary driving moments when you have love and happiness as a reward ? ;)  The drive back was a lot less scary and more direct.  The next time that we visit, we hope that we'll make it in better time :)

Cheap deals and bargains at the 2010 Philippine Travel Mart

As traveling is one of our "vices", Patrick and I are always on the look out for bargains and cheap deals. When we heard about this year's Philippine Travel Mart, we knew we're headed there :)

This year, it was held last September 3-5 at the Megatrade Hall in SM Megamall. It actually came at an opportune time especially after the hostage-taking fiasco that befell the country last August 23 which resulted in Hongkong and China banning their tourists from visiting the Philippines. With this travel mart, it's expected to boost local/domestic tourists to flock and uphold the tourism industry.

I was excited to attend the event because, imagine, you have the whole Philippines at your fingertips. It really saves time searching for and finding hotels, travel tickets, resorts and new projects because you have everything you need within one location! Though the Internet can give you a multitude of information, here at the Travel Mart, you can actually field your questions to people who immediately answer your queries and even offer great deals on bookings. Air travel is covered by Cebu Pacific, Philippine Air Lines, Zest Air and Sea Air and you can really see people lining up and taking advantage of their ticket sales :)

If you're looking for kid-friendly destinations, like we were, we found great deals at Enchanted Kingdom, Manila Ocean Park, Tiger Safari etc. I even got interested with some tours around Manila. It's like I already live here but haven't found the time to actually go and visit some of the remarkable sights that are within a stone's throw from me. :)

Subic and Camarines Sur have great big booths that showcase their hotels, resorts and activities. We learned that Bayfront Subic (our fave hotel there) was offering a Halloween package (interesting!) We were able to taste Barako Coffee from the Batangas booths. We gathered a number of flyers, brochures and pamphlets for reference. If only we had the money right then and there, we'd probably be taking advantage of the bargains too.

However, against my better judgment, someone got me to sign-up with the so-called raffle. Patrick thinks it's a scam but I was lured by the prospect of free hotel accommodations in Boracay (me the cheapskate!) Now, I actually regret participating hehehe

First, my phone was beset by calls from their sales marketing team promising a buffet dinner and a 90-minute AVP before we can claim the Gift Certificate. We actually went to one (A. Venue Resorts) where their buffet was an offering of different (but cold) pasta dishes (pomodoro, bolognese and pesto) which you can make by yourself. After which, their presentation lasted more than 90 minutes. The presentation was basically introducing their product (the A. Venue Hotel) which was supposedly part of the RCI International resorts. So if you purchase a membership club with them, you'll get to enjoy the benefits at other resorts both local and international too. Though they tell you on the phone that there's no need to bring cash because you're under no obligation to purchase, they will convince you and "coerce" you to do so after the presentation. It is coercion because it's like if you don't sign up now, you'll forfeit your special benefits and will only be entitled to using the A. Venue Hotel alone. I knew Patrick was getting impatient because it was already midnight (we got there at 8) and they were relentless. IN short, we did not purchase any club membership but we got the GC which now that I think about it, I won't be using anyway because they require a P5K booking fee (supposedly refundable) but you'll have a difficult time getting it back. So then, I had to turn down all those other sales agents hahaha

It wasn't all for naught. I got a lot of info should we choose to go on a vacation within the year or in the far future :)

Family Field Trip to Nuvali

For the past weeks, our family has been beset with sickness, yet again.  Dana was recommended to stay home for 5 days because of possible bronchitis.  It was funny because I was watching Dylan more closely because he was the sickly one and it turned out that Dana was getting sicker.  Patrick was also told to rest for a week because of severe asthma.  In the middle of all that, I also got sick from exhaustion and colds.

So, since Dana was asked to stay home, she missed going on her field trip.  Though it was better than missing the exams.  She, in fact, still went to school during those days that she was sick.  It's such a hassle to take special exams and by then she'd probably be feeling woozy from medication and her body is not up to speed so it'll really affect her performance.

When everyone was feeling better, I suggested that we take a trip to Nuvali since that's where Dana's field trip was so even though she missed it, she'll still be able to experience what her classmates did.  After all, it's only a short drive away and it'll be good for all of us to breathe some fresh air :)

We had lunch first at Rose and Grace Restaurant which is famous for their Bulalo (stewed beef bone marrow).  Naturally we ordered that and what's great is that it comes with refillable soup which Den loves hahaha We also ordered Lechon Kawali and Beef Steak :) Carnivores aren't we? ;) Combine that with 7 or 8 cups of rice and a tower of Nestea Iced Tea and you'd have rolled us to get to Nuvali which was just across the street LOL

Here are a few pictures while we were there :)

After that hefty lunch, we went straight to Nuvali.  Our first stop was the fish feeding station where you can buy fish pellets for P15/pack and feed them straight to the huge koi in the man-made lake :)  Dylan found it fascinating although he was a bit leery of the fish jumping to get at the food :) Though it looks like the fish are crowded, they're not.  They actually have the run of the lake.  It's just that this is where they flock because this is where most people stop and feed them :)

We spent some time taking pictures around the place while waiting for our boat ride.

We also spent some time in Conti's eating strawberry and blueberry cheesecake while waiting for our boarding time.  The place was jam-packed for the weekend and it was perfect timing that we got our seats so fast :)

After gulping down our cakes and drinks, it was time to board :) Donning our life jackets, we excitedly but quietly boarded the boat.  For a minute there I worried that one of us might be sick considering we just had a snack hehehe

Dana, Den and Mel

Dylan and Me

One of the fountains on the lake

Daddy and Dylan

 After 10 minutes going around the lake, Dylan got a little wet from the fountain and nobody puked (eww!) we're back on land and taking some time to take pictures again, this time at Pig Out.

All in all, it was a good day trip.  The kids had fun and there were a lot of reminiscing along the drive back to Manila ;)

Jaws: A mean great white of a Subaru :)

Over the weekend, we were thrilled when Patrick brought with him "Jaws" the great white Subaru Outback from Motor Image which he had to test drive as part of his duties for Top Gear Philippines.  As usual, the car can hardly fit in our cramped garage which he had to share with a Mitsubishi Lancer and a Honda Civic (both of which are my cousin's cars).  Seeing it in the dark only gives you a glimmer of its size, just like a Great White.  It's huge, it's sleek.  You wonder how it'll perform on the road. We found that out the day after when we took it for a spin along Metro Manila's busy roads.


 First, we went to SM Megamall, to visit the Asus Service Center where we're supposed to pick up the laptop battery of Den's Asus shell netbook.  After a month of waiting, we found out we ordered the wrong battery! LOL My mistake! Becoming senile at my tender age hahaha

It's really cool that Jaws is slightly smaller than an SUV but bigger than a regular car because it fit snuggly into the parking lot at Megamall.  That's a big deal because on a weekend, you'll probably wait a long time to get to a parking space.  And if you're a big ol' SUV, you're limited to parking in the middle areas where there are no pipes to hinder you.

With nothing else to do in Megamall, we drove straight to Shopwise in Cubao to do our grocery shopping.  You ask why in Shopwise when there's already a supermarket in Megamall?  Well, it's simple.  The goods that we want aren't there!  It's a pain to go around the supermarket only to find that they don't sell the brand that you're looking for.  So, it's off to Shopwise for us :) Anyway, the kids don't mind the change in venue because as you can see form the pictures they're very comfortable.  You just have to be patient with them asking for a cup of drink to put in the cupholders hahaha

After buying the necessary (and not so necessary) stuff we drove from Quezon City to San Juan where we had dinner at Charlie's Grind and Grill near Greenhills.  The kids love their hotdogs, while Patrick and I are fans of their buffalo chicken wings and Black Angus burgers with fries :)









DAY 2

Since Patrick was able to test drive in the city, he wanted to test Jaws' powers on the highway and so off we went (just the two of us this time) to Tagaytay.  Along the way, Patrick decided that we'd go "house hunting" (like we had any money ) and check out the residential developments along Daang Hari.  He said that since we had this awesome car, they'd (sales agents) probably entertain us more since we appear to be loaded hahahaha  We only had time to visit one project and that's Ponticelli.  Their houses were huge and expensive (something in the range of Ph3Mn upwards).  I liked their designs but I wanted bigger lots.  It felt cramped to me seeing houses too close to each other and the roads can only accommodate 2 very narrow lanes.  I did appreciate the agent's spiel.. He wasn't they hard sell type and was simply showing us the different layouts available.  

After that, we headed straight to Tagaytay planning on having lunch there.  On the SLEX, I knew Patrick was fiddling with the controls because car-newbie that I am, I can sense some changes in the engine.  When I asked Patrick what he was fiddling around with, he gave me this mischievous smile and said, "Cruise Control" ;) It was a novelty to him to be able to finally, actually get the chance to drive a car with Cruise Control hahaha and he loved it! :) Oh and I can't forget that little button called the SI-Drive (Subaru Intelligent Drive) that shifts your engine's mode from Intelligent, to Sport to Sport Sharp :D There's also the Sportshift thing that lets you shift control from automatic to manual.  Oh and since I was only a passenger I loved the fact that I can customize the position of my seat in so many ways as to give me comfort while driving. :)

Anyway, after lunch, we headed back to Manila, met up with Den and Philip at the Asus Service Center in Megamall to finally get the correct laptop battery.  From there, we went to the Samsung Mobile Phones sale at the Market, Market in Fort Bonifacio where Den and Ate Mel (through me) bought their Samsung mobile phones.We bought Krispy Kreme Donuts to take home for the kids and then we had a late dinner at Chic-Boy.

While at Chic-Boy, there was a couple beside our table who when they were finished with their food, moved to a different table (now at the back of us).  We were all wondering what they're up to when we overheard their conversation.  They were talking about Jaws who was parked directly in front of us and can easily be seen from inside the restaurant.  The guy was really amped about Jaws' size, apparently it's the first time that he's seen a Subaru Outback.  Even his girlfriend/wife liked Jaws and if they knew that we were the ones driving Jaws they'd probably ask to have their picture taken with him hahaha

So that's kinda long (I can get chatty, sorry!).

Visiting Wingman and their Buffalo Wings

August 4, 2010

One great advantage of having your very own vehicle is having the freedom to go where you want, when you want.  Ever since we got Stanley we've been able to go to places we normally wouldn't be able to visit.  It's fun when you can do as you please. 

That's why when Patrick heard through the grapevine that there's a restaurant that's got great-tasting buffalo chicken wings, talk about stars in your eyes :) We took the kids and went to Wingman, along Malugay Street in Makati.  

Here's a look at their menu:

Quesadillas

Chicken Wings

Fish n Chips

Corn Puppies (small corndogs)

I didn't really know what to expect when we went there.  As far as I know, we were just going to eat hahaha So, since we're eating buffalo wings, my personal reference was Charlie's.  We only tried the mild sauce but it was already very spicy for my taste but for Patrick it was good. :) I would have liked to have more meat on my chicken too hahaha The Fish N Chips was a little too overcooked.  The quesadillas were a hit, especially with the kids.  Though they were excited about corn puppies (they love corndogs) I guess the corn puppies weren't that appetizing to look at hehehe 

I have to admit, I wasn't too fond of the food.  I guess it's seasoned to mix well with alcoholic drinks which they serve.  The staff was very courteous and pleasant though so that's a good point.  I think the owners were there too and they made us feel welcome :)