Frannywanny

It's no secret how much we love to eat out most especially when our friends are there to join us. However, one thing that can really dampen our hungry spirits is having to queue up for a long, long, longggg time. Since patience is obviously not my strongest point, I make it a habit to do table reservations as often as I can. Back then, I would go through the trouble of calling the restaurants days before to do this. However, there are moments when we suddenly decided to eat out and knowing that I didn't had ample time to make the reservation, stress level would tend to rise. That was until Paul and I were invited to join a fun food trail one weeknight and this was hosted by the cool folks behind Quandoo Singapore . For those who haven't heard about this, it's actually a mobile app that will allow you to make a table reservation with just a few clicks and you can do it right on your mobile phone. Sounds awesome, right? One cool thing that I love about it is how i...

Oh boy, time has been flying extremely fast! Another year has gone by and just like that, here we are again celebrating another blog anniversary. I can still remember that afternoon when I opened this blog account and there was that blinking cursor button waiting for me to type in my blog name. I paused for a few minutes then just wrote the first "what-I-thought-sounded-witty" name that came into my mind -- Frannywanny . A cutesy version of my real nickname. When I first started this blog, all I wanted was to have a more organized place for me to document my food discoveries as I used to just write it on my Multiply account. Paul and I have been eating out quite a lot then and he would take really nice photos while I just love to tell my friends about it. No marketing strategy, no serious business objectives. Frannywanny.com is simply and will be...   a girly-girl's guide to the best things in life .  Back then, I would get all giddy and happy whenever friends wo...

*SPONSORED POST* It has been said over and over again how the internet has been successful in connecting lives and building relationships. We've seen how it has been so beneficial for people like us who lives thousand of miles away from home. It allows us to keep in touch with our family to the point of making them just a short message or a voice call away. I get to be updated with every thing that is happening at home down to where my parents went for dinner. Take for example the 35th wedding anniversary of my parents which they celebrated two months ago. While I wasn't there with them physically, I saw the dishes that they enjoyed that evening and got real time photos of them blowing their anniversary cake too. At times when Mommy can't get hold of me, she would just leave a short voice message telling me about her day and reminding me to take good care of myself. With technology, the fact of having the South China Sea in between me and my loved ones can easily be negl...

As soon as the contest ended a week ago, I immediately got down to business. The first task was to be organized and to divide all those who chose the Philippines and the Singapore planner. Okay, now that task #1 was done, then comes the fun yet challenging part -- reading through all the 190++ entries and choosing for the best ones. Most entries were really sweet and amazing that I ended up with more than 40 shortlisted ones and I know it will take me a couple more day to narrow that down to TWO . I will stop blabbing now and will go straight to the point... The lucky reader who will be receiving a 2014 Starbucks Coffee Philippines Planner is... Ira Tasha Balucan I was really touched by Ira's answer on how she will be sharing the Joy this Christmas: In light with the recent devastation caused by Typhoon Yolanda, I would try my best to make the victims feel that there is still hope in their lives. More than the relief goods, the food and the clothes, it is still es...

Remember the first ever blog post that my sister Pan wrote here at Frannywanny.com? It was about her Top 10 Tokyo Sights which you can read about here and here . Well, looks like someone had loads of fun sharing her travel adventures with you all that she decided to write more! Today, the one and only Blue Eagle in the family would like to share with you her first ever restaurant review on Chubby Chicken -- a casual university food stop located right across her alma mater in Katipunan Avenue. To make things more exciting, we're also treating one lucky ready to an all-out Chubby Chicken meal worth Php 500!!!  Now, that's my cue to stop writing and to give the virtual stage to my sister Pannywanny. :) It has been a few years back where Katipunan has been my second home, studying at Starbucks, buying last minute items at National Bookstore and having breakfast, lunch and dinners in the different food establishments available. It is, after all, just a foot bridge or a trike ...

Dear readers, Please make my birthday wish come true! I'm up against 4 extremely talented food/cooking bloggers for the Tefal Chef Challenge and after attending a cooking demo conducted by Chefs Jason Vito and Benson Tang of ONAKA , we're now tasked to create our very own recipe! Sadly, voting is only open to all those with Singapore IC/FIN numbers (in other words, you have to be based here to vote!). Nonetheless, I would like to ask you to pleaseeeeee ask your Singapore-based friends and relatives to vote for me! All who sends in their vote get the chance to win their very own Tefal Blendforce Triplax Blender & Chopper woth $79.90. Everyone can vote once  a day! To all Singapore-based readers, I'm countin on you! *hugs* Please VOTE for ME!!! ♥, Fran Here's sharing with you the entry that I've recently posted at the official Tefal Chef Challenge website . Don't you just wish that the weekend can go on forever? Imagine not having to rush ou...

April is National Stress Awareness Month and while I know this is not widely practiced in this part of the world, I am making a conscious effort to do away with all things that will cause stress to myself and to achieve a more zen-like mode at all times. *ohhhmmmm*  Of course, our environment plays a big factor in our daily outlook in life. I always like keeping things tidy and clean as I really can't stand the sight of a messy or dusty room. I am also very sensitive to smell thus I always make sure that I have room and linen sprays on hand. In celebration of National Stress Awareness Month, let me talk about our new home. Having moved in just a few months ago, Paul and I are still taking baby steps in making our room feel more homey week after week. They say, first impressions last and luckily, we both had very good impressions of our new home from the photos sent to us up until the day we finally walked in and saw our new place ourselves. We love how we get sufficient amoun...

December is finally HERE! I can't believe it. I can still clearly remembered how Paul and I welcomed the New Year and now we're a few days away from saying goodbye to it. WOW! 2013 truly went by so fast! Anyway, before we bid 2013 adieu, we still have Christmas , my second favorite holiday of the year next to my birthday! I just love being able to complete the Simbang Gabi (note: mine is literally gabi as I attend the anticipated mass..I really couldn't wake up at 4AM given that I have to report to work at 10AM) , the smell of bibingka and the crazy and hectic schedule of merry-making and gift giving. Paul is actually busy wrapping gifts already as I'm typing this entry. Luckily, we're almost done with our list so no cramming for us in the coming weeks. Christmas is also the time for giving. It's the time where we share our blessings by paying it forward. Ever since Paul and I got married, we have this little tradition of buying all sorts of chips, cand...

I love reading OK! Magazine Philippines ! Of course it's really a big plus that I HAVE to read this on a monthly basis for work but hey, I really do enjoy going through every single page from cover to cover. From OK! , I get ideas on what's the latest (and cutest) pair of shoes out there, what type of make-up goes with a particular occasion and of course, I get the most updated news about my favorite Hollywood celebrities and even that of the Royal Couple William and Kate. In fact, I turn to OK! to even get gown ideas for my designer to make for me. Take this month for example, it truly is heart-breaking to find out that Tom and Kate are filing for divorce which made me think of Suri who I think is one of the most fashionable kid out there. OK! hasn't only been my stress reliever but it's my Hollywood fashion guru too! Don't you just love looking at beautiful photos of stylish men and women and the best are those of families who not only eat and pray together bu...

My sister just got back from her trip and she brought home goodies not for only me but also for one lucky reader here in Frannywanny.com ! YES! She thought of you guys when she was in the Land of the Rising Sun and decided to sponsor my much-awaited Birthday Giveaway !  Let's all give Pan a big big HUG! Speaking of the Land of the Rising Sun , I really can't wait for DRUM TAO to come to Manila ! They're coming in a month's time and I'm so excited! Here's a piece of good news, all readers of Frannywanny.com immediately gets 20% off for every ticket purchase done online. Simply click on this link and type in the magic word GRANDIOSO on the box provided for the Promotional Code . This discount is valid until July 11, 2012 (our 2nd wedding anniversary ♥) only. Here are some important links to know more about DRUM TAO :  Official DRUM TAO website Must Watch : Drum Tao in Manila this July 2012! CONTEST ALERT!  Now let's head on to the fun pa...

Hooray for Today! :) I rarely get to watch TV but during one of those rare moments, I was able to catch the new McDonald's TVC with a catchy tune and a fun, rather nostalgic story of a guy who drove through McDonald's for breakfast and along his way he saw things that reminds him (and us) of our childhood. There was a unicorn, a teddy bear, a castle built with Lego and a lot more. The message is simple. A good breakfast is essential to give you a great start to your day! This is the reason why I am so excited to spread the love this Mother's Day as 5 lucky Mothers will get a special treat courtesy of McDonald's ! Thank you so much for joining my quick weekend contest ! Without further ado, here are the winners whom I will be contacting soon to arrange for that special breakfast treat for their Moms on Mother's Day this Sunday! CONGRATULATIONS TO.... Rosemarie Samson Stonibert Lim Maria Anna Katrina A. Paz Dianne Vernadeen Sia-Lucenara  Mel...

In my family, there are certain dates that we give just as much regard and importance to like a regular holiday. In fact, we celebrate and look forward to it more than most legal holidays. This includes our birthdays and two special days wherein we treat our parents like royalty -- Mother's Day and Father's Day . Mother's Day is a week away and despite our very hectic work schedule, my sister and I are busy planning on what we will do for our dear Mommy on her special day. It's one day where Mommy is required to sit back, relax and leave everything up to us. Our sweet Papa would always prepare a greeting card for Mommy where both my sister and I would include our short messages in. Either for lunch or dinner, we would go out not only with Mommy but with my Amah (grandmother) as well. After all their hard work and intense labor, one day is truly not enough for us to show our utmost gratitude and undying love for them. Still planning on where and what to do on Mot...

Hi readers! I've been blogging for five years and what really keeps me going is YOU ! I still get the thrill out of receiving messages that you guys would leave on my comment box and most especially when I get the chance to meet some of you outside. This Saturday, I'm heading to Mercato Centrale and will be hanging out there with the cool Jollibee crew as they will sample the new and totally yummy Jollibee Sundae Mix-Ins MILO Blast to all market visitors that day! To make things more exciting, I'll be spotting groups of friends enjoying this cool treat and will be rewarding them with Jollibee GCs ! I hope to see you guys on Saturday! Mark your calendars, March 17; 7AM to 2PM at Mercato Centrale , Bonifacio Global City! It'll definitely be one cool day!

Summer is definitely here and one thing that I love about this time of the year is that it's the perfect season to hit the beach! While I'd love to get a tan (or at least I continue to dream to get one) ; this year, I'm heading somewhere cold to chill like a polar bear and to have a perfect excuse to wear my fluffy, puffy coat! Don't you just love traveling ? I simply get the thrill out of getting a new stamp on my passport and really, I hope that I'd be able to fill it all up someday. I just love looking at the different stamps and visas that I get from every country. With numerous traveling comes endless packing. This is one skill that I admittedly have yet to perfect. I use to be a travel hoarder wherein I tend to bring my entire house with me when I travel. As a result, I always have to deal with overweight luggages or a frustrated Paul, trying his best to make everything fit. That was until I went to the US for a two weeks vacation and there's really no...

Wanna win THIS ? Visit this site again on March 12, 2012 to know how to join! :)

Sun Life Financial ,the pioneer insurance company in the country, has always been a part of our lives for as long as I can remember. It's simply because my mom has been a Sun Life Financial advisor since I was one. That's how loyal and successful Mommy has been with the company. In fact, I always like to say that Sun Life Financial has helped my parents in being able to bring us to the best schools in town starting from grade school up until our university years. It also has helped made our lives really comfortable and of course, this is all with the extreme hard work that both my parents have exerted to make everything possible. Needless to say, the Sun Life community is like family to us . My mom's colleagues have seen my sister and I grow up. In fact, some of them have been my mom's kumares making us closer not only to their kids but to the entire family as well. There's also a really fun part about being a Sun Life advisor! You get to TRAVEL ! Through th...

"Hada Adai, fellow bloggers!" -- This is the way people say HELLO in Guam. If I were you, I'd read up on Guam and learn a phrase or two as you and a friend might just be on your way to the beautiful island of Guam for an all-expense paid trip brought to you by Heinz Tomato Ketchup ! Before I share the great news with you on how to join this exciting contest, let me share some Guam 101 first. Guam is actually part of the US Territory thus a VISA is required prior to entry. Unlike California or New York, Guam is just a 3-hour flight away from Manila! Even closer than Singapore or Korea that takes us 4 hours to get there. The weather is fairly similar to the Philippines so no need to lug around your boots and coat for this trip. As for the food, Filipinos won't have a hard time adjusting as the food in Guam is really similar to ours. This is brought by the early Filipino immigrants who transferred to Guam as early as the Spanish colonization. Thus, don't b...

This 2012 marks my 7th year of being part of the corporate world. It all began last July 1, 2005 – exactly 15 days after my college graduation where I entered my very first office in Libis. I was a very new, and pretty young Marketing Services Officer for an international hardware brand (yes, I’m talking power tools, paints and woodworks) then. I can still remember how tiny my salary was back then that I would still rely on my parents to pay for my basic necessities. Thank God for giving me extremely generous parents. :) With my low salary, I could hardly budget nor save for the rainy days. It really felt like me getting my school allowance only it comes twice a month not weekly. When I moved on to my second job, it was then that I was able to enjoy more luxury and at the same time learned how to budget my money wisely. Believe it or not, it was only then that I had my very first bank account. It was then that I learned the value of money and the importance of it. Now that I’m m...

I won a blog contest!! To be honest, I rarely join contests or promos but after seeing the announcement over at fellow blogger Patty's website that I could win a special photo shoot for Scottie and the entire family, I took some time out to follow the mechanics and to submit my contest entry while crossing my fingers that I will be chosen. It's Christmas after all and I would like to give my dear Scottie a fun photo shoot! Lo and behold, I got an email from Pet Photographer Denise telling me that I won the contest! YAHOOOOO!!! Lucky lucky me!! :) Thank you Patty and Denise for making me day! Now it's time to pay it forward... After three whole weeks of running the contest with 148 valid entries I am so excited to finally announce the winners who will be receiving a couple of Starbucks items from me! :) Without further ado... I present the Top 4 winners as chosen by Random.org ! Mark Spencer Tan will be receiving the limited edition Coffee on the Go Backpack...

A week ago, I shared the good news about the soon-to-be released Starbucks 2012 Planner ! This got everyone so excited that in the span of a week, the entry spread like wildfire, being shared over Facebook, Twitter and a lot more. Everyday I get so excited seeing how I have help spread the Christmas joy to everyone. The entry became pretty popular that sadly, some of my photos (minus the watermark) were copied by a certain Tumblr user who at present had deleted not only her entry but her Tumblr account as well. *sigh* Thus fellow bloggers, beware of plagiarizers! Well, I stayed pretty calm about it as I'm definitely not allowing her to burst my Christmas bubble. Let us just move on and learn from this, shall we? Starting from this entry, expect to see my watermark right smack in the middle of the photo. Let me know what you think. :) Tomorrow, November 3, Starbucks Coffee Philippine s will officially launch their much-awaited Christmas campaign. I've showed you the beauti...