Author: livelifeandlove

Hi! I’m Mari. My blog is all about me, my experience, wildlife, photography, travel and adventure, culture, tradition and other people that will give you a better perspective of the time in which you live. In here, You’ll discover the things I love most and passionate about. I usually focus to more educational and informative topics expressing my own thoughts using my own words, ideas, and honest statements. Included here are my collection of facts and dreams with beautiful photographs to make it visible for your inspiration and browsing pleasure. I would like to share my stories with the world, with photographs that will serve as a support to see what I’m describing as you read it.This is to share reality and show the best and good things in life. To the photograph itself, can make your own thoughts and my feelings visible to share with you and my site serves to store my thoughts and ideas. Of course, I can tell a lot of things by looking at the photographs alone following my explanation to achieve my purpose eventhough, photographs can speaks for itself, the author can simply fill up the missing part of it. This is what I want to do in my life, to write, share my learning and stories to make you a part of it. When you come to know more about yourself, you’ll know what you can offer to the world. This is what I can offer to you! I feel great to share with you not only my interesting stories but also to inspire you viewing spectacular and timeless photos. Read my articles about the birds, with my conservation message,and my lifelong dedication and contribution to wildlife.Thank you readers for the positive feedback.I have learned a lot from you. Note: If there is any oversight may have been made is unintentional and will be corrected. If there is any resemblance to any actual place, events, locales or persons is entirely coincidential.

Paskotitap Christmas Lights and Sounds Parade 2017

By livelifeandlove on December 12, 2017

December 10 is a beautiful Christmas evening, the annual and the most spectacular parade held every December in the city of Pasig is the ‘’Paskotitap Christmas Lights and Sounds Parade, This year’s yuletide parade showcased 15 different animated movie- themed floats of seasonal delights such as Dragon heart, Mulan, Mother Goose, Sing, My Little pony, Paw patrol to mention a few.

This is now my 7^th year of covering this Disneyland electrical parade. What’s new? The Christmas tunnel beside Tiendesitas, it is the Christmas musical street dancing light tunnel lighted the way to a more Christmas cheer with the warm glow of dazzling lights, it provides a welcome spot for parade watchers as they positioned themselves on both street sides of Ortigas East.

With a great audience, the parade started moving around 6 in the evening from Tiendesitas near SM Hypermart followed a route all the way to Pasig city hall for the High school Dance Competition. Earlier, Pasig released traffic advisory to give way to all float routes, it was all cleared and thanks for that!

Past years Paskotitap, Click this link > Paskotitap 2015

Congratulations to all Paskotitap dance winners 2017

Champion – Eusebio High School

Ist Place – Nagpayong High School

2^nd Place – Immaculada High School

15 Paskotitap Floats 2017

Dragon heart float

Kapitolyo High school performers

Tsu-tsu train

Mother goose float

My Little Pony float

Mulan float

Note:all photos taken before

Sing Float

I would like to thank all high school performers, thank you for the hard work and dedication. That is truly a memorable yuletide fun! My particular thanks to all Paskotitap organizers, float makers and designers, participating students and Schools, All sponsors, Rotary Club of Pasig and to our beloved Mayor Maribel Eusebio.

Thank you to the good record and service projects. Thank you, thank you Rotary Club of Mutya ng Pasig. Ang babait ninyo! Looking forward to another Yuletide parade soon of 2018.

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Leave a comment

The Fairy Butterfly

By livelifeandlove on December 1, 2017

There’s no preventive measures taken to drive away garden pests here especially the caterpillars, even if serious attacks can be expected to cause damages to some plants, it’s not that troublesome garden pests, damage is just mild and not severe. The coolness factor, they will surely turn into beautiful butterflies, a natural beauty and a good garden display for photography. I’m just waiting for that time.

Eventually, the right time comes earlier than expected, a white butterfly caught up hanging on a grass that looks like a beautiful and elegant fairy in bridal gown. It looks like a lavish floating angel wearing an ivory silk laced gown and skirt double flared with an outlined brownish shade that flows naturally downward…

There’s no absolutely no reason to have a boring garden, having some pollinators in the backyard garden gives me a wide range of possibilities to take good butterfly pictures with a number of different angles probably but this one is just simple but a hard to catch angle. More butterfly images next posts, all butterflies was captured in our own garden, call it our morning pollinators.

Leave a comment

Recipes for busy moms/Fruits/Desserts/Salad/Decorative Ideas

My Chopsticks-Special and Memorable Collection

By livelifeandlove on November 27, 2017

I’ve been keeping different kinds of chopsticks for quite sometime now. I know for sure that’s it’s not that valuable but it holds a memorable value, a very sentimental one that I will cherished forever. I inherited this chopsticks from late ancestors, we’ve been keeping it for centuries passing from hand-to hand and it has been in the family for generations. Some of it was more than a hundred years old, it is already a traced of history. Let me show you. Here are my beautiful chopsticks collection.

Everyone in Asia loves chopstick. Nowadays, It is already common to all. According to my grandmother, it was first introduced in China throughout the Ming Dynasty. What is chopstick anyway? How do you use it? I can just simply describe it as,” 2 small sticks use to pick up foods”. If you want to know more about chopsticks history here.

How to use

Hold the top stick like a pencil, a little above the middle, small end down. Grip loosely between the tips of index and middle finger; anchor gently with the thumb. Hands must be relaxed and flexible. Do not hold and pressed it too tight. Practice to move sticks few times till you get it.

Next slip lower stick into position. Rest it lightly in V-formed by your thumb and index finger and on the first joint of the ring finger. Resist temptation to watch the lower stick with the middle finger. Do not move the lower stick. Keep it still.

The most challenging to pick up is a whole peanut, it’s slippery and quite hard to hold but constant practice makes it perfect.

Beautifully prepared. We used chopsticks for most foods just like this. It’s the proper way and easy to pick-up foods using chopsticks and spoon for the soup. In using chopsticks, rice is usually served on a bowl. It would be easier per serving on a medium bowl, just like this.

A modern classic colored with a very unique design. A beautiful black/red bamboo inspired chopsticks. Engraved as an art of Southeast Asia.

See how beautiful it is!

A unique ceramic chopsticks. It’s a bit heavier compared with the traditional ones. This is durable and an attractive reward selection. It was a delicate art design , It’s my favorite.

This type of chopsticks reflects the style of old tradition. This piece was inspired by a late eighteenth century. It is made of fine wood, lighter in weight, and has its own box holder with a Chinese art design. I prefer to use the lighter ones for everyday use.

Leave a comment

My Indoor and Outdoor Photography | Recipes for busy moms/Fruits/Desserts/Salad/Decorative Ideas

Fresh Fruit Salad in a Pineapple Boat

By livelifeandlove on October 16, 2017

Serves 4

Time: 30 minutes

Do you know that a Pineapple boat makes an attractive serving dish for fresh fruit medley? I’ve made the right one to show you a beautiful piece of nutritious art work and a fresh fruit salad on the go! I like fruit salad because they added the advantage of being quick and easy to prepare and generally involve no cooking at all. I served Fresh fruit salad for my family every Sunday more traditionally as dessert but it can also be served as snacks too although, my choice will be guided by seasonal availability of fruits here in the Philippines. Living in the Philippines means enjoying the different kinds of fruits.

How to prepare Fresh fruit salad

A combination and assortment of close-but- different flavors such as; honeydew, ripe mangoes, kiwis, cherries, papaya, grapes, strawberries and watermelon. Almost any fruit mixture looks good and tastes good anyway, there’s nothing to worry about it as long as you know how to choose the fresh, soft and fragrant ones for this preparation.

Ingredients

I fresh pineapple

1 cup watermelon

I cup strawberry

1 whole nectarine

1 small pear

1 cup melon dew

¼ cup lime juice

2 tablespoons sugar or golden syrup

Prepare the pineapple boat as your serving bowl. Cut all fruits into a bite sized pieces; watermelon, strawberry, nectarine, and pears.(It’s up to you what kind of soft fruits you like to include) Photo shown below. Combine in a large bowl with lime juice and golden syrup. Spoon all fruits into pineapple shell. Cover and refrigerate it for 1 hour. Serve.

Pineapple bowl

Fresh fruits

Note:

This can be made several hours ahead

Be guided by the seasonal availability of fruits

Keep covered in refrigerator. Not suitable to freeze.

Leave a comment

Restaurant Review

How to Arrange Fresh Fruits on a White Plate

By livelifeandlove on October 14, 2017

My desire to perfect the essence of wonderful flavor combining a sour component to blend with the sweetness of other fruits. Plenty of room for fruit imagination set-up and clean presentation to achieve aesthetic appeal. Here are 2 good examples on how to serve fresh fruits on a white plate and in a small glass.

The concept of arranging fresh fruits in a small glass, photo shows a good example on how to serve fresh fruits in a small glass. It’s the lighter approach of individual serving.

You can apply different shapes, the esthetic appeal cutting

Fruit cuts illustrated next post..

Leave a comment

Restaurant Review

Diner on 16th Overloaded Milkshakes

By livelifeandlove on October 13, 2017

People around Kapitolyo knows about these Overloaded milkshakes. I heard about this Diner on 16th from a dear friend, got so curious but didn’t give much interest till I craved for it! I’m so excited to try these Overloaded milkshakes. Diner on 16th is a casual restaurant that serves a typical all American comfort food. Me with my friend went there one hot afternoon, the best choice for us is something more substantial on a hot day so it goes for Overloaded milkshakes be our first order.

Diner on 16th

Strawberry Cotton Candy Cone Milkshake – the most popular among all milkshakes that everyone loves. Elegant presentation with cotton candy on top, enticing enough for the kids and will surely bring a happy smile to little kids face.

A wonderful creation to entertain you, when it flows, it’s perfect. You can just sit down and relax and let Overloaded Milkshake entertain you. It is always be the best choice for the youngsters especially college students. The sweetness is just light.

The second milkshake will tempt you even more, S’nores Milkshake it is rich and creamy with a fluffy sponge cake on top. Glossy and sophisticated! Very inviting presentation as shown and that makes it unique from the rest of other milkshakes around Kapitolyo.

Other Wonderful Milkshake creations to choose from; Strawberry cotton candy cone, Chocolate covered mallows, Chocolate milk and Strawberry flavored pretzels, Strawberry chocolate and caramel syrup+custard syrup. I think, it is not technically difficult but if you can create like this, you’ll achieve attractive effects. The taste is sweet and creamy.

Meatball Pasta

Fitting everything noontime, it’s time to sit down for a brunch. Our 3rd order, Meatball Pasta topped with 3 small meatballs and 2 bread sticks.As shown, garnished with fine celery leaves. The clean presentation is quite good but the taste is just right.

Soy Ginger Glazed Chicken with Ube Waffles

Followed by our last order which is a combination serving, this is good for sharing, Soy Ginger Glazed Chicken with Ube Waffles nicely formed Ube flavored waffle topped with icing sugar that unites for both breakfast and lunch with 3 small pieces of chicken slightly browned and crisp served with maple syrup and a heart-shaped butter good enough to spread-out. The Soy Ginger Glazed Chicken was crispy but not my taste buds can go all with it, just a selected few.Let me try again next time…

Diner on 16th is an American Comfort Food.

Address: 16 United Street, Kapitolyo, Pasig, Metro Manila

Leave a comment

Restaurant Review

Dragon Fruit Bowl

By livelifeandlove on October 12, 2017

There are many ways of serving fruits, one attractive way of serving is to use the fruit shell itself, it is good not only for fruits but for vegetable salad too. The dragon fruit shell makes an attractive serving dish for fresh fruit salad. Instead of using glass bowl or cocktail glass I prefer to use the shell of the dragon fruit, one best advantage you can get, no more washing of glass wares needed.

A dragon fruit is a kind of fruit traditionally identified by their colors and unique scaly skin. Compared to other fruits, the dragon fruit is better because the skin is quite soft and durable like a flexible rubber. The green scales and pink background of the skin makes it a perfect serving bowl.

Dragon fruit bowl with a folded decorative umbrella

It is quiet easy to make this kind of fruit bowl. There’s no practice needed, first attempt is already perfect as long as you slice it neatly. Try it!

Leave a comment

Recipes for busy moms/Fruits/Desserts/Salad/Decorative Ideas

Fruit Farm

By livelifeandlove on October 11, 2017

With so many kinds of fruit and vegetables to choose from; Kiwi, banana, strawberry, red watermelon, papaya and grapes. With a combination of different kinds, I’ve made the right selection suitable for my design to complement everything. Combining fruits and vegetables looks attractive with the striking effects even though, it was irregularly shaped forming all kinds in many shapes and sizes to a beautiful farm effect. All fruits was arranged and shaped according to today’s theme, full view of landscape farm on a plate .

Leave a comment

Recipes for busy moms/Fruits/Desserts/Salad/Decorative Ideas

Fruit and Vegetable Art

By livelifeandlove on October 10, 2017

A lot of things that you can do while waiting for the food to be cooked. Tough foods like the beef ribs will cook longer and even takes more time than expected even though they may be sliced into the same sizes. Sometimes, the more foods you have to cook, the longer will it take for you to wait especially if you are not using pressure cooker.

Yesterday, while waiting for other foods, I’ve made myself busy by making something funny. It’s just a jolly ideas using fruits and vegetables, it is an art of creativity, it’s fun and enjoyable that will even make my hands and mind busy for a while. All pieces here is not difficult to make, it’s very easy and will only require a little time, attention and a bit of creative imagination. If you make use of your imagination to design any selections it will surely work it right for you and you’ll get it right in many forms and sizes.
Some pieces of creations was made of carrots, radishes, pumpkins, eggplant skins, red/green bell pepper, bananas, oranges, kiwis, green papayas, bitter melon and many more which also includes the stem, leaves and roots attached. Days ago, I’ve created some funny images such as; Penguins , Flower Garden, Beautiful Hula Dancers, Bicycle, Fashion Outfit, and the Zoo-Caged Salad. All my fruit and vegetable art looks stunning with the contrasting texture and colors.

My jolly creations using fruits and vegetables, it’s just a festive and funny ideas for the kids, the smaller is easy and enjoyable to make. While getting busy, you can even chat with friends around you and relax to have a good time creating it. I’ve used 3 different backgrounds; white and black, these plain colors will emphasized the neatness and brings out the full color as a whole. Let’s check the result!

Bicycle is made of only 3 different kinds; Kiwi, carrots and bitter melon.

Penguins is the funniest among my crafts.It i made of carrots, radish, eggplant and peppercorns for the eyes.

Fashion outfit for ladies is the most elegant and fashionable of all. Using pumpkin and seeds, red bell pepper skin and seeds, eggplant skin, carrots, papaya and chayote or christophene .

Hello Kitty fashion for the kids. (with white chopping board background)

Beautiful hula dancers is the cutest. Using papaya, radish, green/red bell peppers, peppercorns, eggplant skin and spring onion leaves for the grass background.

Flower garden is cool. It really looks like a real one.Using parsley leaves and stems for the whole plant,carrots,red bell pepper and eggplant skin for the flowers.

Reminders:
1. All fruits and vegetables must be fresh and must be in a cool room temperature.
2. Don’t forget to clean up later, always leave the table clean and spotless.Put all the things away as you finished and get ready for the next craft.

1 Comment

Events/ Holidays/ Special Occasions | Restaurant Review

Happy Mid-Autumn Festival 2017

By livelifeandlove on October 4, 2017

It’s Mid-Autumn Festival today, according to the 2017 Chinese calendar, it falls on the 15th day of the 8th month so that is today and it’s a moon cake celebration for us. It is a tradition for my family to enjoy the sweetness of moon cakes served on the table, we got 6 different kinds of moon cake with different fillings, each flavor was perfectly good. Here’s the first one,the ”Delicate Present Moon cake”given by our friends from Taiwan. Thank you guys out there! What a special festive gift, the tastes was really great however, other moon cakes has their own unique flavors too.

Leave a comment