Christmas, So Far

After a weekend of hanging out, my Christmas vacation, so far, has been very domestic. I sewed a lace top (which was difficult, by the way, but turned out wearable or so-so considering that no one really taught me how to use a sewing machine). I cleaned my room a bit. I put away the shoes that I'm no longer using so that we can give them away (I think I put away 9 pairs so finally my shoe rack can breathe and I can start shopping again... whoops... gotta control!!!). I went to the grocery. I did my laundry. I baked stuff.

Here's the first victim: chocolate chip oatmeal bars. I used this recipe from Carrots 'n Cake and threw in semi-dark chocolate chips instead of raisins. 

Second victim: chocomint brownies. I used a recipe from Joy of Baking sans the ganache and added some drops of peppermint oil. [Segue: Have I ever mentioned how much I love chocomint? A lot of my friends love it too and for a while, I thought that everyone loved chocomint that I was surprised when my workmates told me they didn't like chocomint!]

I missed baking. A lot. I don't even remember baking anything since June 2012 because I've been extremely busy and perpetually tired. While I was baking the oatmeal bars a few days ago, I was actually a scared that I might have already forgotten how to bake but it turned out fine. But more than me, I think my parents really missed the home-baked stuff.

Hurray, Christmas vacation! I know, I know I'm supposed to be working but still... Hurray Christmas vacation!

Cocina Juan, Parvati, Pantea

Okay now is the time of the year!! Goodbye diet! (or hopefully not)

Friday, after the Lantern Parade, Yanyan, Reena and I went to Cocina Juan in Maginhawa Street for dinner. As much as I wanted a chimichanga, it's gonna be too much for my tummy so I opted for chicken quesadilla instead.

Serving looks small but it actually got me full!

After Cocina Juan, we went to Moonleaf! I ordered my favorite Peach Yakult.

The next day, Saturday, was UP AME's Christmas party but I had early dinner with AME friends at Parvati in Trinoma. I've been seeing this restaurant for years already but it's my first time to dine there.

I ordered Shrimp Etouffee (PhP 230 for a whole serving, which I split with Airis). It's pasta with spicy tomato-based sauce. And what's Parvati without dessert? I ordered Coffee Indulgence (one of their cheesecakes). The coffee flavor was not strong enough for me but the texture was very creamy and the sweetness was just right! At PhP150, I think it's a pretty good run for the money!

And finally, this drink is fondly called "pantea". (Say it with me, "PANTEA!!!") My Aggre orgmates discovered this being sold at PhP25 at the food cart outside the College of Architecture. 

Looks cheap (well yes, it is cheap) but I'm not complaining

Lantern Parade 2012

Classes in UP this 2012 officially ended last Friday. And what's the best way to celebrate? Lantern Parade, of course!

UP PEP Squad's performance

UP AME plugging their major event on February: AME 1UP

UP Tomo-Kai's ramen

UP College of Engineering. Nope, it's not JUST an Ikot jeep...

...it's a Transformer!! They call it "DeceptIKOT"

Here's a video of DeceptIKOT's Transformation (taken by ME professor, Sir Ji Reyes). Isn't it amazing? The Department of Mechanical Engineering and the Electrical and Electronics Engineering Institute did it! I swear it's so genius! I mean, come on, they created a Transformer!

UP Babaylan (LGBT org) being bongga/fabulous as always

And finally, the lanterns from The College of Fine Arts (i.e. the highlight of the whole parade). This year, CFA's theme is flight.

Jack Skellington riding a sleigh pulled by his reindeer skeletons

Javelin throw

Pegasus pulling a carriage

And that's it. I didn't get a lot of photos because it was very difficult to take photos of moving objects in the dark and I was very tired too (I was running on 3 hours of sleep and I also hosted our Institute Christmas party that day). UP College of Engineering did not win best float this year but I am still amazed by DeceptIKOT.