Starbucks brings back the favorites

Posted on by jane

From May 15 to July 14, 2013, Starbucks is bringing back two (2) of its favorite beverages for everyone to enjoy this summer.

Mocha Cookie Crumble Frappuccino Blended Beverage

(Tall-PhP 170; Grande-PhP 180; Venti-PhP 190)
Start with Starbucks’ Frappuccino Roasted Coffee, add in chocolate cookie bits, and you get a twist on the classic Mocha Frappuccino Blended Coffee. Rich mocha sauce, vanilla syrup, milk and ice make up the basic recipe and the whole beverage is topped off with whipped cream, chocolate drizzle and a cookie crumble topping.
Red Bean Green Tea Frappuccino Blended Beverage
(Tall-PhP 160; Grande-PhP 170; Venti-PhP 180)
The combination of red beans and green tea bring an Asian flavor to blended beverage. This one combines whole kernels of red azuki beans and matcha, a finely milled green tea variant which is the most superior form of all green teas in Japan.

Catch them both this summer at your favorite Starbucks branch.

Love@Home with Samsung

Posted on by jane

I’m a geeky momma. I love tech. And as a Mom, I always end up looking at appliances and home furnishings whenever I get the chance to window shop. So getting first dibs at Samsung Digital Home Appliances’ 2013 offering was a real delight and a chance to ogle the new stuff that Samsung was bringing into this year’s home appliance line-up.

Dubbed “Love@Home”, the launch featured five (5) must-have-in-the-home appliances using the latest technology and cool features that have become the signature of Samsung. On hand to help introduce the appliances to the audience were celebrity moms Daphne Osena-Paez, Tessa Prieto-Valdez and Rissa Mananquil-Trillo.

The Samsung Digital Air Conditioner

So what’s new with inverter airconditioners? That’s what I was thinking when this appliance was being introduced. After all, I already have 2 inverter aircon units at home. Imagine my utter surprise when Samsung announced that their new air conditioner had *wait for this* WIFI!

I know what you’re thinking – what for?

Think about this scenario. You are caught in traffic, on your way home. It’s hot outside and you are just raring to go into your airconditioned room and plop right into bed as soon as you get home. Most of us would only be able to turn on our air conditioner once we are home. With Samsung’s Digital Air Conditioner, you can remotely turn on your aircon and adjust its settings (temp, fan speed, vertical swing) from virtually anywhere you have an internet connection. You can do it from your car!

It also comes with a Smart Inverter Technology that Samsung says makes it 60% energy-efficient.

Inverter air conditioner with WIFI

App icon on Samsung smartphone
Settings direct from a smartphone…

…using WIFI!

The Samsung Digital Washing Machine

The top-of-the-line washing machine (W3050) is a beautiful piece to look at – chrome finish, icy blu LED display lights, dual cluster control panel, foldable glass door. Its control panel is located on top where access is easy. The Samsung Digital Washing Machine incorporates Wobble Technology, a feature that lets the machine be gentle on fabric while being tough on dirt and stains. In addition, its Digital Inverter Motor means energy efficiency and durability.
The diamond drum separates clothes so it tangles less.

Conventional washing vs Wobble Technology washing
The Samsung Digital Refrigerator
The line of Samsung digital refrigerators all have special features that spell energy-efficiency, innovation and fresh, crisp foods all the time. The ref comes with a 10-year warranty. Voltage control ensures flow of electricity is constant. It’s got a Moist Free Zone to better preserve fruits and vegetables as well as a built in deodorizing filter to eliminate odors. In some models, the freezer is not in its usual top location like conventional refs; this time, it is found on the bottom for safety of other food items. 
But what is not apparent on the outside is how practical and well thought out the ref is on the inside – easy, slide-out shelves, a movable vegetable box, a multi storage basket along the inside door just for cosmetics and medicines, a plastic guard along one shelf to protect water bottles. One model has an ice maker and ice dispenser, with double the space for making ice.

The Samsung Digital Microwave

I have a Samsung microwave oven (not yet inverter technology) which my kids and yayas use a lot for heating food. This new digital microwave that runs on inverter technology is a level up, with anti-bacterial properties, rust-resistant ceramic enamel cavity to prevent unsightly scratches, and energy-efficient performance.

The Samsung Digital Vacuum

These tiny digital vacuum cleaners pack a wallop. A Super Twin Chamber technology holds more dirt so you empty it out less. And adjusting the digital features provides the best suction adjustment for any type of surface.
Inverter technology is a long-term investment but will definitely save you money. We have seen the electrical savings at home with our own inverter air conditioners. Next time you think of buying an appliance or replacing your old one, think inverter and check out these digital offerings from Samsung.
Human Nature brings on Tough Love

Human Nature brings on Tough Love

Posted on by jane

Human Nature products are very much a part of my life. My shampoo and conditioner, insect repellant, hand sanitizer, lip balm, and some makeup are from Human Nature. It has been a conscious move on my part to switch from chemical-based stuff around the house to products which are not only gentle to my skin but also environment-friendly.

But recently I received 2 new Human Nature products which are NOT just gentle; they are TOUGH as well!!! And they should be, because they need to wash away dirt where it matters. At the same time, they are so natural that they can be discharged into the environment without polluting it.

This is the new home care brand that Human Nature recently introduced into the market – their TOUGH LOVE home care line — Tough Love Natural Dishwashing Liquid and Natural Liquid Detergent (100% Natural).

tough-love-from-human-nature
Both products have absolutely no phosphates, chlorine, bleach, dyes, enzymes, petroleum, synthetic fragrances, optical brighteners, and other harmful chemicals found in common household cleaners –a big plus for me since I have long chucked my chemical-based disinfectants, roach killers, household cleaners (some) and replaced them with non-toxic ones.

Continue reading “Human Nature brings on Tough Love” →

Bobble Water Bottle – Purifying Water on the Go

Posted on by jane

I need to drink a lot of water every day because of my previous bout with kidney stones. In addition, when I go to my yoga classes, I always want to bring a water bottle with me.

The problem with single-use PET bottles though is that it is both expensive in the long run and damaging to the earth as it contributes to the tons of PET bottles disposed into the earth’s landfills every day. I could always fill my water bottle before heading out but in order to get my 2-liter quota of water for the day, I would need to refill my bottle somewhere. Now how would I know if the source of my refilled water is potable enough?
Well, I recently got a Bobble water bottle to try out and based on first impressions, it looks like a healthy solution to my dilemma.
(taken from waterbobble.com)

Bobble is the creation of renowned industrial artist Karim Rashid – the man behind numerous luxury goods and popular product designs such as Christofle, Alessi, Umbra, Bonaldo, Vondom and Hugo Boss. It features a curvy form that makes it easy to grasp and carry around – perfect for workout sessions like my yoga classes or simply something to hold when outside the home. The plastic bottle is also BPA-free.

But the killer feature is its built-in filter. Its carbon filter is replaceable and recyclable, purifying potable water even further by eliminating chlorine and organic contaminants. There goes my worry about the cleanliness of other water sources once I drink up the water I brought from home. I can just refill the bottle and still be sure the filter eliminates anything in the water that can be harmful to the body. Caveat: Bobble should NOT be used with water that is microbiologically unsafe.)
My red Bobble!!!

The Bobble website explains how the filter (which is made in the USA) works:
bobble has an activated carbon filter which has a slight electro-positive charge, making it attractive to chemicals and impurities. As the water passes over the positively charged carbon surface, the negative ions of the contaminants are drawn to the surface of the carbon granules.
Carbon filters require very little maintenance, and are perhaps the most powerful chemical absorbents known to man. bobble’s carbon-based filter removes organic contaminants from regular municipal tap water and meets or exceeds NSF International Standard 42 for chlorine, taste and odor reduction.

The filters can be replaced every 2 months or about every 40 gallons of water without throwing the water bottle away.
Each Bobble water bottle is also equivalent to about 300 single-use plastic bottles. That is a lot of PET bottles we save from clogging up the landfills. You can do your part to protect Mother Earth while using Bobble water bottles.
Since its introduction in February 2010, Bobble has won many industry awards including a Green Good Design Award in 2010 and 2011. It’s now here in the Philippines and comes in 6 luscious colors: green, red, black, yellow, magenta and blue.

There are also 3 variants. The 1000-ml model retails at PhP 695; the 550-ml model goes for PhP 595; and the 375-ml one sells for PhP 495. Filters cost PhP 345 each.

Watch this short video.

Bobble Philippines
Facebook page: www.facebook.com/bobble.ph
Twitter: @bobblePH

A new gustatory experience – Starbucks international coffee and food pairing

Posted on by jane

White wine with fish. Red wine with meats. That’s the standard way of pairing wine with food, right?

But recently, some of us sat down to a food tasting lunch paired with — Starbucks coffee blends!

The Starbucks team, combined with the Spanish restaurant Tapella put up a gastronomic menu interspersed with 4 different coffee blends.

Choosing the right coffee blend to go with a particular dish is very important, we learned. Most of us in the Philippines, Thailand and Malaysia, according to Starbucks, are in the developing stage. Not everyone is well educated in coffee. We probably go to Starbucks, order our favorite beverage, then walk out without really paying that much attention to the blend or how it is prepared.  But that is a good thing, they say, because it leaves so many possibilities for us to be educated about coffee. And yet in emerging countries, like Europe, people know their coffee. They order a double shot of espresso, want their coffee black, and specify other add-ons to go with their favorite drink.

Let me digress first and tell you about the latest Starbucks coffee blend.

Creating the New Asian Blend

For the longest time, while some blends could be identified with certain regions (e.g., espresso is identified with Europe), there was no blend identified with Asia. This time, Starbucks launches the Asian Dolce Latte, strong and smooth, with an Asian twist. Double shots of the premium dark-roasted Starbucks Espresso Roast give the latte its distinct flavor complemented by a dolce sauce created just for this blend.

Tip when drinking Asian Dolce Latte: DO NOT STIR! Drink it as served and you will get a better coffee experience as you savor the flavor and texture of each of the layers of the latte.

Here’s something you should also know. If you are not happy with how your beverage is prepared, Starbucks will gladly prepare a new batch for you to get it right.

Making double shot espresso

Espresso in 3 layers

Did you know that there is actually a bad espresso shot? Yes!

A good espresso shot is poured by the espresso machine into glasses within a desired range of time and has 3 distinctive layers. The espresso must be poured into the beverage before these 3 layers dissolve and combine. If the layers are allowed to combine, drinking it leaves a bitter aftertaste in the mouth – a sign of a bad espresso shot. The people at Starbucks said that they always want a perfect espresso shot and will be willing to replace any beverage to ensure the espresso shot is perfect each time.

Both Asian Dolce Lattes are similarly made although the iced version comes with a generous heaping of espresso whipped cream and a dash of espresso dusting. The two variants will be available until May 14, 2013.

Now back to our gastronomic lunch paired with Starbucks coffee blends…..

Starbucks decided to do something different this time around by letting us try what a 5-course Spanish cuisine would taste like when paired with different Starbucks coffee blends. The Starbucks team actually sat down in the initial stages of planning for this event and tried different coffee blends with the Spanish dishes to find the perfect combination. They were looking at matching blends that would complement and not overpower the dishes being served. The result was this outstanding Spanish lunch…

Appetizers (or Tapas) paired with Tribute Blend

Starbucks’ Tribute blend is a spicy and full-bodied blend with berry and dark cherry notes. It is a returning blend and is a combination of beans from Sumatra, Papua New Guinea, Africa and Colombia.

Left: Bruchetta on Tomato Salad on Slice of Baguette topped with Goat Cheese and Herb
Right: Chorizo Spread on Slice of Baguette, topped with Manchego Cheese

Tomatoes found on the bruchetta went well with the berry and cherry flavors of the Tribute blend. In addition, the strong spicy taste of the chorizo spread was complemented by the full-bodied blend.


Soup and Salad paired with Asian Dolce Latte

Cold Tomato Soup topped with Vegetables (left) and
Grilled Mixed Peppers Tower of Salad (right)

The strong and sweetish Asian Dolce Latte complemented very well the soup and salad combo.


Main Course with Colombia Blend
The Colombia blend is a smooth, balanced coffee with a nutty flavor — just the right touch to go with either the fish or chicken dish which served as our main course. I naturally chose the fish dish which turned out to be a great choice because it came served with Paella!
Cod Fish cooked the Viscaina Way

Paella for Cod Fish with the other main course in background
(Moorish Chicken drizzled with Almond Sauce on Bed of Couscous)

Dessert and Espresso Shot
What better way to pair this yummy dessert duo but with a strong espresso shot made perfectly. The sweetness of the Creme Brulee and the Mille Crepe is mellowed by the strength of the espresso.

Europeans can have wine with their dishes. As for us Asians who drink coffee more than wine, we can stick with our coffee preferences knowing the right blends can go hand in hand with fine dining.

Electrolux HUSH Happier at Home

Posted on by jane

I have a blender and two (2) vacuum cleaners at home. They do their job but I do not use them all the time. Why? Because the volume level is just too high for my low-noise tolerance ears.

See this little baby that looks like R2D2, the cute robot of Star Wars fame? It’s the newer of my two vacuum cleaners.

It does its job; it can handle both wet and dry cleaning. Almost perfect — save for its terrible noise level which cannot be adjusted. The first time I turned it on while trying to vacuum away the cobwebs from our bathroom ceiling, I almost went deaf. Because our bathroom was enclosed, the cacophony surrounded the entire small space, amplifying what was already very loud noise to begin with. Add to that the fact that it strongly ejected very warm air while it was running, making me wonder whether all that air being emitted was clean or whether some of the dust it was sucking in was being thrown back out into the air.

And this is my current dilemma. I need our home to be as quiet and as clean as possible.

You see, my husband just recently underwent a surgical operation. We spent our Valentine’s Day in the hospital. It has not been a week yet since we’ve come back home after spending two long weeks there and everyone around, including the kids, are tiptoe-ing around trying to be as quiet as possible so our patient can get his much-needed sleep (because who says you can sleep decently in a hospital, right???). I also know that sudden loud noise is jarring to the ears and can elevate blood pressure unnecessarily.

While we were away, the house went through general cleaning so our vacuum cleaner was put to good use. But now that our patient is home, he needs to rest most of the day and yet the room where he is in as well as the rest of the house need to be regularly cleaned to keep it free of dust to minimize risks of infection. How do I do that with my fully functional but extremely noisy (and possibly less-than-clean) vacuum cleaner?

His diet also requires a lot of fruits and vegetables so we have resorted to blending smoothies so he gets a good concentration of them. Wouldn’t it be neat if I had a silent blender to replace this 20-something year old blender of mine?

My dilemma may soon be over if I can get my hands on either or both of these Electrolux products:

#1 – The Electrolux Powermix Silent Blender

Showing the silent settings of the blender

Force without the noise…

#2 – The Electrolux Ultra Silencer Green
Silent but strong…
With attachments

Tops for me is the silent feature. Imagine the joy of being able to vacuum, for example, the patient’s room without disturbing his nap, or running the blender in the nearby kitchen without fear of disturbing him. For the Ultra Silencer Green, I love the fact that it cleans the exhaust air by more than 99.99% before releasing it again into the atmosphere. When I now have to be extra careful about sanitation, food handling, and contamination of whatever sort, such green features are always a PLUS for me.

In a sense, our life has changed. Weekends in the past were spent with the kids at home and sometimes with us going out to a family lunch or dinner. That is not possible for now as we always need to consider the needs of our patient. But the weekend is slowly becoming more special in a different way. It is becoming a time when family really comes first, when the patient who used to care for us and our needs now needs caring. It is the time when we have the most opportunity to show our love even in the worst of times. So having a quiet, relaxing weekend is part of that ambience that we are trying to foster.

It would be a wonderful opportunity to be able to use something like the Electrolux Ultra Silencer Green or the Electrolux Powermix Silent Blender to help us care for our loved one in a relaxed, quiet way. These 2 powerful but quiet appliances remind me of the saying “Silent waters run deep”. Indeed.

Find out more about the silent Electrolux products and its other offerings on their official website.
Follow @electroluxPH on Twitter.

Beautiful Hair Reborn with Cream Silk

Posted on by jane

I am not someone who watches a lot of TV so I have not really seen Heart Evangelista in a while. Oh, I’ve seen her before and thought she was quite the beautiful chinita. But did you check out the latest Cream Silk TVC with her in it? I remember admiring her long hair whenever I’d spot her on teleseryes before but now that she’s more mature, the way she carries her hair in this TVC really suits her!

Well, if you have not seen the TVC, watch it here and see just what Cream Silk’s effect is on Heart’s lovely locks.

I want you to try the same Cream Silk hair care given to Heart’s hair. Thanks to Unilever, I will be able to give away two (2) gift packs worth P1,000 each to two lucky winners. Whoever joins must be capable of picking up the prize in Makati City personally or through a representative.

Here are the mechanics on Rafflecopter. Giveaway ends March 6, 2013, 11:59 PM.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

BPI eCredit - a credit card for internet payments

BPI eCredit – a credit card for internet payments

Posted on by jane

Are you paranoid like me about disclosing your credit card number when purchasing stuff online? 

If you are, you should be rightly so. There are so many horror stories out there on the internet about syndicates who are able to get hold of your credit card number and max out its credit limit with illegal purchases. Most times, when my kids want to purchase games online, I use PayPal and decline their requests if the merchant site requires a credit card number instead of PayPal.

Now my kids will be a lot happier. Here is something I just recently got in the mail from my bank, BPI (important card info were blurred out).

 
In the flyer that came with the card, the BPI eCredit card was described as “a companion card to your existing BPI Express Credit Mastercard. This card is for virtual and internet payments only…”
Continue reading “BPI eCredit – a credit card for internet payments” →

Knorr’s Homecoming Treat for OFWs this Christmas

Posted on by jane

I remember when I lived abroad for 2 years while working on my Master’s. I sorely missed home. Filipino friends always took opportunities to get together and partake of Filipino food. But despite those get-togethers, being away from home meant missing a lot of familiar stuff. I particularly missed Christmas, seeing our native parols, being with the family for Noche Buena, hearing the Filipino Christmas carols and even the local food – Chinese ham, queso de bola, spaghetti, and native delicacies like puto bumbong and bibingka during Simbang Gabi.

So can you imagine what it must be like for returning OFWs who have been away from the Philippines for many more years, even decades? Can you imagine what it must be like for them to see Philippine soil from the air, excitedly looking through the windows as the plane prepares to land? Can you imagine their hearts longing to see their dear ones even as they collect their baggages from the carousel? And can you imagine them planning exactly what Filipino food they will indulge in while they are in the country, especially those which may not always be available abroad?

Knorr recently treated returning OFWs to a heartwarming homecoming treat with the homecooked goodness of sinigang. Instead of the usual salubongs of Filipino music playing from bands at arrival areas, the “Knorr Sinigang’s Umuwi sa Sarap ng Sinigang” campaign added a flavorful twist. Arriving OFWs at NAIA Terminal 3 were invited to a cozy dining area and were fed Filipino food like fish, pork and shrimp sinigang.

 Some celebrities were at hand also to lend additional surprise. Singer Erik Santos gave his own rendition of “Pasko na Sinta Ko”. Marvin Agustin was also on hand as part of the cooking ensemble. And the OFWs were given special tokens and floral leis to complete the homecoming treat.
I think the gesture of Knorr meant a lot to those returning OFWs. After all, they are some of the heroes of this country. They sacrifice being away from loved ones, often live under very difficult circumstances, and send a significant part of their earnings home.
Tomorrow, my own daughter is coming home for the holidays. She has lived in a foreign land most of 2012 and will be with us just for 2 short weeks. But we intend to make the most of the time just being a family and bonding as much as we can – over food, of course. I also have my own homecoming treat for my girl which Knorr also sent over for me to try – several mixes including sinigang. She’ll have her share of native dishes, something she has not eaten since she left.
Finally, watch these videos of the actual Knorr Homecoming Treat right at the airport.

The 2012 Starbucks Christmas Food Items

Posted on by jane

Want to know what Christmas goodies are available at Starbucks already? We got a sampling of them recently. Here they are!

New Items

Chocolate Cake made with Splenda (slice-PhP 150, whole-PhP 1,650)

A diabetic chocolate lover’s dream come true, the Chocolate Cake made with Splenda is going to be a popular, sugar-free dessert item for sure. Several layers of sugar-free chocolate sponge cake is filled with sugar-free chocolate cream filling, iced with chocolate ganache and topped off with a dark chocolate garnish.

Chocolate Truffle Cheesecake with Nestle Crunch (slice-PhP 140, whole-PhP 1,450)

Cheesecake lovers, this is a must try for you. The Chocolate Truffle Cheesecake with Nestle Crunch melts in your mouth just like chocolate truffle is the base filling, topped with lots of chopped Nestle Crunch chocolate (one of my favorite kinds of chocolate!!!).
Dark Cherry Silvana (PhP 95)

Much like a regular butter silvana, the Dark Cherry Silvana is made of creamy chocolate butter cream icing but with a twist. It is topped with bits of chopped maraschino cherries in between crunchy meringue layers, glazed with Belgian chocolate and topped with grated chocolate shavings. A maraschio cherry finishes off the top for accent.
Chicken Fajita Roll (PhP 95)

Chicken Fajita Roll is like a stuffed loaf of bread done up in Mexican style. The stuffing is made of Mexican flavored chicken breast and cream cheese. On the top of the bread are toppings of cheddar cheese, red and green peppers to give it a Christmas-y look.
Garlic Roasted Chicken Wrap (PhP 150)

One of my favorite wraps, pita bread, is filled with garlic roasted chicken rolling in Italian spices and sauteed fresh assorted veggies, then drizzled with a special garlic sauce. This is the Garlic Roasted Chicken Wrap.

Holiday Apple Glazed Porkloin Roast on Jalapeno Cheese Bread (PhP 160)
We were supposed to have the Holiday Apple Glazed Porkloin Roast on Jalapeno Cheese Bread but during our event, the bread was unavailable so we had the porkloin roast on ordinary bread. Not as great, I suppose, but maybe it means I need to go and order the real thing another time. Best when served warm!
Christmas Turkey & Chicken with Pear Chutney on Cranberry and Walnut Bread (PhP 160)
Turkey slices and chicken breast fillet combine in a cranberry and walnut bread spread over with pear chutney. The Christmas Turkey & Chicken with Pear Chutney is best served warm!

Returning Favorites
Starbucks brings back five (5) popular food items.
Chocolate Toffee Nut Loaf (slice – PhP 60; whole – PhP 550)
The Chocolate Toffee Nut Loaf (whole) looks like a moist, chocolate loaf. Sliced through, you find that it is frosted with smooth chocolate icing and topped with crunchy toffee for that nutty texture. It’s not too sweet also so just right for my taste.
White Chocolate Cranberry Cookie (PhP 60)
Cookie lovers, you’ll love how big and chewy the White Chocolate Cranberry Cookie is. Bite into it and you taste the chunky white chocolate mixed in with freshly roasted walnuts and great antioxidants – chopped dried cranberries. 
Peppermint Brownie (PhP 80)
I love mint chocolates so it’s natural that I’d take to the Peppermint Brownie right away.  This is made of fudgy, chewy chocolate brownie with peppermint cream cheese filling. Its topped with chocolate ganache and decorated like a Christmas tree with white, red and green chocolate drizzle, accented by small golden edible beads.
Gingerbread Cookie (PhP 55)
The Gingerbread Cookie is baaaack!!! Of course this year’s designs are different from last year’s but inside, it’s the same, loved ginger, allspice and cinnamon combination that gives the cookie its fragrance and flavoring as well.

Vanilla Pecan Butterscotch Twirl (PhP 90)
The Vanilla Pecan Butterscotch Twirl is a wonderfully light and flaky spiral roll. Biting into it, you taste the cinnamon and vanilla pastry cream filling together with its topping of roasted pecans drizzled with butterscotch sauce and slivers of white chocolate stripes across it. 
And….
the Christmas seasonal favorites (Toffee Nut Latte, Dark Cherry Mocha and Peppermint Mocha) are here too. Tall – PhP 155, Grande – PhP 165, Venti – PhP 180.