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When I was in grade school, I was going around National Bookstore looking at the recipe books on the second floor (don't ask why, haha). This book caught my eye. It had all these yummy recipes of cookies, cakes, and all kinds of desserts. The first thing I ever baked was the first recipe in that book: Blue Ribbon Chocolate Chip Cookies. I remember the first time I made it, I was eagerly waiting in front of the oven, constantly checking to see if my cookies were done. 10 years later, I'm still baking and I've gone beyond the Blue Ribbon Chocolate Chip Cookies.

Imagine my excitement when we got invited to the opening of the Mrs. Fields Cookie Cafe in Trinoma! You'd think I was going to meet Debbi Fields herself. (Hahaha! We really thought we were going to when we first read the email.) The lucky three were Marla, Margaux, and myself. We couldn't wait to sample the treats and see the first ever Cookie Cafe here in the Philippines.

We were served coffee with a nibbler on the side and these amazing Cookie Cupcakes. They're cookies shaped like cupcakes with icing and candy-covered chocolate on top. Yummy!

Margaux and Marla, very happy with their cupcakes.

Margaux really liked the cupcakes. Haha! That's Nana on the left. She does PR for Mrs. Fields. Thanks for inviting us, Nana!

We were stuffing ourselves silly with cookies, brownies, rocky road bars, and peanut butter dream bars. We were so hyper from all the sugar (but we all fell asleep in the car later on when we were on our way back to the office)!

But that's not all. They also have ice cream! I tried the Macadamia and Marla tried the Mango Hazelnut Latte.

I asked Marla to take a picture of me with the sign. I look like I'm so kilig. Haha!

It's always been a dream of mine to open my own cafe. Mrs. Fields is like my baking idol! Haha! Did you know that she put up Mrs. Fields when she was only 20?! Isn't that amazing? And 30 years later, Mrs. Fields is all over the world!

I hope that when I do get to put up my own cafe, I'll see you Candy girls there! Haha!

Inspired by our visit to the Cookie Cafe, I spent the Monday holiday in the kitchen baking. I haven't baked Blue Ribbon Chocolate Chip cookies in a while so that's what I made. I threw in a few walnuts, too. I brought my Mrs. Fields tin (that came with our goodie bag) but this time, with my cookies in it. Haha!

Here are my satisfied customers:

I can't wait to bake again (I want to try white chocolate and macadamia cookies this time)! So you guys look out for a sign. You never when my cookie shop might open. Haha! When the time comes, though, I hope I have a better name for it.

A really lame spoof but it always gets a laugh from the people who see it. For now, check out the real Mrs. Fields Cookie Cafe in Trinoma at the Cinema Level. You won't regret going. I promise you!

xoxo,
Macy

Posted in Candy, Reality Bytes | 12 Comments »

Hey, Candy People!

It's me, Vince Saldana again! Last time I blogged on Candy, I just came back from my well-deserved, but extremely short vacation in Guam. Today, I've taken another trip to a place I haven't been to in ages and miss just the same: the Candy Headquarters! I’ve been meaning to drop by here for the longest time, but because of work and schedules, it’s only now I had the chance to sit down and catch up! So since many of us don't get to see this place, I will dedicate my blog to describe how this place looks like!

I'm here typing my blog on Mimi's desk (I love their Mac computers!). There's a serious load of guy posters up on her wall. I see a Zac Efron, Channing Tatum, Chris Martin of Coldplay, even a picture of a Baby! But hey Mimi, you seem to be missing MY picture! (Joke.) Marla (she got a haircut!) and Angel are behind me eating their lunch (at 3 pm), smells great too, making me hungry again. There’s a lot of magazines, papers, and knickknacks on everyone’s desk, but I get the sense that this is what they mean by organized-clutter. 

So everyone, if you ever get to visit, it’s really a great place to check out. Especially the people, everyone here is really nice! Maybe I should just work here! Again, thank you to everyone in Candy, especially Marla and Mimi for being really approachable and friendly since I met them last year.

Oh and check out our movie coming out soon entitled Four In One directed by Direk Wenn Deramas, and watch out for a new workout video by Viva with Anne Curtis, Luis Manzano, together with me and the rest of the Viva Artist gang!

Until next time!

Vince 

Posted in Candy, Reality Bytes | 4 Comments »

When I first started mountain climbing, my mom told me, “You can climb all the mountains you want, but there’s no way I’m allowing you climb Everest! It’s too dangerous—you could lose your fingers and toes to frostbite or DIE!”

I replied, “Don’t worry, ma. Aside from the fact that it’s much too expensive, I have no plans whatsoever of climbing Everest. I know how difficult it is and that a lot of climbers die there every year. I’m perfectly happy with the mountains around here!”

My views changed, however, when I met Noelle, Carina, and Janet—the first Filipinas to climb Everest.

They talked about the challenges they encountered and all the sacrifices they had to make to get to Everest. In the end, though, the fulfillment they felt upon reaching the top of the highest mountain in the world was worth more than all the hardships they had to go through.

Here are a few behind the scenes snaps from their exciting journey. (Photos courtesy of the First Philippine All Women Mt. Everest Expedition Team)

Janet (with hat) and Noelle spinning the Buddhist prayer wheels in a monastery in Namche Bazaar for good luck!

Carina dressed as a local Tibetan. Doesn’t she look cute?

The three Pinays at the Chinese Base Camp in Tibet.

Carina, Janet, and Noelle reach the summit! (Can you tell who's who?) I'm sure the view from the top was AMAZING.

Here are some essential gear for a climb to Everest: High altitude boots, a trekking pole, crampons, an ice axe, rope, a helmet, goggles, mittens, and a headlamp.

After talking to them and seeing their great pictures, I couldn’t help but wonder, “Hey, if they could do it, maybe I can too!” What do you think?

Well, I certainly don’t have the funds yet and my mom would probably lock me up first, but I haven't lost hope. As Noelle, Carina, and Janet always say, “With teamwork, unity, and faith in the Lord, we can do anything!” Don't you agree?

Flying to the top of the world, 

Angel

P.S. Read more about these amazing Pinays here or flip to page 81 of your August ish!

Posted in Candy | 2 Comments »

Last weekend, I attended a retreat in Tagaytay called Singles Encounter. It is a retreat conducted by the Singles Apostolate of St. James the Great in Alabang. Unmarried 22 years old and above can join in this 3-day encounter with self, others and God. My brother was the one who invited me to go since he belongs to the class before us (SE12). I was a bit hesitant at first but after months of contemplating, I thought “why not give it a shot?”

I invited my friend, Steph, to go with me since I didn’t want to go alone. On the way to Tagaytay last Friday, Steph and I were trying to predict what will happen in our retreat. After 2 hours on the road, we got to Angel’s Hills and people in red shirts welcomed us and helped us carry our luggage to our respective cottages. At first I thought we were staying in a dormitory kind of room but I was surprised to see the cottages and felt I was in a resort. The place was fully lit, the rooms were comfortable, the ambience was perfect to unwind and relax, and the sponsoring class (SE12) was so accommodating. It was surreal and so peaceful; I thought I was in another world. 

It was so nice to see old friends who were also there at the retreat. ¾ of our batch came from DLSU and I was so ecstatic to see some friends who I haven’t seen in ages. Not only did I see old friends in our class (SE13) but also from the earlier classes who one of them happened to be my busmate in Grade School and others who I am acquainted to. I also met new friends of different ages, field of work and status. I never thought this retreat would be a bridge to a new kind of friendship. Here’s our so called “class picture”: 

SE13 <3

In those 3 days, I realized a lot of things. First is I knew myself even better. I discovered something I thought I wouldn’t be doing. I also learned how to care for the feelings of others. Hearing their life stories and the problems they have encountered, I thought the problems that I’m worrying about doesn’t match to what they have stumbled upon. And the highlight of the retreat, it’s getting to know God more. I never thought I’d value Him this much. It’s such a great feeling to praise Him with songs that really struck my heart. It’s so nice to see people around you sing with sincerity just to show their love for the one up there. Imagine, 150++ normal yuppies praising God in one room? It's sooo amazing!

        

It was one experience I will never forget. Making new friends, relive old friendships, praising the Lord with no pretentions and hesitations, and being one with everyone in loving Father God unconditionally. I promised God that I will be active in the community with our prayer meetings and other activities. With that, not only I can do something for others but also I can share to people my experience in joining Singles Encounter. The experience and the people I got to be with will always be in my heart and it will remain for the rest of my life.

Still on high,
Roch <3 

Posted in Candy | 5 Comments »

Last Friday, Mia, Mimi, and I were talking about shows we loved as a kid. I read somewhere that your TV crush as a tween is usually reflective of your ideal guy/girl as an adult. Over twister fries and milkshakes, the discussion led to this:

I was either a 6th-grader or a high school freshie when this series started airing, and I loved loved loved it! Even then, I knew it wasn't your typical teen show—the humor was sarcastic, and the plot wasn't predictable. I loved how stepsisters Brooke and Sam went from hating each other to sort of becoming friends (Did you know that the actresses who play them, Leslie Bibb and Carly Pope, are actually best buds in real life?), and how their roles were reversed in the second season (Brooke quit cheerleading and Sam suddenly became The It Girl). I loved how this series offered a fresh, funny take on popularity and high school politics.

So why is this post titled Cute Boy Alert? Because the truth is, I loved loved loved this show mostly because I loved loved loved this guy:

Candy girls, meet Christopher Gorham. Isn't he the cutest? He played Harrison John, and I had the biggest crush on him. He was smart ("You want to be unique, sure—just like everyone else."), sensitive ("When darkness approaches, you have to muster your courage, and harness your strength, and stare it straight in the eye, because that's the only way you can live with yourself.), and basically an adorable dorky guy with a lot of romantic issues ("Because I have to fight my own battles. And until I do, I'm in no way ready to fight yours."). Hmm…does that remind you of anyone? This dude, maybe? 

At present, Christopher plays Henry from Accounting in Ugly Betty and is happily married (sniff!). Popular may have been canceled years ago, but Harrison will always have a very special place in my heart. HAHAHAHA! (Yes, I still surprise myself at how utterly cheesy I can get. Hehe.)

Still likes dorks,
Marla

Posted in Candy Rap, Love | 6 Comments »