Christmas Lunch at Gloria Maris, Greenhills

During Christmas, my family doesn't really prepare Noche Buena. This year, like all previous years, my family and I had a series of lunch outs for our Christmas celebration. This week, I have been to Binondo and Robinsons Magnolia (Sunday), Trinoma (Monday), Greenhills and SM Megamall (Tuesday), and Trinoma (Wednesday) just to eat out. Now, I am steering clear of any mall, since I have had more than enough mall trips in a week!

For our family Christmas lunch last December 25, we ate at the newly-renovated, very posh and modern-looking Gloria Maris in Greenhills. We don't regularly go here, although I wish we could, because it's kinda pricey! But then since it's Christmas, we have the reason to celebrate because it's the birthday of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.

My family loves Chinese cuisine, and the food from Gloria Maris are some of the best that I have tried.

House Tea

The House Tea in Gloria Maris is not free, but we don't mind at all since it does smell like real jasmine tea. It's fragrant and refreshing, and it is a perfect match for a meal full of Chinese food.

Pork Siomai

For me, the two restaurants that make my favorite siomai are Causeway Seafood Restaurant and Gloria Maris. The siomai from Gloria Maris is larger than the regular-sized siomai, and it's packed with meaty pork and shrimp (none of those starchy fillers in those 4 for P25.00 siomai stands)! The firm yet soft wrapper adds a special touch and texture to the entire dimsum. I could eat about 3 orders of these in one sitting, but of course, self control rules.

Fried Pork Spareribs with Salt and Pepper

The spareribs were tender and they had enough salt and spice into it, which makes for a good rice topping. Also, you gotta love how they presented the dish - I wanted to take home that little orange bird but didn't, because I don't know what I would do with that anyway if I had taken it home with me. Haha!

Yang Chow Fried Rice

As for the rice, I think it tasted similar to the Yang Chow Fried Rice of President Grand Palace Restaurant in Binondo. Nothing too unique or special, just the usual Yang Chow Fried Rice. But then, it has lots of add-ons like pieces of meat and shrimp, so you could just order this plus an ulam or two, and you're good to go!

Beef Tenderloin Chinese Style

When they said tenderloin, they really meant for it to be oh-so-tender. I personally hate saucy foods (and my friends think I'm weird because of that), but this one I absolutely loved (after scraping off the sauce from my slice of meat, though). The beef is so soft and so easy to bite, plus I love how savory it is. We took some of the leftovers from this dish home, and it was still so good and soft even during the next day.

 

Beef Fried Rice in Tomato

This one reminds me of the Yang Chow Fried Rice topped with Beef Tenderloin Chinese Style (look at the 2 dishes above), but it's not. The meat here was a bit harder than the tenderloin (similar texture to pork chop, but it's beef). Not such a huge fan of this dish because it has so much sauce in it! (Again, that's just my personal preference.)
 

Crab with Salted Egg

See, I was never a crab fan until the fateful Christmas day when I first tasted Gloria Maris' Crab with Salted Egg. This is hands down the best-tasting crab dish I have tried, and my entire family (especially my Dad!) thinks so, too. The shell is coated in salty, savory salted egg, and the crab meat is just so tender and tasty. The crab dish itself has a decent size - quite meaty and not just full of thick shells to make up for the weight of the dish. I think we'll be back to Gloria Maris because of this dish.

How about you, how did you Celebrate Christmas? Do feel free to share it with me in the comments box below. Happy holidays! :)

Love,

Helen

The Body Shop Born Lippy Stick in Plum

My love affair with The Body Shop's Born Lippy Lip Balms started way way back when I was in high school. I fondly remember browsing through magazines, and whenever I'd see that iconic pot of The Body Shop Born Lippy Strawberry Lip Balm, I'd put it on my mental wishlist. (About ten years ago, I considered a P250.00 lip balm pricey, and my lips was actually fine with drugstore brands then.) One fateful day when I visited The Body Shop,  I took a whiff of the sweet strawberry lip balm and was instantly hooked. I've used up three of those Born Lippy pots - two in strawberry and one in watermelon long before I started blogging. However, I stopped using lip balms that came in pots when I started commuting (way back in college), since my hands get dirty in transit. I've been thinking on how nice it would be to have my favorite lip balm come in stick form - and that's what The Body Shop just did when they came up with the Born Lippy Stick! 

The Body Shop Born Lippy Stick in Plum (P295.00)

The Born Lippy Sticks actually come in many flavors/shades, but Plum is my best bet because its the most pigmented one in the bunch.

This lip balm that looks deep purple on the tube actually produces a sheer pinkish tint when applied.

Swatch

When it comes to choosing lip balms, I personally go for the tinted/darker ones as opposed to the ones in baby pink and other cutesy shades. Even if they look dark on the tube, they are bound to have a sheer finish anyway because that's how most lip balms are.

When worn

With this, I get to skip lipstick because it already adds a hint of healthy color to my lips. I've just started using this last month but I've already used up half of the tube since I get addicted to reapplying it throughout the day (especially in the office when it gets too cold, or whenever I snack on something). It gives my lips and instant surge of moisture and relief from dryness. I also use this every night before I sleep, and I always wake up to softer lips. Plus points for the light texture of this lip balm that glides on effortlessly and melts on your lips upon contact. It's moisturizing but never waxy, so you can use this under your lipstick for added protection and hydration.

Plum is an unconventional choice of flavor for a lip balm, but I am really liking the scent. It smells really sweet, juicy, fruity - like candy! But this one is just scented, not flavored, which is actually a good thing since you won't be tempted to lick it off every time you put it on. (Lip licking is a no-no, as it dries out your lips even more.)

If you liked the classic potted Born Lippy Lip Balms, then you'll love the Born Lippy Sticks. It's so convenient to use and I have it with me everywhere I go. The Born Lippy Stick in Plum is my favorite lip balm as of the moment! I'm currently trying my best to stick to using just one lip balm at a time (which is quite a feat) so I could finish up those that are in lying my stash (and not let them accumulate).

Love,

Helen

Seventeen Ultimate Guide To Beauty

I loved reading Seventeen magazine, and I actually got sad when they stopped publishing it here in the Philippines while I was in the middle of college. My favorite part of the magazine was the beauty section, where they featured different looks and which products they used and recommended for the readers to cop those certain beauty pegs.

Imagine my delight when I saw this book in the bookstore: Seventeen Ultimate Guide To Beauty. This has to be the best beauty book ever. I'll show you why!
 

Seventeen Ultimate Guide To Beauty (P795.00)

Inside the book:
 

No matter what your beauty personality is, whether it's girly, glam, classic, edgy, or boho, you can get beauty inspiration from this book.
 

There's also a hair guide for the different types of hair, and which style would work best for it. My favorite hair type, which I have, is waves and curls!
 

There's also a section where there's customized beauty tips for the different and diverse skin tones.
 

Beautiful makeup always have to have a smooth canvass, so skincare is a must! This section tackles the different skin types, with tips on how to give it the best care we can.
 

There's also a section on nails and special occasion makeup.

This book is so loaded with lots of beautiful product shots, and it does not advertise any brand in particular. I also love the photos of the many beauty looks to cop! If you're looking for a nice Christmas gift to your kikay sister or friend (or maybe for yourself), do check this one out!

Love,

Helen