MAY YOU HAVE A HAPPY AND BLESSED CHRISTMAS!

DON'T WORRY ABOUT YOUR DIETS, PEOPLE! EVERYONE KNOWS DIETS ARE NONEXISTENT DURING THE HOLIDAYS!!!!

Eat to your heart's content!!!!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!

Before Katy Parry and Lady GaGa...

There were two iconic women that ruled the world. I love them both to death and I've recently been into them again, reliving childhood memories!


The first is a true Woman of the World who is just the right mix of class, sass, sexiness and sweetness. Plus I love her elegant style! Maybe you've heard of her, or you've probably come across her in vintage Archie Comics. I do honestly think she may be one of Katy Perry's main influences. Meet...

KATY KEENE





Doesn't she look adorable?





No one can trample on a sombrero with as much pizzaz as this senorita!





She makes putting stockings on look so sexy!

Now this other one is TRULY OUTRAGEOUS. Outrageous pink hair and even more out of this world clothes make this girl look fabulous despite all the drama, action, scandal, and of course romance that surround her. It doesn't hurt that she has a heart of gold too, proving that "truly outrageous" women can have beautiful personalities too. She's definitely no diva despite her awesomeness...meet

JEM
of Jem and the Holograms fame





You gotta love her!

Jem and the Holograms
L-R: Aja, Kimber, Jem and Shana





The Misfits, the rivals of J&TH
L-R: Stormer, Pizzaz and Roxy

Last night was my Jem marathon. I slept at FIVE AM finishing season 1 and starting season 2! While everyone else was watching Dragon Ball Z or Sesame Street, I was watching JEM AND THE HOLOGRAMS. For a kids' show, this cartoon is full of drama, fashion and music that I thought this might as well be an animated telenovela! Haha! Nevertheless, I do think it was because of Jem and the Holograms that I came to love fashion and music and everything else girly. It was great too, that the prevailing themes of the series were about truth, friendship, faith in oneself and being "truly outrageous". LOVE IT.

In case you haven't seen an episode (OH MY GOODNESS), check this out!!!


ONE LAST THING BEFORE I GO BACK TO WATCHING EPISODE 3 OF SEASON 2!

see more Celeb Look-A-Likes


via Kristen O'Rilley's blog

* all other images courtesy of Google Images. If the images are cut, click on them to view the full images

Baby Karsie

Hi all!

So I've known about this blog for quite a while but felt that now is the time to spread it around. Apparently, I am no longer the only Karsie in the world but that's completely okay because I now share my name with a beautiful baby who is truly a miracle. Check it out:

BABY KARSIE'S BLOG

I continue to pray for this lovely gift of a child and hope that she grows to be a healthy, beautiful, strong girl.

Gateway = Fine Dining?????

In all honesty, I've never thought much of Gateway Mall. The shops are the same shops in every other mall and I've been to better restaurants. If I had a choice, I'd do my shopping, dining and hanging out in Robinsons Galleria (home to Povedans!), SM Megamall (for variety), Powerplant (I should start re-exploring!) or Tiendesitas/168/Ukay/Cubao (for the quirky finds!). So imagine my surprise when my mother suggested that we have my birthday dinner at Gateway. I was like, where there? You see, I had a fabulous 20th birthday dinner planned out in my mind already: nice place with a lovely ambiance, great food, and classy music, and all of that did not fit in with my pre-constructed image of Gateway.

Agai, I asked where there? And my mother suggested the indoor garden restaurant located at the center of the mall where the Pilarness and I once had a lovely heart to heart chat only to be disrupted by a waiter offering us a look-see of a quite expensive menu.

Apparently, the Gateway garden restaurant serves Mandarin Oriental cuisine and apparently, Gateway is not incongruous to fine dining!

I loved the ambiance that the dim lights and lush plants created. There was jazz music playing (although the live band wasn't in that night) and the soft gurgle of water was very calming (mini waterfalls? fountains? I forgot). Service was lovely. The waiters sure knew what they were talking about! I loved the steak that he recommended! YES, THE FOOD WAS DELIGHTFUL. Well, the food I had. My sister and I split a rib-eye steak and it was enough for both of us (so imagine what one full serving would have done to me!). The steak was soft and oh so delicioussssss! Loved the steak sauce too! My mom had swordfish but I didn't get to taste her dish because I was too busy savoring mine.

The indoor garden restaurant at Gateway mall
Sorry for the poor quality of pictures!







My mom's Swordfish dish




My lovely rib-eye steak dinner










Awww. Missing dad!

So my 20th birthday dinner turned out to be great after all! YAY!

>INSERT: here's are some other pictures of how I spent my birthday SO FAR<
Sweater top from Lola H!

Adventuring in Cubao X



Me with my presents! HAHAHAHA. A top, a bag,
a silver umbrella (love) and bracelets

My birthday isn't over though! I still have a few people to celebrate with! HAHA! Can't wait for that! Whooooo! Until the next post (which will probably take me another month or so! Haha!)

REYNA NG PLAYA

Words cannot explain the Reyna ng Playa.

Only this.

CLICK CLICK CLICK!

http://fashionwatch.com/2008/swimwear-2008/animal-instincts/contact-sheet/01.html

Fashfoodfrenzy and The Pilarness go on a date!

AFTER A WHILE...Sorry for the lack of updates! It's a complete challenge trying to find time to blog when I'm SWAMPED with school work. I'm not kidding, my hell week has escalated to a hell month and I CANNOT WAIT for this sem to end! Thank Goodness I was able to relax a little with Pilar of The Pilarness and her debonair cousin Mikee last Aug 29!


We had dinner in Chilly Willy's, the newly opened Texas grill beside Flaming Wings (Katipunan Avenue) upon the suggestion of Pilar's mom. I must say, I loved the interiors and the ambiance. When I arrived I was the only customer and I found the place to be very comfortable, cozy yet casual. I think it was because of the red interiors and the warm yellow lighting. The ambiance didn't change much when people started coming in for dinner and that's what I liked about it. Despite the chattering of the other patrons and the clanking of utensils against their plates, the ambiance remained very warm.

I'm a little peeved I didn't get to take a snapshot of the barn-like booths! They were really cute!



The Pilarness's appetizer: Buffalo Wings with Blue Cheese dip (P140)
I didn't get to take a snapshot of my appetizer: Chili fingers (P80/6 pcs)



A chicken dish. I forgot what it was called and how much it was!



My food! Grilled Porkchop with barbecue sauce. I think. I SHOULD REALLY TAKE NOTE OF THE DISHES :))






Mikee's Quesadillas for I don't know how much. P100+



DESSERT! Fried ice cream!



My dessert. Again, I fail to remember what it's called. It's P110 though!

FRENZY METER: 4.7 out of 10

While I liked the ambiance and the attentive staff, I didn't much like the food: the appetizers weren't enough to whet my appetite, small servings for the main courses (and I've tasted better grilled porkchop with bbq sauce), and not so delicious desserts. Pilar's fried Ice cream was okay though. My brownie thing was not. It was hard and dry and lacked taste despite the amount of chocolate slathered on it. I also think that for the amount they charge, Chilly Willy's should have bigger servings and improve the taste of their food so they can claim that they truly are a Texas Grill. Overall it wasn't so bad though. Will I ever go to Chilly Willy's again? Maybe, to try their cocktails (A grill with cocktails?!) but not to eat.

Despite my disappointment, I had THE BEST TIME with The Pilarness and Mikee! Thanks for a totally chill night, guys! Hanging out with friends is the best stress reliever.



>INSERT<


OH! And here's a snapshot of Me, my sister, mom and cousin Paolo in Banapple! They picked me up and we stopped by the bakeshop to buy some muffins, a slice of cheesecake and walnut pie. Thanks for the libre Kuya Paolo!

Movies I want to watch NOW NOW NOW

There are so many interesting movies that I have yet to see, and that others have already seen. This fact is driving me CRAZY. Take for example the big screen adaption of Neil Gaiman's Coraline. I've read the book and it is one of the creepiest I've ever read. It's not in-your-face horror. Rather, it's subtly creepy playing on one's subconscious childish fears and imagination. After reading it, I developed a temporary paranoia with regard to doors and buttons but I LOVED IT. Imagine my utter exuberance when I found out CORALINE was coming to life on the big screen! Summer 2009, the preview said. I waited.


And waited.


SUMMER 2009 HAS ALREADY PASSED AND YET I SEE NO CORALINE IN THEATERS. I am officially crestfallen. It would have been amazing to see the movie on a big screen. CORALINE, COME TO THE PHILIPPINES NOW!


Click on the pictures to view them, if you can only see a part of them.

The Book



The Graphic Novel

From the graphic novel




I love how creepy this is!!!



Promotional



Movie Poster

From the movie

Other stuff I want to watch:

1. UP (I loved the trailer and I'm sure I'm going to love the movie too!)
   
2. Time Traveler's wife (loved to book!)
   
3. Orphan (people say this is pretty good)
4. And I Love You So (a Filipino Romance film recommended by my fabulous friend Lauren. I'm curious to see this, since she sent me a text about it!)
   
   

MUST WATCH NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thank Goodness I'm getting to watch UP tomorrow with the fam!!!

By the way, I realized just now that this post has nothing to do with fashion or food! HAHA!

Vigan Trippin!

Hey All!

I haven't really been going out lately because I am SWAMPED with acads. (Oh the life of a colegiala!) The last time I went out, and I mean OUT was to Vigan last July 31-Aug 1 2009 for my Sociology and Anthropology class (STILL school-related!). Two SA classes went and it was FUN FUN FUN although few people from my block went (Fritz, Lianne, Bea, Kim, Suzie and me). Nevertheless we had so much fun with all our other classmates. While there wasn't much to do in Vigan, there was much to see and learn.

Vigan is one of the OLDEST colonial cities found in the Philippines which boasts of beautiful architechture and a colorful history. The buildings were ancient but they looked marvelous in their antiquity.

The vibe of the city is peaceful and nostalgic. I especially loved the cobblestone roads!

Here are some of my favorite moments captured on camera (warning: me overload).

The hotel my class stayed in: Aniceto Mansion

I LOVE KALESAS!

The kutsero even let me STEER the kalesa! Awesommmeee!

The cobblestone road

SHOPS!!!!

Old cars are definitely LOVE!

...and old beds too!

I wish I had a dresser as fancy as this!

Would you believe this is what a PRINTING PRESS looked like back in the day?

This cart's missing its horse!

OLD PHONES! HOW QUAINT!!!

Feeling the desk!

This is me and my lovely friend Bea with SASCHTA the ferocious tigerrrrr!

Even the horses in Vigan look good!

I especially love the second dress! I think I could work it!

This is my ever fabulously dressed friend Lianne. I love how she looks so chill! I especially love the hat (which she bought from Vigan!) and the silver converse shoes!

AUTHENTIC VIGAN FOOD! We ate at Cafe Uno. Three long tables of ravenous students HUNGERING for some Vigan dishes! I have to say that my favorite dishes were the Feliza Rice, Adobo, and that yummy soup. It starts with a S. I should have written the names down! I think I was too busy enjoying the food!!!!! I was disappointed by the famous Vigan Longganisa though. I found it dry and tasteless :( After dinner, a couple of us decided to do some last minute shopping and explore the city at night. VIGAN AT NIGHT IT GORGEOUS.

Isn't it goooorgeous?

We were surprised to discover a BAR right beside our hotel! And here we thought Vigan had no night life!!! That's Kim, Fritz, Bea, THE BOUNCER, Me, Raynard and Derrick. We went inside to check out the place but we didn't stay to party because the hotel had a curfew of 8 PM!!! Besides a few shops and Sitio bar, the city of Vigan goes to sleep at 7 PM!!!!! Can you believe it?

I had an awesome time, especially since I got to go out of town with all of my friends. By far one of the BEST field trips I've been to!

THE FINALE! Jump shots!!!