We don’t need to go out of town or spend a huge amount of money to have a good time with the family. Sometimes, all it takes is Php 30 and a quick stopover at a convenience store nearby. Our family spent the whole Saturday with each other and one of our random activities during the day was to try the twirl-all-you-can at Family Mart, Ayala Triangle. My eldest sister knew about the fun experience I had when I first tried it last year, so she recommended to do it with the family.
Upon entering the store, we sat down on the comfortable chairs and waited for dad who bought a cone for himself. He bought just one cone because we were all full and we didn’t feel like eating ice cream after having our heavy breakfast. Dad knew that I enjoy twirling (which is also similar to piping frosting on cupcakes), so he gave me the opportunity to twirl the ice cream for him. Woohoo! It really is something that I can do all day. After six twirls, the ice cream almost fell, but I immediately used my two fingers to catch it just in time. Oops. Hahaha!
Family Mart’s Twirl-All-You-Can Ice CreamFamily Mart’s Twirl-All-You-Can Ice Cream
Both my brothers suddenly had the urge to give the twirling a try even though they didn’t feel like eating ice cream that morning. Haha. Our younger brother bought a cone and started twirling the ice cream. He started with beautiful twirls at first, and then, the funny part happened. Because the machine was releasing the ice cream fast, his hand panicked and lost control of the cone. It resulted to producing a funny twirl. Nonetheless, it did have a generous amount of ice cream, so, good job, Gabo! Hehehe.
Family Mart’s Twirl-All-You-Can Ice Cream
At this point, my older brother was already coming up with a strategy to produce the best twirl – one that would have the most ice cream on the cone. He came up with an interesting and crazy idea to tilt the cone sideways until it is positioned horizontally while allowing the ice cream to twirl awkwardly on top of it. We didn’t expect him to do it, but he did. Hahahaha! Just like Gabo, he started out with neat twirls, and then, chaos took over! Instead of twirling the ice cream, he started to twirl his hand and body. It was the funniest thing! Hahaha. By this time, we were all laughing because of the masterpiece that he was creating. After a number of twirls, he finally took out the cone with the best twirl that morning! Woohoo!
Family Mart’s Twirl-All-You-Can Ice Cream
Thanks, Gabo, for the video! :)
Twirling the ice cream seemed like it was a very easy thing to do. But, when panic creeps in while you’re in the middle of twirling, it makes you come up with interesting shapes of ice cream. Kudos to all the expert twirlers at the convenience stores! How do you do it?? Haha. This is only the beginning of our family’s twirling experience. Someday, in the near future, I know that we will be back! Thank you, Family Mart, for providing a fun experience for family and friends. Thank you to my family for also making yourselves available last Saturday and for being competitive. :))
It was my first time to do a photowalk at Bonifacio High Street last Saturday with one of my colleagues, Zee. We only had an hour and a half in the morning because she had work that day, but that brief time was a fun and interesting experience for us. After the photowalk, she went to work and I decided to pass by a restaurant to buy a glass of iced tea because I was parched. But, while I was walking, I suddenly craved something healthier — like a fruit shake, and I remembered that Jamba Juice had a store in Bonifacio Global City. So, even though it was a couple of blocks away from where the car was parked, I took my time and walked to the store.
Jamba Juice Bonifacio Global City
As soon as I entered the store, I was warmly greeted by two staff members who were preparing more than 20 cups of fruit shakes for some of their customers. After being exposed to the sun for hours that morning, walking into their store was definitely a refreshing moment for me. :)
Here are some of the things that I love about Jamba Juice:
1. Choice of Colors – The bright colored walls and wooden tables and chairs help in making the experience more fun! Even if you were just taking out a beverage or dining in with friends inside their store, you’ll certainly feel lighter and happier because of the pleasant colors.
Jamba Juice Bonifacio Global City
2. Jamba Juice Baristas – Aside from being very welcoming and friendly as you enter and exit the store, they really seem to enjoy what they’re doing. I also love how the baristas confidently whip up the drinks in a few minutes. They even throw balls of crushed ice and frozen fruits in the air and catch them using the blender. Love it! If I try to do that at home, I would probably make a mess. Haha!
Jamba Juice Bonifacio Global CityJamba Juice Bonifacio Global City
3. Healthy and Refreshing Drinks – Every now and then, we take in food and drinks that don’t really contribute to improving our health. But, Jamba Juice encourages a healthy lifestyle by offering their specialty: beverages made from fresh and pure ingredients, without high fructose corn syrup or artificial preservatives. I also appreciate how they make thick and creamy smoothies with free boosts (e.g. Vitamin C, Zinc, Energy, Protein, etc.).
Banana Berry Smoothie
4. A Place where Family and Friends can Hangout – Aside from having many comfortable tables, wall sofas, and chairs in and out of the store, Jamba Juice also encourages bonding between family and friends through their own free photobooth. I tried this twice since I started drinking Jamba Juice and this extra effort shows value to their customers. Personally, I love documenting events and moments in my life. So, having this special feature deserves two thumbs up!
Jamba Juice Bonifacio Global City
5. Witty and Good Vibes – Inside the store, you’ll see different phrases written on the walls that somehow help spread good vibes. Phrases such as “Squeeze the day” or “Live fruitfully”.
Before going home that morning, I got myself a cup of my favorite Jamba Juice smoothie: Banana Berry (Apple-Strawberry Juice Blend + Frozen Bananas + Nonfat Frozen Yogurt + Blueberries + Ice + Raspberry Sherbet)! Yum!! You could just imagine how refreshed I felt after relaxing inside the store on a hot morning. Thank you, Jamba Juice, for the lovely experience. I’ll be back soon!
Jamba Juice Bonifacio Global City
For more details on their menu and branches, you may check the ff. websites:
Through the years, I’ve realized how comfortable it is for me to work behind the scenes than to speak or perform in front of a crowd. If I were to choose between preparing the materials for a show and hosting a show, I would certainly pick the first option. Hello, introverted me! However, every now and then, God gives me the strength to step out of my comfort zone and He graciously uses me in spite of my weaknesses for His glory.
Photo c/o Lizette Tan
Recently, I was invited by UP KKB to speak at one of the classes in the University of the Philippines (Diliman) during their Alternative Classroom Learning Experience (ACLE). After weeks of praying and surrendering my fears and doubts to God, I accepted the invitation and spent the afternoon of October 23, 2014 with a classroom of college students and with my older brother (Thank you, kuya!).
I’ll be sharing some of the topics discussed during the event. If you’re planning on blogging soon, I hope that this post will somehow encourage you to take the plunge! :)
TIPS ON STARTING A BLOG
PURPOSE: Identify the purpose of the blog.
Brainstorm ideas. What do you enjoy doing or talking about the most? What are your hobbies, daily activites, talents and skills? What are you passionate about? If you have all the resources in the world, what is it that you imagine yourself doing for the rest of your life? Your answer to the last question will most probably reveal what you’re passionate about. Making your passion the theme of your blog will help you express your ideas and skills more since you are very interested in it.
Another question that you can ask yourself is: “What do you want the readers to take home after reading your blog?” Do you want them to know more about your experiences or skills? Certain products? Photography? Origami? Gardening? Your own business? Latest trends in fashion? New restaurants in town? Lessons you’ve been learning? Blogging is not only a way of expressing oneself, it’s also an opportunity for people to interact and inspire others.
Photo c/o Lizette Tan
BRAND: Take time to think about your blog’s name, logo, and tagline (optional).
When the readers hear about or read you blog name and see the logo, they need to have a glimpse of what your blog is all about. The blog name must be clear, creative, easy to remember, and of course, unique.
Also, take into consideration the colors that you will use in the blog’s logo and theme. The colors need to match what your blog is all about. For food blogs, using royal blue as the website’s background or font might not be as appealing as compared to using colors like yellow, orange, or red. (Notice how most of the logos of the food establishments use the latter colors too?) Feel free to observe and take notes on the different logos displayed at the malls and those featured on the internet.
RESOURCES: Identify your resources and maximize them.
Before I started Encouraging Treats, this was one of the major factors that I struggled with. I remember feeling discouraged because I didn’t have a DSLR camera and I thought that without it, I wouldn’t be able to produce good photos for the blog. A lot of other discouragements hindered me from starting the blog last 2012, such as our slightly broken (but still usable) convection oven and my lack of experience in writing.
Photo c/o Lizette Tan
But, God encouraged me to look at the resources that I had at that time and helped me maximize them. I had the ff. resources:
*A simple digital camera that didn’t take good photos in the dark. Haha.
*Internet connection and a laptop that I could use at home.
*An oven that struggled in producing the exact temperatures — which is very crucial in baking.
*Extra money for ingredients and extra ingredients from mom’s groceries.
*Quiet times with God and His Word.
Photo c/o Lizette Tan
Two years later, by God’s grace, He continues to use the blog to encourage others. And even though I still do not have a DSLR camera, God has been faithful in helping me improve on my photography skills.
Sooner or later, we will get discouraged when we focus on the material things and resources that we have because these things don’t last and they will never fill the desires of our hearts. But, when we focus on who God is and surrender these resources to Him, He is able to do more than all we can ask or imagine.
“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to Him be the glory… ” [Ephesians 3:20]
Photo c/o Lizette Tan
PLATFORM: Choose your blogging platform
You can have the option of creating a free website or creating your own domain.
For platforms with free accounts, you may try any of the ff: WordPress, Blogger, and Tumblr. But personally, I would recommend WordPress since it is very user-friendly, it has a lot of ready-made themes, it can categorize your posts, and it transitions smoothly when converting your free account to your own domain/website.
Photo c/o Lizette Tan
NETWORK: Share your blog and posts.
One of the advantages that we have in today’s technology is that we can easily communicate with others through our various gadgets. Sharing thoughts, promoting businesses, and interacting with other people from around the world are only a few clicks away!
In blogging, you may share your posts through the different blogger-friendly websites such as: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, FoodSpotting, Pinterest, Vine, etc. Also, taking time to interact with your readers and fellow bloggers by replying and leaving comments in your website and in their blogs help in expanding your network.
Lastly, using links in your posts (whether they are from your previous posts or from other websites) also help in sharing your blog to more readers.
Photo c/o Lizette Tan
WITH A GRATEFUL HEART
I ended the talk by sharing the first encouraging treat that I posted HERE. I talked about how God used the resources and even the weaknesses of Mrs. Wakefield to bless millions of people by allowing her to create the first batch of chocolate chip cookies!
Afterwards, I gave the participants an opportunity to think about and document their PASSION, PURPOSE, and RESOURCES on a golden paper plate. Then, I asked them to fold the plate into a cookie bowl/container. We all held the bowls as I encouraged them to pray and seriously think about starting a blog. Just like how God used Mrs. Wakefield, I shared to them that He can also work in and through us, the passions, purpose, and resources that He has given to us so that we can honor Him by being a blessing to others as well.
Photo c/o Lizette Tan
I really praise God for the wonderful time that I had with the participants of OFF THE PLATE. It was encouraging to see them have the desire to learn more and share their hearts and lives through blogging. Hopefully, I will see them online soon! Thank You, Lord, for this amazing privilege. Thank you also, to UP KKB, for having me. :)
Photo c/o Lizette TanPhoto c/o Lizette TanPhoto c/o Lizette Tan
I fell in love with Mozzarella cheese a few years ago while I was experimenting on my homemade pasta and stuffed crust pizza . I just love how the melted cheese beautifully stretches and how its unique bland taste neutralizes the bold flavors in different dishes.
Every now and then, when I have extra cash, I treat myself with a block of Mozzarella cheese. Haha. Usually, I melt it on steamed broccoli or on shrimp scampi. But because I craved for something different recently, I made a few spiced and breaded Mozzarella cheese sticks at home.
Instead of just using flour, egg, and plain bread crumbs for the breading, I added chopped oregano leaves to it. It worked well since it complements well with the marinara sauce paired with the Mozzarella sticks.
Making them was delightful and easy since it doesn’t require a lot of steps and ingredients (except for the Marinara sauce, I guess. But, it’s quite easy to do too :P). For a healthier option, you may bake the cheese sticks in the oven. I wanted to bake them; however, our oven wasn’t working at that time. So, I just used a small pan with less than a cup of vegetable oil for frying. (Oven-baked cheese sticks, I shall try you soon!)
It was a bit tricky for me to fry the cheese sticks at first because I fried four sticks at the same time. Haha. About 10 to 15 seconds later, the sticks started to slowly pop and the cheese leaked out of the breading! It was a disaster! It even became worse when I tried to slowly flip the cheese, since the four sticks quickly stuck to each other.
I paused for a while and asked God what went wrong. I also asked Him to help me cook the next cheese sticks properly. He then showed me that the heat I was using was too high for the cheese sticks that I was cooking. Also, since I was using a tiny pan, it wasn’t advisable for me to cook a lot of sticks at the same time. And so, I lowered the heat and fried one cheese stick at a time. When I started to feel more comfortable with it and got used to the timing of cooking one cheese stick, I then tried cooking two sticks at a time – which was just right for the pan.
I was too excited and preoccupied with the thought of doing it and accomplishing it as soon as possible, that I didn’t prepare for it. I didn’t even think of how to cook them in the best possible way before I fried the cheese sticks.
Through this, God showed me the importance of consulting Him first before making decisions, even when I’m experimenting in the kitchen. Instead of rushing into things and trying to do my daily activities on my own strength, He encouraged me to seek Him and ask for wisdom because He knows me more than I do. He knows what I need and what is best for me.
I realized that there are so many things that I want to do; so many dreams and desires that I want to pursue. But, as early as now, God is teaching my heart to seek Him above all, to humble myself before Him, and wait on Him and His perfect timing.
“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” –Matthew 6:33
“This is what the Lord says, he who made the earth, the Lord who formed it and established it—the Lord is his name: ‘Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.’” – Jeremiah 33:2-3
INGREDIENTS
Breading for the Mozzarella sticks:
1/3 cup of flour (or the amount enough to cover the sticks)
1 egg
1 cup of Japanese bread crumbs
Mozzarella Cheese
Chopped herbs (basil, rosemary, oregano)
Marinara Sauce:
2 cups of crushed tomatoes (I used canned tomatoes)
McCormick’s Italian seasoning or fresh herbs (basil, rosemary, oregano)
My name is Nicole Obligacion and I started this blog because I was inspired by Hebrews 10:24 and Hebrews 3:13. I love to eat, cook, bake, read the Bible, and encourage. :)
