Christmas at Starbucks

'Tis the season to be jolly.. and to again experience Starbucks Christmas :)

I went to SM BF Paranaque today for a meeting and arrived an hour early so I went ahead and entered Starbucks since it opens an hour before mall time. I was excited to see the red menu, the red cups, the new food varieties and the Christmas drink menu. :)

My first 2015 Christmas Drink

Last year, I became a huge fan of the Christmas Cookie Crumble Frap, so this year, I decided to go with the new drink, Christmas Pantone Latte. This drink is inspired by traditional Italian Christmas fruit cup. You can have it hot, iced or frap. I chose the iced version and paired it with Chicken Pastel Empanada.

It had some sort of spice that strongly influences its taste. Actually feels like milktea to me. It's not as sweet as I expected which is just right, and the fruit sprinkles become a little "nougatty" and soft when dripped in the cold drink.

I would still have to try the Frappucino version to taste and see the difference with the iced option.

New Food Options

You have to give it to Starbucks for going out of their way to make sure their Christmas drinks are paired with new and exciting food options. New things in my eyes are the Italian Cheese Pocket, the Christmas cookie, Roasted Chicken and Turkey Wrap and the pasta dishes - Spinach Lasagna and Penne Al Formaggio. 

Of course, the Toffee Nut Loaf and the Peppermint Brownie are still staples to complement to Toffee Nut Latte and Peppermint Mocha drinks.

I also saw new cake options: the Dark Belgian Chocolate Cake, Birthday Cake and White Chocolate Truffle Cheesecake. Excited to try them next time!

Another reason for being excited about Christmas at Starbucks is the Starbucks Christmas blend and have that good ol' holiday coffee cheer at home or in the office.

The Planner

This year, Starbucks came up with a smaller version of the planner. You can choose either the regular size or the smaller (but thicker) size. The 2016 Planners come in Black, White, Red and Green.

Sorry for the blurry photo. Taking pictures of the planner is actually not allowed so I just zoomed in the planner from where I am seated :D

Lucky Day :)

Best part of my visit is that I got the limited edition sticker card with a free sticker. So I now have 2 stickers but only bought 1 drink. Weeee! :)

Indeed, Christmas at Starbucks is here. :)

Baby No More..

Here it is.. I am proud to show some photos during the pre-debut shoot of my first tender care baby, Natassja. I am surprised how she blossomed into a beautiful lady. Tashi is usually very simple when she dresses up and she just looks so pretty all dolled and dressed up. Hope you love them as much as I do. :)

Photos: Photos by Mot Rasay (Mot Rasay and Jasper Carl Eva)
HMUA: Chichi Sotomil and Steph
Location: Philamlife Park, Las Piñas and C5 Extension Talahiban :)

      

Natassja's Pre Debut Shoot BTS

Hey everyone! I know it's been a super long while since I wrote a post, and I am hoping I'll be able to write regularly. :)

So today, I'm going to write about the pre-debut shoot of my eldest daughter, Natassja Danielle. :)

I had thought long and hard about what do to like the concept, where to shoot, etc. and I ended up with nothing. LOL. We didn't buy new clothes or shoes. We just took whatever we have that's nice inside her closet. Talk about being lost in space. #wasak haha.

As August drew nearer, I needed to just "wing it", and get trusted people to help me with the pre-debut session. Just a few days before the shoot, I figured the best place to do it is at the grounds of Philam Village. So there. We're good. I prayed that we have a good weather and no rain as I have no backup plan whatsoever. Haha. :)

The Shoot Day

HMUA: Chichi Sotomil

With all my talented make-up artist friends, the easiest to go to would be Chichi Sotomil because she's only within Las Piñas.

On the day of the shoot, we went to Chichi's house for Natassja's hair and make up. Steph was kind enough to do Natassja's hair. We were ready in a couple of hours and of course had some photos before we left.

Natassja with the talented MUA Chichi Sotomil :)

Natassja with Chichi (left) and the great hairstylist, Steph (right)

Chichi's IG photo

Photographer: Photos by Mot Rasay - Framed-Up Productions

Now for the photographer, I also have a lot of great photographer friends. My good friend, Mot Rasay, was the one I asked to do the shoot for the debut party and he told me he wants to do Natassja's pre-debut shoot anytime so we sealed the deal.

After we're done with Natassja's hair and make up, we went on our way to Philamlife Park to meet Mot and his trusty sidekick, Jasper a.k.a. Jasper Bieber. :)

When we got there, Natassja changed to her casual dress first and they immediately worked. Natassja didn't want me watching - she'll get really conscious so I just sat by a nearby park bench while they had their photoshoot. Of course, I had to catch a candid and post it in IG as well :)

My IG post :)

After the shoot at Philam Park, Jasper had to go since he will be going back to Lucena. Of course, we needed to take some photos with him too :)

Natassja with Jasper Bieber (left) and Mot Rasay (right)

Wacky pose :)

With the goodness of Mot's heart to be also our trusted man-on-wheels, we drove to C5 extension and Mot took shots of Natassja wearing her formal dress. They spent another 30 minutes of shooting and I was left inside the car waiting patiently while playing Candy Crush :)

After the shoot, we ate at Xander's in Pamplona, Las Piñas, to cap the successful shoot day. Heard good reviews about this place and Mot haven't tried it yet. Xander's exceeded our expectations. I will have a separate post on my Xander's experience soon. :)

Acknowledgments

I'd like to thank my good friends Chichi and Mot, along with their trusted partners Steph and Jasper, for making this day possible and easy as a breeze for my Natassja. I would never have pulled off such a classy and stylish shoot if it weren't for all of you. <3

I'm very much excited to share the actual shots but I will do that on a separate post - making sure I don't share so much. LOLs. Thanks for reading, guys! :)

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KTG Turns 2

As a mother, I need to find ways on how to augment to my income. Two years ago, by either stroke of luck or faith as you would have it, I stumbled upon 2 people who would change my life forever and make me realize one of my dreams - be a wedding coordinator.

The first marathon meeting of KTG at SBC Megamall :)

Kiss The Girl Events had its very humble beginnings. From the initial meeting at Cafe Mary Grace in ATC, we took off and after a month, our bookings just poured like crazy. We were all unsure that time, but I believe Papa God had something cooking for us. So here we are, after all the happy memories, bumps and bruises we've had along the way, we've reached Terrific Two. :)

I would like to thank, first and foremost, our magnificent Papa God who has blessed us with so much. We won't be who we are now without His intervention and His love. To You, we give all the glory. :)

Also would like to thank my family - for being so understanding and supportive that I oftentimes need to miss family affairs or having to prioritize KTG meetings over watching a movie with them. I draw my strength from all of you and without your love and support, we would probably have never been as successful. To my kids - Natassja, Neenah, and Nukh - I love you all and I appreciate the time you also spend with me when I bring you to my meetings. To my mom and dad, thank you for always filling in for me for my kids whenever I'm not at home. I love you and thank you for your never ending love. Let me also thank the families and loved ones of my partners - I'm sure you also give the same support and love as I have received from mine. :)

A big thank you to all our awesome clients - most especially the ones who have gambled with KTG while we were starting out. In 2011, we had 11 weddings (since July). But come 2012, we had 80++ weddings. It was more than what we have expected and it was your trust and confidence in our team that made us soar to greater heights as the power of word of mouth truly made us recognized in the wedding industry. And to our present and future clients, we can only give you our utmost assurance that we do not just do weddings for the money (as we all know we're still pretty affordable), but we have the passion and the heart to ensure your wedding day will be as you hoped it would be. :)

To our wonderful wedding supplier friends - thank you for the kindest words, referrals, complimentary kulot or plancha and makeup (haha), and the love. We have done a number of weddings who are also suppliers and it's very fulfilling when people in the wedding industry trust us with their own weddings and events. We love that we are able to hang out with some of you and get to know each other outside the working environment. We promise to always make sure you will be fed well during KTG weddings. :)

To the best kendeng girls in the world, and likewise our dearest friends - Ate Salve, Angel, Anj, Vonski, Clea, Jam, Cathy, Kath, Sarah, Len, Joanne - I super love how you all stepped up and became as fabulous as you can be in every KTG wedding. I am so proud to have worked with all of you and to have imparted knowledge for you to be as efficient as you can be. Thank you for bearing with all the long hours, drama, jabarness, wa-poise, pagod and kalat moments. I look forward to more kendeng moments with each one of you, and we hope your acquired KTG genes will grow on you. :)

L-R: Salve, Arbee, Abby, Cece, Cha, Cathy, Jam, Joanne, Sarah, Vanessa
Photo by: Alvin Basa, Jr.

To my super fantabulous partners-in-crime and sisters-at-heart - Abby, Cha and Arbee - it would be difficult to imagine enduring each wedding without you three - physically or in spirit. Thank you for your trust, respect, understanding, and love. We have endured a lot of stressful situations and because of those, we became better, stronger, and more comfortable with ourselves when we do weddings. We became more than business partners, we are sisters and good friends who also know how to have fun (if we have time, that is). Because of that, we have more happy moments and we have a better support system. And I can't be any happier to share the time, food, ballpens and blessings with you three. I love you all to bits. :)

Photo by: Alvin Basa, Jr.

It has been a terrific two-year ride, and for sure, the journey won't stop here. I am a proud KTG girl. Happy anniversary, KTG. <3

Natassja Danielle: High School Graduate

She was 2 1/2 years old when we thought of enrolling her at the Summer W.A.R.M. Program of
Holy Rosary Academy of Las Pinas City. That was way back in 2000, 13 years ago to be exact. Natassja Danielle N. Mariano (Tassja, Tashi, Tash, Tashing, Danielle (if hindi kaya i-pronounce ang first name) was immediately noticed by the school administrators and owners. She was cute, charming, and was eagerly "bibo". She wanted to go to school, ready with her cute little bag, pencils and crayons. At a very young age, we were glad the school accepted her to start formal Nursery class. And she has not stopped studying since then, always being the youngest in her class. :)

She was one of the early students of the school, which is why she is well loved by the owners of H.R.A., Capt. and Mrs. Galang, as well as the teachers and staff.

Time has passed. She graduated from pre-school. And then elementary.

Has it been 4 years since that day?

During high school, I remembered when we started, she was still the happy-go-lucky student who doesn't study at home but passes her subjects with flying colors that she receives quarterly certificates. But when she entered her Senior year, she vowed that she will do everything in her power to graduate with honors. This was when I started to see her burn the midnight oil - researching, typing, reading, solving problems. She has been diligently studying even at home plus she has been really active in school - member of the HRA's B.E.S.T.S. or the outstanding students of high school, team captain of the High School Volleyball Varsity team, member of the HRA chorale, CAT officer assigned as one of the Corps' staff, and a member of the Rosarian Dance Crew who won 2nd place at the recent LAPRISA Pop Dance Competition.

B.E.S.T.S.

High School Volleyball Varsity Team with Sir Jun

C.A.T. Graduation

H.R.A. Chorale Mini-Concert at the 2013 HRA's Year End Presentation

When the time came for the 4th quarter PTC, Natassja was really nervous and she really wanted me to attend. So I did. And we were all ecstatic when we learned that she will be getting 4 awards during graduation day.

The first (and most obvious) is the Loyalty Award, having studied at Holy Rosary Academy of Las Pinas City for 13 years. :)

She was a consistent recipient of quarterly honors so she emerged the Top 2 in her class, which makes for another medal. :)

Because she has led the Seniors' volleyball team to 2 victories, plus being the Team Captain of the varsity team, she was given the Athlete of the Year trophy. :)

And finally, Natassja's hardwork paid off. She became the 2nd Honorable Mention of her graduating class. :)

I would like to thank, of course, the Lord, for giving me such wonderful children. They are truly my blessings. My parents, for their super support, understanding, and love for my kids. For all of Natassja's teachers - Ms. Lyn, Ms. Oyie, Sir Ariel, Ms. Rosa, Sir Jun, Sir Noy, Ms. Lehnz - .. you have been vital to the development of my daughter and  I salute you for your noble work. To, H.R.A., most especially to Capt. and Mrs. Galang - thank you for taking care of my daughter while she was your student. To Sir C and Ma'am Bayot - thank you for bringing out the best in my daughter and for believing in her intellect and talents.

To all her friends and classmates, I know you have made a mark in each others' lives so thank you for giving the gift of friendship to my daughter. To everyone who has mentored and taught Tashi throughout the years - whether you're within HRA or outside, you are all a part of her success in her elementary and secondary school life. :)

With Mrs. Thet Galang - HRA's Directress

With Sir Noy

With Sir Ariel

With Ms. Lehnz

4th year EXCEDENCE - HRA Batch 2013

Congratulations, my Tashi. You are now a college student. Things will be more challenging and I know you will face all those challenges head on. I love you and I am soooo proud of you. <3