Literally Living at Its Finest

Houses can serve as an inspiration and motivation for people who aspire to have a beautiful home that they may call their own.

Lifestyle Asia has produced coffee table books that honor distinct personalities in society for the past two years. This year, the magazine has placed their focus on the beautiful yet private aspect in these people’s lives, deemed equally important as their accomplishments. As someone who used to be the PR of the magazine, I was excited with the theme that the new book has to offer.

“Home & Away” is the third annual collectible book created by Lifestyle Asia. Delighting one's eyes is a collection of the diverse and beautiful interiors of abodes both in the Philippines and abroad. In its pages are the photos and stories on the personal sanctuaries of Manila society's most notable. 

A grand launch was held at the newly opened Raffles Hotel in Makati, with some familiar faces in Manila society present to support the book. 

 

I was briefly reunited with two of my best friends who I used to work with when I was still with One MEGA Group - Cristina Gomez and Ina Arabia.

 

I was doubly ecstatic when I found out that the first featured home in the book is the overly stylish space of Tito Louie and Tita Mellie Ablaza. I still recall the short conversation I had with Tita Mellie during the opening of Ablaze last year when I was still the PR of the magazine. I asked her to let Lifestyle Asia be the first to feature her home if she finally decides to have her home be published in the pages of a magazine. The magnitude became greater with the feature in a Lifestyle Asia collectible book, and I must say that the lovely photos give justice to their fabulous home.

For the nth time, I am so proud of the Lifestyle Asia team and wish the book and them more success this year!

The Sweetness Of Cara Bella

I love desserts... Enough said.

Most diabetics would disagree with me but I've tweeted once that I enjoy desserts for breakfast. And, why not? We've delegated desserts at the end of each meal and, more often than not, our tummies have become stuff with the heavy main courses that we are left with little room for desserts. So, how can you still enjoy them?

Hopefully, Cara Bella could entice you to try my usual morning routine. The bakeshop just recently had an opening to offer a fresh new taste to the good old sweet favorites. From a wide range of cakes, cookies, and pastries to choose from, one would wonder if we really should have desserts first before we dig into the entree. What I love most about Cara Bella is its use of our local carabao milk - in all its creamy goodness. 

For starters, there's an interesting selection from Chocolate Chip Cookies, Dulce de Leche, and the Decadent Chocolate Cake. The chocolate chip cookies were freshly baked and chewy - just the way I like it. Cut in small bite portions for the opening, I really indulged myself in servings of their dulce de leche. 

 

Have you tried mozzarella cheese from carabao's milk? Well it's an interesting delight paired with Cara Bella's very own malunggay bread. Now that's a healthy choice.

 

For birthdays and gathering, they have a selection of round cakes from their mango torte, chocolate cake, and sansrival.

 

Of course, Cara Bella wouldn't be complete without their famous yema cake. This is definitely a must-try for all who love cakes and desserts. Cutting them into bite size pieces for the opening just made me want to get more.

I was amused to taste the tuna pasta that Cara Bella will also be serving.

Arlette of Cara Bella and her Tuna Pasta

It's sinful, and also dangerous to the health at some point, but I honestly couldn't stop myself from getting slices of the really good aligue and shrimp pasta. 

I know it adds inches on the tummy, but I entice everyone to enjoy and indulge in desserts more since it's one of those things that make life a lot sweeter.


Cara Bella by Arlette
1043 Marcon Bldg, Del Monte Ave., Quezon City
569-2436
http://www.facebook.com/carabellabyarlette

Betsy Westendorp: Looking Into The Heavens

Some express their deepest human emotions through art; connecting their inner feelings with how they see things around them.

For over 40 years, Betsy Westendorp has established herself as a respected artist, revered highly in the Filipino art scene. She has been widely known for her portraits of prominent political and society figures, along with her love of painting exotic flowers. Her latest exhibit represents a view of Betsy's feelings, inspired by her love for the beautiful Manila Bay. Each piece captures the vast movements and colors that depict sunrise and sunsets, clouds and skies. The exhibit aims to explore another side of her and the connection of her emotions to the sceneries around her.

A small room upstairs of the main exhibit area displays small works, portraits of families and friends, and society commissions that document her portraits of people and other landscapes.

 

 

Congratulations to Betsy Westendorp. Hopefully, in the near future, I could own one piece of hers. But for now, I'll settle with my photo with her.

 

Portrait of An Artist: Betsy Westendorp 

Runs from January 17 to February 10, 2013

Whitespace, 2314 Chino Roces Ave Extension, Makati