It Ain't Called SUPERCUP for Nuthin'

Last Saturday I went to UST to take care of some things and decided to drop by for a cup of tea. To shake things up a bit, instead of going to Simple Line, I went to their sister company's store, Supercup. I have been meaning to go there for months but I knew close to nothing about their offerings. 

Doesn't look so imposing here but how big is this really?

The City that is One Ride Away from Everywhere Else | What I love about living in Manila

Two years ago I could go on and on about what I missed about Baguio which, obviously, are the things I couldn't have in this city. At the head of that list are strawberry-scented cold morning air, wearing hoodies and starry, starry nights. Ah, but that is not what this post is about.

Amidst flooded streets and videoke-loving neighborhoods, I did find something I particularly like about this city. At least in the locale where I live. It is literally one commute ride away from a good many list of destinations. 

The Moonleaf Chronicles Continue

...or is that supposed to be "continues"?? Oh, anyhow

Day #8: Melinda at Moonleaf Tea Shop

Who is Melinda says you? Why, she's my dearie sister!

Ten years ago (or is that 10 months ago?) we didn't get along as well as this day. But, hey, we're both all grown up and walking towards one *ultimate* purpose and that's one thing I'm absolutely greatful to God about.

A  tidbit of info which she probably doesn't know: She's my favorite shopping buddy. I can drag her just about anywhere (if she's in the mood) and I wouldn't feel judged for my tastes or lack thereof. She's got more energy than me, anyways (she loves window shopping, I don't really). And, in case she remarks something I do not like, I could easily overrule her. Haha. 

The Best Cook in the Family

Day 7: My Dad and My Sister at home!

I'm falling a bit behind on this challenge but I'm going to finish this one until I reach the thirtieth (how ever long that may take :)). Anyway, I still have a bevy of posts up ahead before I run out. and now, onto business.

Well, who would have guessed, the best cook in the family is...tada...

Hello, meet my dad!

Well, how about blogging on a Bus?

Day 4.5: Myself at Serenitea.

This is technically not qualified as an official challenge post but I just wanted an excuse to post this. Don't get we wrong, I have tons of stuff for posting but I just got to do this now. hehe.

This post here is not really about Serenitea but since I was at Robinson's Place, Ermita anyway, I dropped by for a cup of Okinawa Milk Tea (caution: may cause palpitations or excited behavior. No, seriously :)).

Light Lunches and Divine Appointments

Day #4: Alvie at Reyes Barbecue, Up-Ayalaland Technohub.

Yes friends, she is most photogenic when eating, you may want to consider booking her for your food ads. :P

Another item ticked off my long-overdue bonding/meeting list! 

I met Alvie on my very first day at PNRI (naks naman, I'm reminiscing. hehe) and it was clear from the get go that she wanted to burst out praising God! If I had not believed enough that a divine Hand brought us to our workplace, then meeting her and Ron that day sealed the deal. Along with one other friend (who was supposed to be with us on this meeting!), we had an instant office support group who we knew we could trust with our lives.

Making Mcdonald's Memorable

Day #3. Cell Group meeting at Mcdonald's Recto-Loyola

Meet Maren and Ycel. Yes I just met them, too. But if you had heard us swapping stories and kidding around at Mcdonald's last night, you wouldn't have guessed that. Its always amazing when I meet people like that, like they trust you as if they had known you for years. And you couldn't stop talking as if you were long lost friends.

Little sleep and yet, beauties all the same.

Both Maren and Ycel are Accountancy Board reviewees. To those of you who have gone through such a thing as a board exam (I haven't), you know what they must feel about the use of their time. But I am so proud of them for seeing the importance of putting God first in everything. Already I'm learning much from these girls.

Dear Girls, I thank you for your trust and for "sacrificing" part of your free time study time so we can talk about life and lessons and God. I praise God for bringing us together at such a time as this.

Yeah, ok, next time I will try to include food in the pictures. And somewhere more interesting than Mcdonald's, I hope. :)

Hello again, TLCC

Day #2. Ivy Joy at TLCC!

Another long overdue night out with someone I am utterly grateful for. Six months ago we asked a reluctant Ivy Joy to join the prayer team in our church. Thirty prayer meetings, a G-12 conference and lots of powerpoint presentations later, I can't help but be amazed at how God has been transforming this quirky, fun-loving woman.

What a fun person, she actually took the lower left photo herself while talking to someone. Haha.

For months we have been telling each other that we should schedule a night or afternoon out. Finally she asked this week for help with a, ehem, speaking engagement, and I had thought we could go someplace quiet-- which we did, right there at TLCC (The Life City Campus, our church's student center)! 

I did not mind at all since I actually missed this place where I used to spend all day during my pre-PNRI stay in Manila. Streetfood + TLCC lounge, so reminiscent of my masters student/bum days. Haha. Thank you, Ivy Joy, for indulging me.

Behold The 30-day Food Blog Challenge

Yes. I am finally signing up for this. I have been thinking about how to do a blog challenge consistent with the theme of this so called food blog and I finally decided on this one. Here is how it came about:

Day #1. Norma at Mcdonald's UST (aka my favorite Mcdonald's branch in Metro Manila)

 

 

Mr backpack guy had a good sense to get out of there..but left his bag!! :D

I invited Norma, my officemate and friend, to our Super Friends Sunday at church telling her we had a very special guest (no less than people's champion and disciple of Christ, Manny Pacquiao :)). The previous day she had gone to a decision making seminar of sorts with our other friend and her church youth group. I was so blessed by her coming and sharing some lessons she has learned because I knew those are what she needed right now (Hurrah for answered prayers!). I feel that this is her breakthrough season and I praise God immensely for it! 

And so i had wanted to do a post about her saying how blessed I was, indeed. That's when the idea for a blog collection of portraits came. But then this is a food blog, right? So I had to improvise there a bit.

Hence, this. 30-Day Dates Blog Challenge, now playing.

Simple Line Online!

I haven't been going to simple line much lately since I've had no classes for the past 6 or so months. But this morning when I dropped by their shop ( more on that later)I saw an announcement of their "new" website. It's simple and to the point, just like their cups of tea. What got me really excited was seeing that the newly opened Banawe branch offers sitting space! It's their first store outside Manila City, too. Congratulations to Simple Line for their continuing success!


And yes, I did drop by their store earlier to get my favorite Melon Green Tea. I think the guy who made my tea was new and looking at him preparing I just knew something was wrong-- or scratch that, different-- about my order. It turned out he put milk on my Melon fruit tea. Why not Melon milk tea, right? So I resisted the urge to complain and quickly got my order lest the cashier sees the mistake. Once out, I had a sip. Melon milk tea it is, like the way my grandma's melon milk ice candy was when we were kids! A warning, though : this is not for everyone (the same way their milk green tea is not for everyone)! My only worry when I noticed the mistake was that the drink would taste bitter... well, it was very close to being so, but it wasn't. :)

Happy Lemon and Bonifacio High Street

Yes. The title for this post is quite straightforward. Now to business. My friends and I had this planned for some time already and it only happened recently. It really had to be milk tea at Boni High and nothing else. So where else to go but Happy Lemon. There were supposed to be more people for this afternoon out but I'm still so glad for the company that came. So anyway, one of our friends, Cheeny, has been telling us about how good Happy Lemon tea is. I had tried a few drinks myself and it just wasn't..erm, my cup of tea. I let them see for themselves though. Nessil and Annie both got rock, salt and cheese cocoa, Jack and I got some form of milk tea or other and Colen got the Yakult green tea (at my coaxing, of course).

Clockwise from left: (by Nessil) I loved the trellises laden with dainty flowers all over BHS. (by Melissa) Yakult Green tea by Happy Lemon. (by Melissa) I had wanted a jump shot in front of the Nike wall but I forgot about it soon after. (by Nessil) Rock, salt, and cheese cocoa twins.

The verdict? For chocolate drinks such as these, Chuckie or Milo would do just fine. But the Milk teas were at par with other similar stores and the Yakult green tea was delicious, too (for my taste). I also realised that I've been getting Happy Lemon teas on the go before this time and it's so much more fun enjoying it with friends. This still isn't my favorite tea place but at least I now know their strong points. :)

The Moon Leaf Chronicles

MORE!

I went to three different Moon leaf tea shop branches this week. ( so now I have three different Moon leaf loyalty cards :3)


SUNDAY: Bible study meeting at Moon Leaf St Thomas Square. Had some encouraging and de-stressing post- pre-board exam (??) talk with my ECE girls, Julie and Louie. We got french macaroons along with our Yakult Jasmine tea (mine) , Nata Milk tea (louie's) and Milk green tea (Julie's). Already Yakult Jasmine's getting to be my new favourite.


WEDNESDAY: Visited Moon Leaf Maginhawa with my workmates after a day at work and our office cell group meeting. Kidded around with their gadgets and Simsimi with all our worries behind us-- well almost , some of us tried to do their homework during our stay.


THURSDAY: Decided to drop by Moon Leaf Dapitan as I went to meet my leader, Tita Cha. Got honey green tea ( with Pearls!) for the first time. As I prepare myself to punching in the straw--the cup broke! Got tea all over the floor and the edge of my shirt. The good thing? They gave me a new cup of tea without me asking! :)

The instance where they miss-spell your names and you just have to take a photo of it.

FRIDAY: It's my friend, Nessil's, birthday! I gave her my free tea birthday coupon. We decided to walk to Moon Leaf Morayta from our church in Lacson even though it was already past 9pm. Got my favourite Hakka milk tea and her free pudding milk tea, took some pictures and went off!


Whew! And I say this isn't my favourite tea shop? A statement that's hard to defend.