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You know when they say, you can find something amazing in unexpected places? Happened to us. Nothing miraculous or life changing, but a simple satisfaction to our palettes. Going to Greece is on the top of my list, and I love Greek food, but you seldom get to have them around. So you can just imagine how we were when we found this place. So? Let's Go Greek!

We all ordered the same thing because no one would give in and back down. We didn't regret doing so coz the flavors just brought us to a different place. Greece, without the hefty price tag.

Kiara: If you were to travel, what places would you choose?

Janiz: I'm a believer in local tourism. I believe that Filipinos have under appreciated the beauty of the Philippines. We have so much to offer, yet we all still remain to be tourists in our own place.

Kiara: Yes, I do know that and I totally agree with you. But besides the Philippines, where would you choose?

Janiz: It totally depends Kiar. I have different categories.

Kiara: What category exactly?

Janiz: Like you know how much I love art. For the meantime, I've buried it deep within me. But someday somehow, I'll have my own pilgrimage to these birthplace of civilization and art.

Kiara: What are these particular places?

Janiz: I will say this in order. China, Egypt, Greece, Rome.

Kiara: I love Greece! I love their myths. I've been reading a lot about them.

Janiz: How'd you find them?

Kiara: Interesting at most. I would like to believe that those were true.

Janiz: *grin* Believe whatever you want to believe, just be mindful of reality. I don't want others to think that I have a whacked up child who lives in the world of the unreal. Ok?

Kiara: Maybe you do have a whacked up daughter. LOL

Go Greek

Food Choices, 3/F Glorietta, Ayala Center, Makati

This clearly shows how backlogged I am. I just realized that this was taken during Halloween. Explains the spider on top of the doughnut. We are so "matakaw"! That cold dessert was never enough for us so we hit old timer Dunkin' Donuts.

It was actually my brother who was the master of this craving. And there another sugar infested treat for all of us.

And we still had room for doughnuts to go.

Let's give those belly it's much needed rest.

After that heavy weight meal, our tongues were just screaming for dessert. When we saw most of the little kids bringing these little cups, I swear I felt like I drooled -- just a little. Then I turned to my daughter,

Janiz: Lulubelle?

Kiara: I was supposed to say the same thing!

Janiz: What can I say, great minds think alike.

Kiara: Well on my part, there wasn't so much thinking going on. It was merely sugar rush.

Janiz: Hush up Kiar, don't give me that hypothetical non-sense.

Kiara: Alright. Now hush me up with one cup of Lulubelle please.

Janiz: No problem brainiac!

Like I've posted here before, of all the ice cream flavors, Vanilla is just a cut above the rest -- well, that's what my daughter thinks. She loves other flavors like strawberry, chocolate, bubble gum, cookies and cream, etc. But Vanilla is just on the top of her list. And here I am again with the Facebook survey my daughter posted on my wall.

Q: "If Janiz Jardiolin-Lo was an ice cream flavor, what would she be?"

A: ''Vanilla. . . ''

Awww. She's just the sweetest. She melted my heart, yet again. Like a cup of Vanilla ice cream in freezing temparature.

Kids are the greatest, they're the sweetest thing on the planet. Not even the sweetest dessert can equal or top that.

Saturdays are not always fun, it can be a complete trip to boredom. So that's when good food and big meal comes in. We're that type that eats when we're happy and eats even more when we're down. We were in a battle of where to eat because almost every restaurant is packed. We all agreed to have Sumo Sam, and promised to be a little more patient for any probable wait. So there, we ended up having dinner really late.

I can't tell you just how many times these iPhone app has saved me. We were not in speaking terms at that time, not that we had a fight or something, but we were all too hungry to even talk.

And my daughter of course was too absorbed that she couldn't care less how she'd look in the actual pictures.

I just want to share this, it's a little off topic but I am currently teary-eyed with what my daughter has posted in my Facebook. You know the whole survey thingy? She did a couple but one particularly drew my attention and the question was:

Q: "If you had never met Janiz Jardiolin-Lo, how would your life be different?"

A: I wouldn't be here right now, 'cause she's my mom.

I was chocking up in tears. Trying to make sure nobody would see me cry, so I waited for today to just let it all out. For those who doesn't still know, I had my daughter at nineteen. And I was then having a rough time. People just won't let you get away with it that easy. I got numerous whispers judging my character and it would be a lie if I tell you now that I was cool with it then. Honestly, it brought me down. That was probably the time I hit rock bottom. Although not everyone says it in my face, but I know they wanted to tell me that it's a HUGE mistake. Taken out from morality context, it is. But I wanted to tell my daughter although it may be a "mom-dialogue cliche" but I want to say it nontheless,

"You're the greatest thing that happened to my life and if I had the chance to go back, I would definitely make the same mistake just to have you."

That's one sumo meal we had there, now time for dessert?

Every time the commercial would come up, Kiara would tell me that we should watch it. So we were there on the premier weekend. I didn't have so much of an expectation from the docu-film but I teared up quiet a few times. And when it ended the theater was filled with applause.

I was filled with so much awe and appreciation to this man. I was not a big MJ fan, but I LOVE his music non the less. And when heading out, I did a lot of mental note about the film.

1. It is indeed a great loss. This man, OWNED his title as King and I would say that he nailed it. Amen?

2. I practically lived through my existence with MJ's reign as King. He's been thrown one too many destructive titles, and so many people has been calling him gay. But this movie proved them otherwise, he's a MAN. He's soft spoken and probably looks like a woman, but he's so not gay.

3. I was amazed at his attention to musical detail. He not only knows his songs, he expects perfection from everyone he's working with. Two words: Musical genius.

4. You know when artists become diva off-screen? He was never that, instead he has a way of giving out creative non-outbursts, "This is why we rehearse."

5. He's a man with a big heart, and even on stage, he shares it with his co-performers, "It's your time to shine."

6. Before everyone else was giving out efforts to save the planet, he was already singing "Heal the world", and before everyone came out with looking into ones self, he was singing "Man in the mirror".

"Love our planet. We only have four years to fix everything or else it's irreversible."

We were so MJ inspired that we gave out our best MJ pose.

After that MJ high, we did a few rounds in Timezone before calling it a night.

 I was singing myself "Human Nature" to lull me to sleep.

It's one of those weekends when Kiara and I get to do a little bonding since it's just the two of us. And everytime I'd ask her where to eat, she'd blurt out Pepper Lunch. For the probable reason that every time we pass it's always so tempting to eat even when you're not that hungry.

She had beef and I had chicken. Our stomachs were growling with hunger but we had to fall in line and wait for our turn to order. So when we were seated, there was no room for complaints, just patience.

Kiara: Mom, Christmas is near and I've been thinking so hard about what to ask from Santa.

Janiz: What do you have in mind?

Kiara:I was thinking maybe a DS, or an organ.

Janiz: DS and organ? So what do you want me to get you this Christmas?

Kiara: That's where the confusion starts. Which is more expensive, the DS or the organ?

Janiz: I've checked the organ, it's pretty hefty dear.

Kiara: Settled then, can I ask a DS from you? And for Santa maybe the organ I was telling you about. Geez, I need to come up with something else that Santa can get me, like those expensive stuffs. Santa's rich, he can afford it as long as I deserve it, right?

Janiz: Riiiiiiight. *gulp*

Let's eat up, this may be the last full meal I'll have. The word "Christmas" scares me these days.

I have a long withstanding fear for hospitals. But recently I've braved my fears and submitted myself to a series of medical tests. I was clearly left with no choice, you know they say, "the older we get, the more we need to focus attention on our health."

It ended up to the realization that this hospital fear came to be a little manageable...only until the incident of my brother, wherein the sight of his blood squirting in every direction almost made me lose whatever life source I was holding onto. It was so traumatic, it made me promise not to go back to the hospital anytime soon. Unfortunately my brother needed to go back and have someone get his stitches. But this time, I was more than happy that this trip was anything but bloody. 

Besides pain and blood you know what other fear hospitals induced me with? It's the monstrous BILL! Yes, everytime I go out of the hospital, I always end up having a "medical hold-up".

On the day of my brother's incident, after the x-rays, the suture and other different tests. The doctor said we were free to go, so I headed to the cashier to pay. But when my brother tried to stand up, he almost fainted, so he was again rushed back in and they had him dextrosed.

Cashier: Mam, what happened? I thought the patient was free to go?

Janiz: Yes he was, but then when he tried to stand up, he almost fainted so he was rushed back in.

Cashier: Oh, why?

Janiz: I'm not sure.

Cashier: Was it because of the bill? *chuckles*

Janiz: Probably! LOL

Cashier: Now that he's back in, the bill will definitely increase.

Janiz:Don't surprise me too much with numbers, I might be the next patient. LOL

Cashier: LOL I'm sure you will be mam.

When the doctors said for the the second time that he was free to go. I told my brother he can't make his fainting act this time because I cannot afford to pay for it anymore. I swear, even if he had one good reason to stay, I would wheel him out of the ER or if I'd have to carry him home myself, I would! So now I'd have to settle our enormous bill...

Cashier: You're back. So is the patient heading home for sure?

Janiz: Most definitely yes.

Cashier: Let me check you bill mam.

Janiz: Ok, just don't make me a heart patient after seeing that piece of paper.

Cashier: I won't give you a heart attack mam, but you will probably faint.

Janiz: Is it a 4 or a 5 digit?

Cashier: It's a 5.

We were there for just a few hours and our bill ended up in 5 digits! Daym! What more if my brother was admitted for a day or two? It made me wonder if medical institutions are there to keep you alive, or help you die? No hospital trips anytime soon OK?

My brothers were in for the shopping, while I was in for the food. That's what I love about Trilogy + Canteen since you can have it both ways.

While I was checking out their clothes this gorgeous girl approached,

Girl: That's one of our best sellers. (Refering to the top I'm holding.)

Janiz: Yeah, I like it too but I love your shirt more.

Girl: Oh, yeah. This is actually a men's shirt, I have it in different colors.

Janiz: A men's shirt huh? Doesn't look like one.

Girl: Yeah, you can try some of these too if you want. Almost everytime I'm here someone's buying one too.

Janiz: Of course, with you here modeling it, anyone would want to have one. So, you're here everyday?

Girl: Not really but I try as much as I can after or in between work.

Janiz: You work nearby?

Girl: Yeah, I work for Status Magazine.

Janiz: That's a new international magazine right.

Girl: No, it's actually local and it's been here for over a year now.

Janiz: Really?! That's a shocker, it could pass for an international magazine.

(...and the conversation went on since she's a big talker too.)

After that hearty lunch, we came to try on the shirt. And their sales lady, I must say has an amazing american accent! For a sales lady that is! So I asked who that gorgeous girl I was talking to earlier,

Saleslady: She's one of the owners, the youngest of the Herreras.

Janiz: Who exactly ate?

Saleslady: She's Vicky Herrera, younger sister of John and Teresa Herrera.

Janiz: Oh.

Can I just ask to be swallowed by the ground?? How can I not see the resemblance?? And how can I not know that Status Mag is actually a local magazine? How stupid can I get??

Trilogy + Canteen

Rada Street, Legaspi Village, Makati City