Happy Birthday to the Biggest Geek I know! :)

Just wanted to greet my little brother, Chris, a happy, happy birthday! 🙂

Thank you for teaching my son how to use a lightsaber.

I hope you’ll soon be teaching him how to play the guitar.  Something less violent, perhaps? Hmmm? 🙂

During Chris' Album Cover Photo Shoot

Thanks to Mitch Mauricio for shooting Chris’ first solo album cover 🙂 Super love 🙂

Meet Chris' biggest fan 🙂

No, this is Chris' biggest fan. Here's Damien watching the photo shoot.

Proud nephew 🙂

As much as I hate to admit it, I’m very proud of you, lil’ brothah!  Wishing all your hopes and dreams would come true! We’re always just right behind you 🙂

"I'm the King of Disneyworld!"

A Jingle Belle & Cat Christmas Party

Last December 18, Belle & Cat celebrated our annual Christmas party with the team and staff of B&C.  We were looking forward to this party since it was only our 2nd year 🙂 This is lovely Isabel on the left and gorgeous Stacey on the right preparing our simple, hearty meal for the evening.

This may be your typical menu for a party but we knew for sure that everyone will definitely enjoy.  Who wouldn’t want to eat pork barbeque and lumpiang Shanghai?! Amber Golden Plate Restaurant is always at the top of our list for parties. The food is excellent and they deliver 🙂 They are known for their pancit and pichi-pichi for dessert but we wanted to try other dishes this time.

Ok, this dish is NOT from Amber.  This dish was made by our very own Stacey Tan Gana-Bravo.  One of our partners at B&C. Now a certified cook! 🙂 This was her dish for the evening.  A whole tupperware of Chapchae/Japchae, a famous Korean dish made from sweet potato noodles, stir-fried in sesame oil with various vegetables.  This was amazing, Stacey! I took home most of the leftovers.  I just had to make my whole family try it!

Pork Barbecue from Amber.

Can’t eat barbecue without rice!

Chicken lollipops.

Mixed vegetables.

Lumpiang Shanghai.

Mango roll from Red Ribbon for dessert.  Thanks for bringing this, Merry! It was a refreshing and light dessert 🙂

Thanks, Merry, for joining us that evening 🙂 You will always be part of the B&C Beauty Club!

The boys of Belle & Cat 🙂 My husband Dante and Chris 🙂

The B&C Staff.  Thank you, girls, for another wonderful year.  B&C will not be here if it weren’t for your talent, hard work and dedication.  Thank you, Mitch, Joy, Honeyca, Evie, Nerrisa, Narlyn and Kareen! 🙂 We hope you enjoyed another Christmas with us! 🙂 Merry, Merry Christmas to all of you! Looking forward to another wonderful year with you all 🙂

A Walk in Mongkok :)

When in HK, Mongkok is a must especially for these two.  It’s just about three to four stops via MTR from Tsimshatsui Station 🙂 It’s where all the toys and shoe stores are.  Toys for the big boys.

Before anything else, Gong Cha stop first, for a tall glass of cold milk tea 🙂

Planning our agenda for the afternoon.

Oh but wait….second stop: fried tentacles in curry powder seasoning!  THIS IS CRISPY, CHEWY, SALTY GOODNESS in a brown paper bag 🙂 ahhh, I want one now! There is something similar to this though in Serenitea. Try their chicken chops 🙂 I will have some today!

Not too adventurous to try these delicacies.

But this we cannot miss.  Third stop: Cold noodles.  (We just actually had lunch.)

We chose Octopus.  Spicy.

Cold noodles in spicy sauce with octopus.  Winner!!! 🙂

My brother Chris cannot decide. Red or blue?! 🙂

Blue.  Ready to rock his gigs 🙂

Time to head back to the hotel now to meet the folks and Damien for dinner 🙂 Yes, eat again! 🙂

There is also a ladies’ market in Mongkok.  But be careful.  Since it’s a tourist spot, a lot of the sales people start at a really high price 😦 Be firm.  Just pretend to walk away while you haggle 🙂 Prices get lower as you walk away 🙂