Book Review: On Clare and Henry's histoire d'amour

I bought The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger for my little sister, Deejay. She wanted me to buy her a paperback because she only had the ebook, and she really liked the story. So anyway, I ended up reading it, and it moved me so much, that throughout the weekend, I kept thinking about it -- if time traveling is possible, and I guess anything is possible if you just want to believe.

Anyway, I don't want to spoil the story by spilling it out here, but here's the basic: Henry is a time traveler, and he met Clare, his wife, when she was six and I think he was thirty six at that time? Or something. But he's really just 8 years older than Clare.

Their story is unusual, and while most people call it a love story, I'd rather call it a life story. It transcends above the usual love stories, and it's not at all mushy or anything like that. It felt so real. Their grief and heartache was so real for me because I can relate to some of them, and the book was just so beautiful. I laughed, I cried, I sighed, I waited, and I got impatient along with the characters. It just moved me so much. I really just wanted to hug the book, and kiss it over and over, and I don't know. It's so overwhelming.

I LOVE IT! This one's for keeps. I'm going to buy my own copy.

Why don't you read the book first before watching the movie? (Yeah, in case you haven't heard, it was made into a movie with Rachel McAdams and Eric Bana)

Read and experience its magic yourself. You'll see why then.

Skydreamer Dines in Dumaguete: Mamia

So about a week ago, hubby and I went home to Dumaguete to visit my mom and my little sister, Deejay. Going home for the weekend means this: Family, love, lots of talk and laughter, unlimited internet, new movies downloaded by DJ, and lots of FOOD! If there's one thing I can say -- it's the great, great food that keeps us coming back. The fact that my family is there doesn't hurt either. Haha! I'm not kidding when I tell you that I usually gain around 5 pounds (probably more) in just a couple days of stay there.

One of the restaurants my family loves is Mamia. If I'd compare them to Cebu establishments, I'd say it's a cross between Ila Puti, Kul Kitchen, Mooon Cafe, and Casa Verde. (That's food heaven for my hubby!)

We had dinner there Sunday night the weekend we were there. I was feeling a bit big already from having eaten a lot of food so I got their grilled chicken salad with vinaigrette. Now I'm no vinaigrette person because I don't diet. I love salads because they're healthy, but I love the dressings too. I don't care if they're fattening! So I ended up not sprinkling all of the dressing over my salad. Their salad was ok, but it did not do justice to the price. I could go eat somewhere else at a slightly higher price with a much, much, better salad than what they have!

My little sister loves Italian food, and almost everytime we eat out, she orders pasta. Unless there's pizza. (She thinks she should have been born Italian, but she looks Vietnamese anyway). Anywho, she ordered their version of carbonara, and it was great. It was definitely white pasta with a twist. You'd have to try it to understand what I'm trying to say.

Hubby ordered Southern fried chicken in some kind of flavored rice. I don't know how authentic Southern fried chicken tastes like, but I loved that dish! The chicken was cooked just right, and the gravy wasn't flat.

Mom had halo-halo. It's really mixed fruits in a big dessert bowl, shaved ice, some milk, and ice cream on top. Yum!

Mamia is located in Rizal Boulevard in Dumaguete. The food is great! If you're ever in Dumaguete, be sure to have dinner here. You won't regret it.

Here's a collage of the dishes we ordered:

Skydreamer Dines in Cebu: Dimsum Break

Everyone loves Chinese Food. Or everyone I know does. Or at least, my husband does. Everytime he gets to choose where to eat, he'd always choose Dimsum. It's like something he needs inside him. Like blood for a vampire. Or, something like that... Anyhow, in Cebu, we usually get our Chinese fix in Majestic, Harbour City, Ding Qua Qua, Big Mao, and Dimsum Break. They all serve great Chinese cuisine and dimsum too! I know that Majestic and Ding Qua Qua have lunch and dinner buffet, but I'm not so sure about the others.

So, anyway...this is about Dimsum Break. I totally love the way they reach out to the consumers by having "budget bundles". They have this thing where every 2PM - 5PM, for only P99, you can get soup (I forgot what kind of soup - I think it was bird's nest or something), three kinds of siomai (mushroom, plain, and quail egg), steamed fried rice, buchi (I don't really know what it is - it's kind of a sticky rice thingy with mung bean inside), and softdrinks!

It's really filling, and everytiime I crave for Dimsum, I usually go here. They have locations in Ayala, SM, EMall, and BTC. If they have other locations, I don't know them.