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Feb 18

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Anya Hindmarch Sticker Shop

Welcome to The Sticker Shop, an exciting collaboration with Charlotte Stockdale of CHAOS FASHION. The collection of luxurious embossed leather stickers was inspired by Anya’s schoolgirl version of personalisation and can be used to sticker-up anything from your handbag to your purse or phone. Exclusively Available at @adoramnl Love stickers! Love bespoke/personalized anything! 🙂 The collection comes out twice a year and the theme this season is rainbow 🙂 Love the smiles and the eyes 🙂 Letters, numbers and Horoscope Anya Hindmarch cross body with all over stickers 🙂 Design inspired by the sticker shop 🙂 Super LOVE my Anya Hindmarch leather stickers!!! It also makes a perfect gift ! The collection of luxurious embossed leather stickers was inspired by Anya’s schoolgirl version or personalization and can be used to sticker up anything from your bag to your purse or your phone.Love these cookies!! They were being given away on the opening day!

Feb 17

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Bang Bang

By Heart2Heart | Niseko | No Comments

Our first dinner was at Bang Bang. I have been hearing a lot about Bang Bang which is recommended by all Pinoys 🙂 though I heard from another friend that it is overrated. To each his own really so it really depends on what you order and the circumstances of your visit. We had our own experience ourself! haha!!

This is our story 🙂 I don’t usually like to say anything negative about anything or anyone, but I will narrate what happened just so it won’t happen to you. I am sure the owner/restaurant did not mean any harm. There was just a miscommunication. It could have happened in another place too.

There are 2 Bang Bang’s – the first one you will see on the road is Bang Bang 2 which is totally the same – it is just another location You have to enter and turn left to get to the other location and this is where we ate The Yakitori griller as you enter. The smiling gentleman is the owner. I am a bit upset with him because we made our reservations way in advance and when we arrived there, he told us that we had to take the Omakaze for US $ 100.00 each since we were a big group. First I think that he should have mentioned that when we made the reservation so we know in advance.

It’s a good thing Tina was with us and could communicate in Japanese with him and she was able to tell him that we did not want omakaze. We had to accept the sashimi and a fish which was already allocated for us. He charged us 30,000 Yen for each plate of Sashimi ( 2 plates ) and one Kinki fish for 20,000 yen. It’s a lot but it seems we could not do anything anymore about it, So we just divided it among everyone. If the owner was worried it would be disorganised, it was not since we divided ourselves by tables. If he was worried we would not order enough, he was mistaken because we still ordered a good amount of food. So I think it was not necessary for him to impose.

Just make sure this does not happen you! And I would sill say this is a good place to go to 🙂

We were 21 – the whole gang complete for dinner. It was a long table so we decided to group ourselves for billing purposes. My group was Raj, Kai, Cherina and Andre. The most practical group haha!! Tina, Marco, Anna and Jackie were another group. Each group ordered their own from the menu Beware of sitting with this group where Chut, Lindy and Carmina are included! They order the best and the most expensive in the menu!! haha!!! But you can be in the table beside them ( and we were ) and it will be the best location because they will share their expensive dishes with you!!! haha!! There as a menu on the wall so make sure to look at it since these are specials. PLEASE ASK PRICE it says! 🙂 I could not miss the word raclette so I ordered this for myself. It was okay. Just always make sure to season your food here because i noticed they do not put salt and pepper. For raclette anyway always make sure to put pepper 🙂 Now I am wondering how the baked cheesecake and cheese pudding was! The ala carte menu was so varied! Many choices which looked so good!! I am only appreciating it now because I did not order – Andre did!! haha!! Ala Carte Special 🙂 That Camembert would have been something I would have ordered! Anything cheese 🙂 Spareribs BIG! 🙂 Grilled Cod roe!! I would go for anything grilled here!!
Buffalo wings with mentaiko from the other table Ikura Shoyuzuke Grilled squid Have as many yakitori as you want!! This is the place to be 🙂 and it won’t have to be expensive 🙂 We tried mostly pork and chicken and vegetables. Again do not forget to season to your taste 🙂 Chicken Pork Chicken skin Beef tongue Sausage Tukune ( Tsukune ) grilled chicken Pork cheek – special mention – Yum! 🙂 Wow! I wish I tried these yakitori skewers that were makis! Cheese! haha! But they look interesting! Grilled vegetables – the healthiest 🙂 YUM! Onigiri Yum! Tofu salad20,000 Yen for this 🙂 I heard it was good 🙂
Lindy asked Tina to tell them to fry the fat – they could not understand and they did not want to cook it too much – maybe because the fat makes the grill spark and smoky – but funny because they put it on a stick like yakitori haha!! 🙂 CUTE! 🙂 King Crab and Hairy Crab

Feb 17

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Niseko

By Heart2Heart | Niseko | One Comment

Niseko is a place in the city of Hokkaido. It’s very near yet so far 🙂 because there is no direct flight yet to Chitose. And yet from Chitose you need to take a 2 hour bus ride. We flew to Tokyo for around 3 1/2 hours then had to transfer to Chitose for another hour and a half then bus. We are hoping that Pat can talk to Lance Gokongwei or maybe PAL will have a direct flight to Chitose. We love Chitose so we don’t mind landing and departing from there!! 🙂 I LOVE Niseko and I do not even ski! I wish I had more time to explore!

In Niseko there are 4 resorts

Annupurri, Moiwa, Hanazono, Niseko Village and Grand Hirafu. I was only able to go to 3 areas – Annupurri, Hanazono where we snowmobiled and Grand Hirafu.

We stayed in Grand Hirafu which is the main or the downtown of Niseko 🙂 This map looks big but actually it is a very very small village. I love it because it is small and everything is so near each other. It’s so cozy!! I love walking the small side streets going to the bars and restaurants. People who stay in Grand Hirafu want to be where the action is 🙂 and where all the restaurants and shopping is. No need to take a car or taxi to eat in a restaurant because everything is walking distance This is another main street which is going uphill and here you will see restaurants and shops too I love these bees! They were giving out yellow beanies! of course they were promoting their online grocery. In Japan there are many people doing this – I like the ones giving out tissue paper haha!! very useful 🙂 though I do not understand the japanese on them I have never stayed in a resort that had snow – falling snow!!! I loved being here because wherever you go, snow was falling!! Light and powdery snow that was so pleasant!!! I love seeing these trees which you normally only see on a shop window or in a store and artificial at that! These were the real thing and they were so beautiful. They were not dirty or messy. They were Christmas trees 🙂 that were cover with snow – just so pure and angelic The only thing blocking the view sometimes are the wires 🙁 These are scenes from just walking around. I made sure I was clothed well because I wanted to walk outdoors and appreciate this. I usually don’t like to walk ( lazy haha ) but here I walked and walked and walked On our first day we rode a taxi to go to Annupurri. It is also beautiful to drive outside the village because the scenery is beautiful!!

Mt. Yotei

Mount Y?tei is an inactive stratovolcano located in Shikotsu-Toya National Park, Hokkaid?, Japan. It is also called Yezo Fuji or Ezo Fuji, “Ezo” being an old name for the island of Hokkaido, because it resembles the more famous Mount Fuji. Wikipedia
Elevation: 1,898 m
Last eruption: 3550 BC
Prominence: 1,878 m Icicles on roofs of homes!

The roofs in these places have to be very sturdy or else they will fall down if there is a lot of snow on top! It can get heavyWe walked in Annupuri and it was a peaceful place. People who stay here want to be away from the “action!” haha!! This resort has mostly chalets. A chalet is also a nice experience for a family or group! The slope here is also less “action” therefore not crowded. You have to drive to Hirafu for the main restos and shopping so you need a car to get around from where you are here. Though there are a few restaurants here too like Rakuichi, Lucky Fingers and Pizza del Sole
A sign taken by Kim 🙂

Click below to go to the official website of Niseko for more informationFrequently referred to as a “winter wonderland”, Niseko’s unique location makes it a ” must-see, must-ski” hotspot for winter sports enthusiasts.

Winter Activities in Niseko

Dining

Niseko (3) Snowmobiling

Skiing & Snowboarding

Onsen

Feb 17

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Pizza del Sole

By Heart2Heart | Niseko | No Comments

After Rakuichi

Previous entry: Rakuichi Feb. 16, 2016

we walked up a few minutes to burn the calories from the soba 🙂 so we could go to Pizza del Sole as recommended to us by Chut. We love pizza especially the hubby 🙂
It said Winter season take out only but we were able to go inside and order our pizza Pizza del Sole (1) As you enter, immediately is the counter where you place your orders Pizza del Sole (4) There is a bar counter to the left and it was fullBehind the counter is the brick oven and the guy making the pizza and this coffee machine! 🙂 We ordered a quick pizza to try 🙂 YUM!

Margherita extra bianca – Fresh tomatoes, Buffalo mozzarella, basil, parmigiana reggiano Pizza del Sole (2)

Feb 16

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Rakuichi

By Heart2Heart | Niseko | No Comments

Our first official meal was for lunch and we drove around 10 to 15 minutes away to try Rakuichi. Steve tipped us that the drive was worth it so we went 🙂

It is in Annupuri Village.

Before entering the restaurant there is this wooden arch A nice photo op 🙂
First come first serve. There are no reservations for lunch. Go early ( around 11 am maybe though we arrived at around 1145 and we were 2nd seating ) so you can be first in the line 🙂 Beautiful!! Make sure to take photos around the restaurant because it is so beautiful Before you enter you have to leave your boots so as not to wet and destroy the wooden floors Then a curtain before enteringGet a pair of slippers to wear 🙂There is a waiting area where you can drink some rice tea drinkPeeping to check if we are next 🙂Heater and drinks areaTowards the bathroom Rakuichi (35) We are greeted by a beautiful Japanese lady who is apparently Midori, the owner and wife of the Soba maker, Rai
Rakuichi (22) Articles posted on the wall Rakuichi (18) Tatsuru Rai himself was there! Of course!! because without him there would be no soba!
Rakuichi (30) Photo on the wall! Anthony Bourdain with the couple. Rakuichi became even more popular because of Bourdain Rakuichi (19) Rakuichi (31) Love the stone placemats Rakuichi (20) A simple menu means they serve ono what they do best! Rakuichi (10)
We placed our orders and inside the bar where we were seated, everyone watched Rai as he made our soba noodles from scratch with his bare hands!
We ordered two kinds of Soba so we could try – The Hot Duck Soba. We are not soba experts but we wanted to try it. Heart2Heart loves anything handmade, anything made with passion and made with LOVE!

The green onion tempura was so good with or without the soba
I ordered a side order of fresh vegetables tempura which was so good with or without the soba. Of course freshly made as well. I highly recommend you order this and eat it together with the soba all the way! We ordered the Cold DUCK Soba which is basically cold noodles which you dip in the hot soup. I liked that the Green onion tempura was not in the soup so it was still crispy and fresh when you dunked it in the soup with the noodles when you are about to eat it. Maybe you can also request that they separate it when you order the Hot soba 🙂 Self service water and tea 🙂
Restroom
We saw these signs as we exited the door!! They are booked for dinner till March. Good thing we went to lunch and they only served three seatings

Feb 16

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Longchamp Spring 2016 Collection

By Heart2Heart | What's New at Rustan's | No Comments

This season is all about energy, dynamics, and momentum. A great burst of energy encouraging positive thinking: seeking well-being and joie de vivre, doing away with everything superfluous, finding equilibrium. The collection has been worked around this search for energy according to three themes: energy generated by Heat, Light and Movement.

Each story contains clean cut, graphic, dynamic and precise lines, as if underscored with a stroke of pencil or eyeliner. All the colours are contrasting, framed, with black and white. We play with different stripes and cuts, like the architect Le Corbusier or the painter Buren. And with streaks, brush strokes, lines in movement and sleek effects like the painters Yves Klein and Soulage, or with calligraphy.

HEAT

A vital source of energy for everyone. We immediately think of the heat of the sun, which turns skin and landscapes brown.

LIGHT

The energy of a bright, electric, warm or cold light. Synonymous with parties! A source of joy and good humour.

MOVEMENT

Another source of well-being and energy, sport, action, movement. Round lines. Graceful and dynamic gestures. Traces of movement like brush strokes.

Longchamp is available at Rustan’s Makati, Rustan’s Shangri-la and Greenbelt 5.

French luxury House Longchamp was founded in Paris in 1948 by Jean Cassegrain, and is still owned and run by the Cassegrain family today. Longchamp’s handbags, luggage and accessories have a worldwide reputation for craftsmanship and quality, which now extends to shoes and ready-to-wear collections. Longchamp is an international brand that has maintained momentum and energy across the decades. It epitomizes French flair, fresh and inspiring creativity, as well as sharing the active lives of women and men across the world who enjoy a touch of luxury every day. Refreshing advertising campaigns and exciting collaborations with artists underline the contemporary and sometimes playful spirit of Longchamp, which owns more than 290 exclusive boutiques worldwide.

Feb 16

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Shiki Niseko Serviced Residences

By Heart2Heart | Niseko | No Comments

I liked our home in Niseko – Shiki Niseko Serviced Residences. We arrived late in the evening already since we took a two hour bus ride from Chitose airport
I noticed in the residences that they put a demarkation which means you have to remove your shoes and change to slippers 🙂 Good idea 🙂 Shiki Niseko (8) Our living room and kitchen
Outside our balcony Shiki Niseko (5) During the day Shiki Niseko view

I noticed we had a better view and the view of the mountain if you looked to the right 🙂 But when I visited our neighbour across our hallway – I cried! haha!! A better view on the even numbered rooms since it is facing this side of the street.

Shiki Niseko view from even numbered rooms I usually tour the place to find out the best room in the building but I failed to do it this time. But here are some photos from the website

We got a two bedroom which is good for a family with kids 🙂 A master bedroom and a room with 2 single beds and a guest bathroom

Master bedroom with an en suite bathroom Photo from the website with a viewKitchen with complete appliances and amenities
The facade of Shiki from the main street
From the main streetThe lobby during the day Shiki Niseko (1) We met the General Manager – Darren Wickings who is British 🙂 They have a shuttle bus to take you the the different main areas in the village

Overall I loved our place for the following reasons:

1.) It’s very central. It is on the main road of Hirafu Village

It is in between the ski slopes in Grand Hirafu Village. So if you want to go to the slopes by the Vale area – Ace Family Ski Lift area or the Gondola area- it is about two streets away from Shiki on both ends. It is very near ( one street or two away ) all the restaurants , bars, shops
and convenience stores! Aside from having a supermarket, it is one street away from Seico Mart and a few steps away is Lawson

2.) The beauty of it all is you do not have to go out to get some food! It has a deli/ supermarket in the basement that is open from 7am to 11pm. This is already they best in the area 🙂 Not only do they have gourmet local items but they have international gourmet items as well Shiki Niseko supermarket deli Cheese!!
Shiki Niseko dairy in deli supermarket Deli with lots of food to go choice
No need to go to Milk Kobo Dairy to get this yummy fresh yogurt drink!!! The price is the same as the dairy and it is right there in supermarket below Shiki3.) It has a one Michelin star restaurant

4.) It has Hokkaido milk soft serve ( very important :-)) Also found in the Supermarket

This was not a nice swirl haha!! But it was yummy!!! Must have daily, twice or three times a day 🙂5.) It can accommodate our whole group and can be together ( the most important)

Click below to go to their website

SHIKI Niseko; luxury lifestyle Niseko accommodation in central Hirafu incorporating contemporary Japanese aesthetics & premium furnishings and fittings

Feb 15

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Nisekrew

By Heart2Heart | Niseko | No Comments

Before I tell you the story about our trip to Niseko, I would like to introduce the characters in our adventure- the crew, the NISEKREW 🙂 ( Follow our hashtag on instagram haha!! 🙂 )

We are a group – the Boston / East Coast College group – that gets together every now and then and of course every Christmas! I and some are not really part of the group but we are spouses 🙂 So the group gets bigger with spouses.

Last December 2014 we had our annual Christmas dinner at Hole in the Wall Century City Mall There was a snow globe outside Hole in the Wall and these crazy guys blew it up ( since it was closed already ) and they entered! 🙂 Who would have thought we would be in this same circumstance but with real snow??!!On exactly January 20, 2015, inspired by Chut’s and Steve and Cherina’s trip to Niseko that Christmas, an idea in our WhatsApp group came up to recreate the skiing trip of the Boston/East Coast group in Killington, Vermont and do it in Niseko! This was 25 years ago!
We planned the trip from then on and met up several times in between 🙂

Previous entry: Niseko Planning in Bondi and Bourke September 6 2015
We were a group of 21 that went! That is a big group! The biggest group of friends we have ever travelled with!

The Durians 🙂 from Davao! Raffy and Carmina del Rosario

Carmina, our beautiful and charming roommate and the organizer of our Niseko adventure. Thank you for being our Mommy and for all that you do for us and mostly for keeping us in touch and always bringing the group together! WE LOVE YOU! We are already looking forward to our next destination The soon to be wed couple! Chut @chutster and Kim. So glad they came along!!! At first Chut said he could not make it but last minute he came!! YIPEE!!! It was because of Chut that we are in Niseko. We were inspired by his trip 🙂 Nisekrew Chut and Kim Another reason why we are in Niseko!! Steve and Cherina Sy!!! They were also in Niseko that Christmas and because they had been there, they helped in the planning and organising of the trip!! Steve is our official photographer and is responsible for all the beautiful photos you see here Nisekrew Steve and Cherina The Moreno brothers!!

Jose and Tin Moreno Nisekrew Jose and TIn

Raj and Kai MorenoSteve and Lindy Theodoropoulous – The Theos for short! So hard to spell and pronounce their long family name so we have a nickname for them 🙂 Marco and Jackie Antonio. Missing Jigger who could not make itCousins of Steve

Andre Sy

My tablemate and thanks to him for trying to save my life when I got stuck in my snowmobile :-O
Pat Sy and Jancis LaoTina Tiñio and Anna Angara who though they are not part of the Boston/East Coast group wanted to join us! WHY NOT? 🙂 We are open to new members! haha!!

Tina is good friend of some of the group and she was our translator and tour guide. Anna is my batch mate, high school group mate and friendAnd of course there is us – Brangelina 🙂 haha!

Feb 15

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Preparing for Winter

By Heart2Heart | Shopping, Travel | No Comments

Based on experience, I was never prepared in the past for the cold. It was not a pleasant experience and it hampered me from enjoying and appreciating wherever it was I am. So this time I made sure I was prepared! I had all kinds of thermals to keep me warm!! And the beauty is that everything is available in Manila!

I went to two places! M & S ( Marks and Spencer ) was my first stop. I always get my thermals from here and I am so happy that now they have so many choices!!! They have Heatgen in all colors!! I use this on top of my other extra warm thermal!These are the thermals I usually buy but this time I bought EXTRA WARM!
Guess which one I bought! 🙂 Plus I got the Heathen thermal socks. It has to be HEATGEN or EXTRA WARM if you are going to a place that is below 0 degrees! Atleast for me that is very “malamigin” Your feet are the most important. That is the first part you should protect! MAKE SURE YOU ARE WARM starting from your feet!Since I knew I needed layers and that one layer is not enough, i bought tights – again the warmest! Heatgen or extra warm I had gloves already so I did not buy this but gloves are very important. If you are skiing, make sure you have the proper ones – waterproof and all. I don’t ski so I just need to keep my hands warmI went to Debenhams also and they had all kinds too! They did not have extra warm so these are just the regular thermals. If you are not “malamigin” maybe these are okay for you. For men they had plenty and my friend Jackie says the heat holders are very good!! I want to enjoy being in the snow so I made sure! On my first day, this was the combination. The feet are the most important so I have 3 layers for the feet – fleece lined tights, heat Gen extra warm socks from M&S and extra warm socks. For my legs is all that plus extra warm heat tech leggings as 4th layer then of course pants. For the chest area it’s extra warm heat Gen from M&S extra warm heat tech and fleece vest borrowed from BFF Rina plus down jacket with hood on top! Face mask, waterproof gloves and fur for the neck! Bringing some heat packs for the hands. I looked like Santa Claus! but I was warm enough to enjoy the snow!! I did not have to buy anything because I had many! I needed these hot packs which you can buy in Japan! They are only around 60 yen or 50 US cents so it is very reasonable and you can use it the whole day to keep your feet and hands warm in case your gloves are not enoughThis is a great device too for Japan travelling! My friend Kai signed up for this and they delivered it to her in the hotel. When she arrived it was already in the hotel. It can take up to 10 devices and the signal was very strong. She paid around 30$ for 10 days. I was lucky I signed up on day 1 and so whenever I was with her I got signal. I knew she was near me once I got signal! haha!! 🙂