We all need a break from the city life and glimpse at the water and get some fresh air. There are times like this when you have been working for so long and need a new look at a wonderful scenery. My dad and his wife always bring me to the Ritz Carlton located in 600 Stockton Street, San Francisco, California 94108, United States just to eat a fancy dessert and over look a beautiful view that captures your heart. Anyone who plan to visit can look at their  Official Website  for the details in case you would like to stay there. Subscribe & Follow @ Carmina Lifestyle  a place to look, discover and share. Thank you!

I remember when I use to cram for school and stay awake there was a beverage called, Jolt Cola to stay awake at night. Jolt cola is an American drink that was made in 1985. It was the first carbonated energy drink that offered a lot of sugar and twice the amount of caffeine with a taste of soda. It has been discontinued since 2009. During our time students in high school didn't drink coffee. This year as my son are cramming they drink milk tea, iced coffee and regular soda to keep them wide awake at night. He ends up ordering fast food and being delivered to your home. He says's , he need these type of food because he is stress from passing out projects on a daily basis. I use to complain how he would eat, but I realized later the school system must be harder when I was young especially in the Philippines. He only eat this kind of food for a week and goes back to his regular meals. I no longer ask my son about his food or interfered with him. From all the...

For the longest time I have been eyeing to have my own blue tooth wireless ear buds. I didn't want to pay a whole lot of money. But, I wanted something I knew would last a long period of time using it. I was hesitant to buy them online. I wasn't sure if I'd buy it. It might not be original when you are purchasing from the Philippines. After doing my own research and trying to figure out what was best for me from my own budget I had placed myself in. The ones I wanted was the ear buds made by Samsung, but the cost was too expensive if I we're to buy it online from Lazada. The price was almost PHP 7.000.00 ($140.00). When I was visiting Singapore I came across some stores and was told by the salesperson that the following brands we're also on the market. Apple Air pods Samsung Ear buds Bose Sony Philip Beats Power beats Pro Echo Buds Still I didn't buy it since I knew I wasn't living in that area and I wanted to buy something that would be und...

When you feel like eating pasta in a light way and you are watching out what you are eating. This pasta salad is for you.  The best thing on this salad you can add anything you want for example: Tuna from the can (drain the water) Salmon from the can (drain the water) Chicken chopped Tomato slice thinly Onion slice thinly Bell Pepper slice thinly There are no limits and the best part you can use any type of pasta noodles you want. Pasta Salad  Dressing : 1/3 cup Balsamic vinegar 1/3 cup Olive oil 1/2 tsp Fresh parsley chopped 1/2 tsp Basil 1/2 tsp Oregano Black pepper (depends on your taste)

The only part in life I hate the most when your deadline is approaching.  Your assigned group mates are not done with their share of responsibilities. In limit time your project is due. You get all stress out thinking it won't be done on time. Living in the Philippines there is a saying that they are always late. They don't come in time and they do things for the last minute. This is what I hate so much when you have to deal with people who lack responsibility and your grade is also on that boundary. Today, my son needed a project to be printed out for a project for school. It was a children's book that two of his classmates had designed.  Luckily I was able to find a place that closes at 6:00 PM. Most printing press companies close on a weekday at 5:00 PM. It is hard when you come home from school late in the afternoon. Still have unfinished projects to do and have to turn it in the next day. There was a place that was able to sav...

Christmas is just around the corner. There are some people who don't look forward for the holidays especially when someone passed away recently. It would bring back painful memories. My mom told me ever since her mom passed away when she was young she hated Christmas holiday. It had reminded her memories she had spent with her mom when she was young. She said, her mom loved Christmas. She would prepare the table with all sort of Filipino dishes. She would decorate her home up for the holiday. She said, when we're young she had no choice to celebrate Christmas because she didn't want to spoil her feelings to her own children. Now, we are older she careless to celebrate Christmas. She doesn't get excited during this moment in time. I remember there was one year I lived with her. My son wanted the spirit of Christmas. I had to buy him a small fake plastic tree to place on a small table. My son complained to his Nana. She had no spirit of Christmas. He c...

There is a saying for the Filipino when it is your birthday you need to eat noodles to have long life. The popular dish for Filipino is cooking pancit on that occasion. There are three types of noodles cooked for pancit: Pancit Canton Noodles made of egg noodles Pancit Bihon (Vermicelli) made of rice noodles Pancit Miki made of thick egg noodles In each dish for 1, 2 and 3 both uses the same ingredient as follow: Note : You can choose if you want to use chicken, pork or shrimp on your ingredient of the pancit. Ingredient : 3 Pieces chicken parts such as breast meat or thigh parts 1/2 Kilo fresh shrimp remove head, skin and devein (optional) 1-pound lean pork chopped (optional) 1 Onion chopped 2 Cloves garlic 2 Carrot sliced into thinly match box sticks 1/2 cabbage chopped 1 Knorr chicken or pork cubes (depend on which meat you will have decided to use) Squid ball sliced (optional) 1 Chayote - peel and chopped (optional) 3 to 4 cup water Fish Sauc...

There is the Japanese dish they seem to like in the restaurant called, "chicken katsu".  The other one is crispy fried chicken. To be healthy use dory fillet fish or calamaris just follow the same technique on the recipe. Try this recipe it is easy to make and can be used in so many ways. Chicken Katsu Recipe : Ingredient : 1 Package of boneless chicken fillet (thinly sliced) 2 Pieces Egg (well beaten) Japanese Breadcrumbs or All-Purpose Flour Black Pepper (add to your taste) Salt (add to your taste) 1 Cup Fresh Milk or Evaporated Milk 1 Tupperware with lid Frying pan Cooking oil Strainer Step 1 : Combine the boneless chicken, egg, black pepper, salt and milk in a Tupperware overnight in the fridge. Step 2 : In a flat plate spread the breadcrumbs or all-purpose flour evenly Place one piece of chicken breast evenly from both sides Do each one the same way Step 3 : Pour the cooking oil in the frying pan Heat the oil once hot  Add the bre...

I just found out from a friend he is taking insulin plant. He is drinking the leaves and make it into a tea. Insulin plant known as Costus igneus was discovered in India.  This lowers your blood sugar. Not many people can afford daily dosage of insulin this way it is the herbal way in life. There are two ways to take it. Insulin Leaves Tea Recipe : Step 1 : Boil water and add two pieces of insulin leaves in a pot.  Remove the leaves Drink the water every morning and night each day for 30 days. Eating the insulin leaves raw: Step 2 : You can consume the leaves by washing it with water. Cut into small pieces and chew slowly. Note : Insulin Plant can be brought in the Philippines through Shopee. For the people who live abroad it can be brought in Amazon.

In the Philippines turkey is not that common. Most cold cuts are not pure turkey it is combine with ham. Not like other countries you can eat turkey on a daily basis or served on Thanksgiving holiday. The only place that sells baked turkey, cranberry sauce, stuffing and camote (sweet potato) for the price of PHP 420.00 ($6.00)  This dish is the favorite from the Filipino comedian Dolphy when he was still alive. This place was his favorite hang out. Address : Hizon's Bake Shop and Restaurant 1197 Jorge Bocobo Street Corner Arquiza Street 1112 Manila, Philippines Contact :  (027) 536-3993 Open Hours : Monday - Saturday: 9:00 AM - 9:00 PM Sunday - 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM They sell the biggest ensaymada bread topped with grated cheddar cheese and sugar sold for PHP 150.00 ($3.00) each. Prices may change without prior notice.

I remember when I was a kid our favorite snack was rice krispy with marshmallow. As I got older I found out you can actually use any other cereal that you have in your pantry. There is no need to cook it on your stove. You can actually cook it in your microwave oven by using a microwave bowl. Ingredient : 1 - Box of cereal (any flavor) 1 - Package of mini marshmallow 1 - Stick of butter (any brand) 1 - Microwave bowl 1 - Pan 1 - Sheet of wax paper Step 1 : In the microwave bowl you will melt the butter for one minute in the microwave Add the marshmallow Cook in the microwave until the marshmallow has been melted Step 2 : Add one box of cereal to the melted butter and marshmallow Mix together Step 3 : Pour on your pan Flatten with wax paper Step 4 : Let it cool down than slice it up into squares NOT SPONSORED. Subscribe @ Carmina Lifestyle YouTube Channel  a place to look, discover and share. Thank you for your support.

During the time when my son was a toddler he didn't want to eat fruits. I had to find a way for him to eat it without knowing what he was eating. I had learned to bake and make the banana into a banana bread cupcake. My son had no clue what he was eating. All he knew that time the cupcake tasted so good. I realize this was the only way he can eat fruits or vegetables. My son was a very picky eater. My parents told me I was the same when I was young. On this recipe it will work on any other fruits or vegetables just remove the banana and replace it with a fruit or vegetable. Banana Bread Recipe : Ingredient : 3 large ripe banana 2 cups all purpose flour 1 tsp baking soda 1 tsp baking powder 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract 1/2 cup sugar 1 stick butter softened 2 eggs beaten 1/2 cup milk Step 1 : Preheat oven to 325 Step 2 : Grease pan with butter Step 3 : In a bowl mash the ripe banana Step 4 : In a mixing bowl add the flour, baking powder, baki...

Sometimes we want to just eat at home than eating at a Chinese Restaurant. My friend brought some Somai to our home. We asked, where it came thinking it came from a restaurant. She had told me the brand is Golden Chopsticks. I was told there was a stall near Christ the King Church every Sunday. Address: Christ the King Church Green Meadows Parking Lot Green Meadows Avenue, Quezon City I did some research online and found a Chinese grocery that actually sells it for PHP 280.00 per package. The content has twenty pieces pork and shrimp siomai and the shrimp wanton. The name of the Chinese grocery store is Save & Fresh the contact number is 0289297090. It is best to call them ahead and make a reservation on how many packages you would like to pick up. The ingredient has no extenders, so the meat is really fresh. You will need a steamer to cook the Somai. Cooking instruction: It is best to defrost the Somai before you intend to cook it. Separate the Somai by us...