Marriott Manila's Festive Treats: Thanksgiving's Turkey to Go

I have a lot to be thankful for this year. With it now being the last quarter of 2013, I've began to reflect on all the goals I had set and everything I had accomplished in the past months. There really is a lot for me to be thankful for! I was determined to make something of my 2013 - to take control my life and not be controlled by it, and I think I've done a pretty good job thus far.

I am particularly looking forward to this year's Thanksgiving. Although it's more of an American tradition, I like what it represents and it's also a good excuse to have friends over to sit down to a great spread!

I was lucky enough to get invited to check out the Thanksgiving spread at Marriott Hotel Manila. Their Festive Treats event was especially put together for the busy folks who don't have the time to spend hours in the kitchen but who still want to enjoy a hearty meal.

Read more on Marriott Hotel Manila:
★ Marriott Hotel Manila: VIP Treatment at the Executive Lounge
★ Marriott Hotel Manila: A Relaxing Afternoon at Quan Spa
★ Marriott Hotel Manila: Dinner Buffet at the Marriott Café
★ Marriott Hotel Manila: The Birthday Staycation
★ Marriott Manila's Festive Treats: Christmas Hampers

Heavenly Nail Treatments at St. Nails

Every now and again I like to treat myself to a spa day. This whole day affair consists of a hair cut and color, a body treatment at a nearby spa, maybe a lash extension service, and a mani-pedi with a relaxing foot scrub to wind down my day of pampering. It's rough (and expensive!) being a girl.

But when all I need is a quick pick-me-up, I go to my new santo sanctorum along EDSA right next to Dasmariñas Village: St. Nails Nail Spa.

Enjoying a Slice of New York at NOLITA

Nothing screams New York like a big ass slice of pizza. Be it the Yellow Cab or SNR variety, this is a guilty pleasure I like to indulge in once every two weeks - with a friend or two, of course. I must've been a Ninja Turtle in a past life. With pizza joints claiming to serve "authentic New York pizzas" only a handful have really gotten the big slice with gooey cheese down pat, and one of them is my favorite gourmet pizza place, NOLITA - in true New Yorker form, NOLITA is short for North of Little Italy.

On one particularly lovely Saturday morning, Jericho and I took our dogs for a walk around BGC High Street and met up with Jazmin and Eric of EricJaz Foodies for a spot of brunch. They brought their son, Mati, along so he could go biking afterwards.

Dessert Series: Fika

According to Wikipedia, Fika is both a Swedish verb and noun (pronounced "fee-ka") that roughly means "to drink coffee, tea, or squash(?)" usually accompanied by something sweet. Located at the new Greenstreet Mall, the brainchild of Sweedish Head Chef, Mats Loo, Fika is both a cafe and a place for this students at the First Gourmet Academy to show off their pastry skills - and in the near future, their cooking skills.

Butterfly Twists: Foldable Shoe Fashion

Can I just tell you: I love my heels. The higher the heels are, the better. Ever since I was a little girl I'd wear my mother's wedge heels and walk around the house in them. I'm pretty comfortable in heels, it's funny how I can run in them but trip over myself when I'm wearing flip flops. The downside to sky high heels that make your gams look super sexy and your legs go on forever and ever? They hurt. A lot. With the balls of your feet basically supporting the weight of your body, you'll need to give it a rest after a few hours of standing.

Butterfly Twists, the brand for the ‘girl on the go’, was founded in London in 2007 by four men! College friends Emmanuel, Frank, Mark and Philippe, came up with a unique fashion-forward idea after one of them (who shall remain nameless) literally knew what it felt like to be in a woman’s shoes after losing a bet and attending a party wearing a pair of 6 inch stilettos!

I would always pack a pair of flip flops with me and leave them in the car to change into when I'd go out, but then by that time I'd find myself limping to the car with really sore feet. Pain is beauty, as they say. So you could imagine my surprise and delight when I found a package from Butterfly Twists at my door, giving me a pair to try out the next time I need to don my 5-inch heels. And all I need to do is fold them to tuck them away in my bag for when I need them. Sweet!

After giving the ballet flats a go (they were sooo comfortable!) and checking out their latest Fall collection, I have a few favorites that I'd like to include on my Christmas list this year:

Rockwell's Ultimate Taste Test 3.0

Last Saturday at Rockwell's Ultimate Taste Test 3.0 is where all the foodies come out to play and where passionate business owners with innovative food concepts showed off their wares. Jericho and I made our way to the Rockwell Tent, our tummies tingling with anticipation at all the glorious food we'd be stuffing our faces with! We even brought Jericho's sister, Justice, along for good measure.

IHOP: Say Good Morning with Rooty Tooty Fresh ‘N Fruity®

When it's pay day Friday and I can hear the rain gently rapping on my window pane, almost nothing can get me out from under my warm covers. My ideal morning would be spend in bed with a hot cup of Serendipity's hot chocolate watching any movie that stars Aneurin Barnard.

Unless you tell me we're going to IHOP to get breakfast.