Green Smoothies from The Big Chill and Rawlicious

If you find my green smoothie-related posts too weird or radical or if you predict such will be a bland and dissatisfactory experience, you might want to give the The Big Chill's raw vegetable juice bar a chance. What's there to lose if you'll just come over and choose among their offerings? Ok, that'll cost about P90-150, but that's just about the same range we shell out for those sugar-loaded milk teas with add-ons, right? [I should know.]

The Big Chill in Greenbelt 1


The veggie juice variants!

GREEN DREAMS - green apple + cucumber + bitter gourd (aka ampalaya) + celery + green bell pepper ("beauty" drink and high in calcium)
BROCCOLI BUSTER: white cabbage + broccoli + pineapple (anti-cancer properties)
PINE LEMON: pineapple + cucumber + green lemon + orange (great for skin, natural diuretic and high in Vitamin C)
RED ALERT : red beetroot + carrot + celery + pineapple (blood fortifier, liver detoxifier and iron builder)
APPLE WHEAT: green apple + fresh organic wheatgrass + pineapple + orange (wheatgrass is a natural energizer, body cleanser, body builder and weight control aid).

Among these options, I've once tried Red Alert to quench my thirst and hunger one Sunday noon. After my commute from Makati to Quezon City, I proceeded to have my late lunch. If you'll give green smoothies a try, make sure NOT to eat 45 minutes before and after drinking it and chew the smoothie (meaning mix the saliva with the liquids inside your mouth before swallowing) to maximize its benefits. More guidelines here.

I wish I have other commercially-known brands to name-drop here before you could start dismissing this as a sponsored entry or something. I must admit I'm clueless if its direct competitors have been providing green smoothies aside from the fruitty ones and I apologize for that.

However, if you frequent the Legazpi Market in Makati every Sundays, you've probably experienced the green juices from Rawlicious. In case you haven't, they actually deliver or allow pick-ups here. I also subscribed to their weekly dose of healthy tips and delivery-related announcements. If you'd like to be included in their loop, feel free to send them an email to rawliciousplanet@yahoo.com. And here's their green smoothie menu:

HELLA GREEN: pure coconut water + mango + banana + organic greens (hydrates the body due to its electrolytes)
JOE'S GREEN MIND: organic greens + organic cucumber + organic mint + apple + banana + pure coconut water (helps detoxify the body due to its beta-carotene)
GREEN MONSTER XAVIER: organic greens + pineapple + banana + organic ginger (encourages healing of the body and aids in digestion)
GREEN DREAM CASANOVA: organic greens + organic cilantro + pineapple + apple + banana + cinnamon (detoxifier of metals and other impurities)
GREEN LOVER LUNA : watermelon + organic greens + organic malunggay + banana + cinnamon (promotes healthy kidneys and immune system)
BITTER SWEET XAVIER : pineapple + apple + organic greens, organic bitter gourd + banana (antiseptic and antibacterial for the body)
GREEN SOUL BRITA: pure coconut water + papaya, organic greens + banana (loaded with digestive enzymes and anti-oxidants)

Rawlicious green smoothies. Photo lifted from Dainty Mom

*Menu information were lifted from their store menu (The Big Chill) and website (Rawlicious).

#MarchPhotoADay Challenge! Day 25: Breakfast

My colds just turned 8-day-old today. And it's not something to celebrate about. Typically, I just suffer from colds for 2-3 days and then move on to coughs and/or fever. When this occurs, I let things happen as I refuse to be dependent on prescribed drugs. Since earlier this week, I've been contradicting myself and started popping the green pills in hopes to prevent what's yet to come.

Yesterday, my grandmother bought guyabano (otherwise known as soursop) from a vendor outside our home. We shared this between the two of us and, in between mouthfuls, I promised to buy her more guyabano and, another common favorite, avocado. Before lunchtime, I went to the grocery to fulfill this promise. Upon my arrival, we both prepared the ripe fruits and I decided to have more guyabano and I'll have my share of avocado for breakfast. When I woke up this morning, I noticed there were guyabano leftovers in the fridge (proving we're the only herbivores in the household) so I decided to have both fruits for breakfast.

Day 25: Breakfast

I know, guyabano (possibly sub-acid) and avocado (starch) is an odd combination. But guyabano is an excellent source of Vitamin C, very fitting for my current need. I even had real calamansi juice (acid) to go with them. Did I just hear you gasp? I admit, this is a very bad example of food combining.

Have I told you how my stomach proved to be highly trained in surviving bad combination of food? It had a track record of no complaints for Indian mango-and-soda combo, spoiled menudo, among others. I'm grateful for this gift as it allows me to stuff myself anything all the time, but I must remember that it's not a good way of treating my body. Proper food combining paves the way for good digestion; the easy-to-digest (light, water-based food) had to wait for the hard-to-digest ones (heavy proteins) before making an exit in our system. The longer it stays in our stomach, the bigger the possibility of fermentation which sadly leads to high acidity.

Since the onset of this journey to wellness, I learned facts that debunked food-related guides that were passed on from generations to generations. For instance, my guyabano-and-avocado-loving grandmother coached me NEVER consume fruits in an empty stomach and it's best eaten as dessert. In reality, fruits are our best bet in breaking fasts and it should be eaten first, salad second, finally the main course. Fruits play a key role in absorption of nutrients and they are the easiest to digest and, naturally, should be eaten 45 minutes before any meal.

Sorry if this entry sounds too rigid and heavy. But it's something we really need to know so our bodies would feel better. On the lighter side, the #MarchPhotoADay challenge is still ongoing! Here's the mechanics:

[Camera Phone] Photo A Day Challenge! Created by Fat Mum Slim.

COMING UP: A-Raw Summer Raw Food Workshops!

Chef Asha Peri's A-Raw Summer Raw Food Workshops

You've heard me gush about the parade of food and learnings I enjoyed in attending a raw food workshop here. So why don't you give it a try yourself?

A-RAW SUMMER WORKSHOPS AND FREE LECTURE on the following dates:

March 30 - Ilaw Sa Hilaw: The Raw Pinoy Diet
March 31 - Raw Mediterranean
April 2 - The Great Salad Experience
April 3 - The Lighter Side of Living: Cleansing Protocols (free lecture, 1 demo, lunch, by donation only)
April 9 - Be Dessertified!

Limited slots per workshop. To register, please email leaf.kitchen@yahoo.com or call Loida at (02)916-0391.

Invite design by Ingrid Dimaculangan.

[12 of] 27 Dresses

You've heard of my intent to perform supporting roles in at least 27 weddings here. This year, the parade of romantic rites began at my aunt's exchange of vows with a family friend. I remember how we used to sigh about our seemingly zero lovelives and, in one instance, how I assured her that Mr. Right will definitely come knocking to those who patiently wait. Fast forward that day, she began a deeper romantic journey with Tito Jojo and I, in turn, introduced the new man in my life to our big (paternal) family. A milestone indeed!

The Campilan-Papa Nuptials

18 March 2012

The inspiration behind my gown! Thanks Google images!

As soon as my mother saw this picture, she bombarded me with disapproving spiels, reminding me how my big arms are total eye sores and all that. She even added the other secondary sponsors will don cocktail dresses so why can't I do the same? I countered sponsors are supposed to be in long dresses. If they won't, it's up to them.

The creation of this gown subjected me into series of stressful moments that are still too fresh to recount. Maybe when I can finally look back and laugh away. Then, there's this last-minute realization that my silver clutch bag refuses to unzip and my mum is too occupied running the show to help me find a decent replacement from her own closet. Anyway, this is a festive event so enough blabbing and let's proceed to the photos!

My beautiful bouquet

Wheeeeere's Waldo? Right here beside me!

Waldo is no part of the entourage, but this bratinella prefers that his attire would complement my gown and he looks stunning when we waltz in together. After all, nobody walks in in casual polo during meet-the-big-family moments like this, right? We had our own little adventure shopping for this formal wear and I'm glad that he realized that he, too, can look stylish in such outfit.

This medium close-up shot was brought to you by the unofficial photographer

Here comes the cord sponsors!

Us secondary sponsors: my childhood friend-turned-kumare Leah, Tita Susan, myself and the groom's bunso, Elizabeth

The happiest couple that day, Tita Ines and Tito Jojo

In secondary sponsor duties!

The newlyweds and the secondary sponsors

The newlyweds and our big, big family from Southern Leyte

The newlyweds and the secondary sponsors during the reception

By the time reception rolled around, my gown had started manifesting slight malfunction. It was like Suzi and Geno were fighting for their own airtime, wanting to be freed from their hiding place. But that would be too obscene. So when they asked for the single ladies to come in front for the traditional bouquet throw, I had a valid excuse to remain seated and fidget on my buttons. Phew!

I know I've blogged somewhere that I truly enjoy the competition for the bouquet throws and I can't comprehend why most Pinays prefer to play the killjoy role each time. Now I realize that it's a different story when you're finally dating someone and they expect you to be the next to dash to tie the knot. Harharhar! Chill out, people!

Look for me...if you can!

Going back to the gown, I believe the fit can still be improved. And that Hello Kitty bag is beyond inappropriate for the event. I'll just try to redeem myself next time. When they renew their vows, maybe?

Outfit of the Day:

Long gown with silver belt

Hello Kitty handbag

VNC silver heels

Photos from Leah Luceros-Rubia, the unofficial photographer/s and yours truly.

#MarchPhotoADay Challenge! Day 9: [Puta] Red

I've been worried sick what to blog about since the start of the month. I've got a tall pile of backlog to work on plus I haven't really thought of anything cool to write about aside from the [tooooooooot]. Wait, something's creeping up.

I heard about this camera phone photo challenge on Facebook 2 days ago and, as you can expect from a camwhore like myself, I'm so thrilled to start right away. I was momentarily hesitant to join; I'd like to begin on the first day of the month. But, hey, who says I can't start posting photos today? If you're interested, check out the mechanics below.

[Camera Phone] Photo A Day Challenge! Lifted from Fat Mum Slim

Today's assignment is so close to my heart. As you can tell in my prior entries, I am such a big fan of screaming reds. Red lipstick makes me want to go panic buying even if most people think it looks best in fair-skinned women yada yada. I think I look sexier in red, too. I'm sure I'm not the only one who feels that way.

So...I brought out an old blouse with argyle design, my trusty puta red lipstick (thanks, Revlon!), my souvenir hat that I am yet to world premiere (thanks, Ina!) and my red pumps from Solemate (not seen in this photo). Enjoy!

Day # 9: RED