Kitchen Nightmares Episodes

Ever since I saw an episode of Gordon Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares, I got hooked. This US edition is an intensified version of the original British show Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares. World-class chef Gordon Ramsay spends one week in the featured restaurant and identifies its problems. He talks to the owners, watches executive chefs and sous chefs, and makes necessary changes, may it be the food, the menu, the decor, or the people. The extent of the makeover extends to changing the names of the dining place. 

Kitchen Nightmares does not only tackle problems with restaurant food, but also with how the business is being run by  its owners. Chef Ramsay imparts his keen business sense to the owners and makes sure they implement it. Chef Gordon Ramsay relaunches the restaurant in his last day, and gives his conclusion at the end of the dinner service.

At some point in the following season, Chef Ramsay revisits some of the restaurants he helped and checks if the changes he has done are being maintained. Some businesses are lucky to survive, and some are just too deep in the hole to make it.

Textile Industry

Guest post of the week by Deangelo Spencer

Having a hand in the textile industry for so many years was really inspiring for me…I knew after only a few years in my old job that I eventually wanted to do something on my own but I just wasn’t sure how to go about it. I finally felt after about 15 years I knew what I wanted to do: open my own fabric store, so I got to work hiring people and working with vendors to get it all set up. I found a great space to rent near downtown and looked into small business xo and even made up business cards. By the time opening day hit I was READY and you know, though people didn’t come in droves business is really better than I imagined. We’ve got a lot of loyal customers and I’m really making a mark with interior decorators, which is a crucial industry to be in cahoots with. I know that in only a few years my little fabric store is going to grow into something amazing!

First roommate fight

Post contributed by Hilton Miranda

I just moved in with my best friend. She has a crappy apartment with no amenities, but the location is great. I am so excited to live with her, but not excited about the place. So far we agree on everything. It has been a great roommate match. However, she is a big reader and before I moved in didn’t even have basic cable. I can’t imagine living without cable.

This has become our first disagreement.

I looked up all the options at www.ExpertSatellite.com and presented them to her in a very professional way. I was trying my hardest to avoid an argument. What it came down to was that she didn’t want to spend the money. I understand everyone has a different budget and different priorities. Honest, I get it. However, this is a priority to me. So the end result was me paying for it all. I am fine with that. She doesn’t use it and I am the one that wanted it. All-in-all, we made it past our first fight and we are still doing great. I am still excited about our living situation and I am excited about all the fun we are going to have as best friends and roomies!

Quick meal prep that pays off

Guest post written by Clara David

When I get home from work, a lot of the time I feel like it's way too much trouble to even pop a frozen pizza into the oven for dinner. Plus, I don't really want to put much trouble into meals because I'm only cooking for myself. But I realize that a woman can not survive on frozen pizza and Lean Cuisines alone, so I've decided to start making more of an effort by grocery shopping wisely and getting things that can be thrown together to make good meals in just a few minutes.

But I also want to eat something more than just grilled cheese or peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, so I went online to find some quick and easy recipes. When I was online looking for that, I found some information about http://www.get.wildblue.com and after I looked through it a little bit, I decided to change over my home internet service.

One recipe that I found was for a turkey wrap. It sounded easy enough and you can also change it a bit by the dressing, hummus or even vegetables that you can include. Plus this takes less time to make than waiting around for a frozen pizza to cook.

Jollibee in JC!

Finally I will be able to eat a burger steak! A Jollibee restaurant will open here in JC, NJ. It's the 2nd Jollibee restaurant here in the East Coast, USA. (The 1st one is in NY). A lot of people here will be very happy about this news. We don't have to travel for hours and fall in line just to get a chicken joy! :D

Get my kids used to organization

Guest post written by Kyra White

I'm one of the least organized people ever, but I really do try to keep our home organized. It's something that I don't do without thinking, but I don't want my kids to be like that. I want them to get used to organizing their stuff so they won't be as messy as me.

I went online to come up with some ways to instill responsibility and organization in them like my parents didn't. When I went online to do that I came across the website www.ClearWirelessInternet.com and after I looked through it some, i decided to change over our home internet service to that company.

I got the idea to make some little cubbies to put in each of their rooms and put their toys away in. I want them to be able to put away their things on a regular basis without thinking about it so that it will be less of a chore and a burden and more of an everyday activity for them. Maybe along the way I can also learn some organizational skills too.

Best Deals for Mother's Day 2010

Looking for gifts for your mom on Mother's Day? Need ideas or probably the best deals for your money? If you're getting tired of giving flowers, there are huge selections of items from Amazon.com....




1. Kindle - If your mom is a bookworm, she might like the Kindle Reader. Reviews are outstanding and I know a lot of people who love this product -- and that includes my wife. If you order Kindle now, you're eligible for 2-day free shipping.



2. Jewelries - Most women just love jewelries. Amazon offers up to 30% discount, so check them out now while supplies last!



3. Beauty Products - Just because your mom is older doesn't mean she stopped caring for her looks. Give her more inspiration with these beauty items from Amazon.



4. Kitchen and Dining Gifts - For moms who love to cook! Who knows, she might cook your favorite kare-kare using these gifts! You could get up to 40% discount on these items.



5. Mother's Day Gift Cards - Can't decide which item to give your mother? Send her a gift card instead. There are 4 easy ways you can give Amazon.com Gift Cards in time for Mother's Day, just follow this link for more info.



6. Mother's Day Deals - Check out the link for more Mother's Day Deals on Amazon.com!

Hope this post helps you make up your mind in choosing the best gift for your mother. They deserve something special, and you deserve to save some green!

Valentine's Day Gifts: Do You Look for Discounts?

In about two weeks from now, people will celebrate Valentine's Day. I've been shopping for a gift for my wife. I don't want to be cheap, but I also don't want want to spend an arm and a leg for an expensive item since we need to prioritize for our upcoming wedding in summer.

There are a few ways I know of when saving money. One is through my amazon affiliate program, and one is by hunting coupon and online deals like DealTattle.com - Coupon Codes & Discounts. I gave my wife a Kindle (an ebook reader by Amazon) for her last birthday (and as a Christmas present as well). She was happy and I know she will be able to use it. I was actually contemplating between that and a Sony, but in the end, Kindle seems to be the most practical for her.

This Valentine’s though, I want to give her bunch of flowers with additional fancies like chocolates and a balloon. I really don't mind if I couldn't find a deal or discount. I want to give her something thoughtful, so she knows I remember her even if we're far away. If I found a good deal, I'll grab it; it wouldn't hurt. Besides, my wife is not materialistic like any other girls. For her, the greatest gift I could her is myself.

That’s my kind of girl. ;)

Music: Are You Still Downloading?

I am sure you have been downloading music for your iPod for later use. But where do you download mp3’s and other stuff?

I haven’t been downloading or leeching for a very long time now. Besides having a terrible and slow internet connection, I haven’t been interested in music, may it be buying or simply leeching.

Before, I used Kazaa and limewire to look for music and videos. With an increasing amount of software being created everyday, it’s no surprise that music torrents have been around for the past few years. Torrents are becoming popular because of ease of use and more reliable system if you know how to use it.

I have used torrents to download PDF’s, ebook, tutorials, some softwares that are full of spywares and malwares, and some other stuff that I no longer use. However, music does not pique my interest anymore, for unknown reason.

Maybe because YouTube has offered more flexibility and availability. You can basically find anything there, without having to download files that will eventually clog your hard drive.

That said, let me dedicate a song from one of my favorite bands: The Beatles. Don’t tell me you don’t know this, as this music is quite popular.

Pandacan Fiesta 2010

One more week to go and my hometown (Pandacan, Manila) will celebrate its 298th birthday. It's the feast of Sto. Nino de Pandacan, the most celebrated event in our district.

During this time, residents prepare by decorating the streets with banners and miniature flags (bandiritas). Local government and organizations also hold talent contests and shows for their respective zones.



A more elaborate pre-fiesta celebration is the dance festival more popularly known as the "Buling-Buling". It is participated by local teachers, students, various organizations, and residents in honor of the patron Santo Nino.

I hope to be able to participate in these events in the near future, as I've been away for nearly a decade now. Hopefully, I make it to Pandacan's 300th year in 2012.

Viva Sto. Niño!

Dreaming of a Pedestrian-Friendly City

I live in a city where a report said that two of the country roads are dangerous to pedestrians: JC, NJ. Several incidents have been recorded on the busy and long road of JFK Boulevard, and a few ended up in the statistical category “deaths” just in 2007.

I’d love to walk around the city, just to stroll and observe people. JC is an interesting place – just a river away from the beautiful lights of New York. We have a mixture of culture here, and hopefully the government transforms this place into a more pedestrian-friendly city. I am not dreaming of joining the list of Top 5 Walking Cities, but just a safer place where you can walk by and socialize with others.

Peds-friendly streets, I believe, would create a more community-like environment. The more you walk, the more people you’ll see regularly and eventually you’ll familiarize with them and vice-versa. Oh, and did I mention that walking is good for the heart, too?

Unfortunately, it looks like it would take JC more years to be that place I am dreaming of. Just here in Journal Square, the spot where demolished building where previously erected remains untouched when the government said actions will be taken in the last quarter of 2009.

Merry Christmas to All!

The time has come, Christmas has arrived! Happy Birthday, Jesus!

Merry Christmas to all my family members: my wife (her family), my parents and siblings, relatives, and friends! May all of us have a wonderful time together and celebrate the holy time of the holiday.

Belated Happy Birthday to Papa who turned 57 yesterday (December 24th)! May you have many more birthdays to come!

How Concerned Are You About Your Weight?

As a 30-something person, I am more concerned about my health more than when I was young at 17. When I was still a teenager, I ate almost every type of food, and I didn’t care if they were healthy food or not. As long as it tasted good, I’d make sure to grab a bite.

Luckily for me, I eat moderately. As a result, I remain skinny, at least in relation to my age. I never got overweight, but I found it easy to gain or lose weight. When I felt like adding up a few pounds, I just eat a lot and wait until the pants do not fit any more. When I feel I am too heavy, I just skip meals . Health Weight Loss is never really a problem for me.

The thing is, I should start to watch what I eat from now on. Entering the 35ish territory, I must limit my cholesterol intake and eat more veggies. Limit the greasy and oily food no matter how delicious they are. In addition, I am also planning to work-out as I haven’t hit the gym for quite some time now. 15-minute exercise in the morning is a good start, then increase the repetition and add more physical activity like playing basketball.

I want to live until I’m a 100 years old and see what the future will become.

My new Website for my Hobby

As I expand my latest hobby that is photography, I decided to build a website that will allow me to document my progress.

Choosing a name for a site isn't always easy, especially if you also intend to use it for business later on. I wanted my site to be easy to remember and at the same time, will represent what I do and what I am.

Welcome to PhotograPens.com...

Now the etymology:

Obviously, the "Photogra" portion stands for Photography. Pretty much self-explanatory. The "Pens" part is intended with pun.

"Pens" means writing, or in this case blogging. My objective is not limited to snapping and taking pictures... I also plan to write about the moments and memories captured by my camera.

There's also an anecdote attached to it which I am going to tell in a short concise sentence: my wife likes calling me "Pens" which is short for my surname "Pensoy".

My hobby + my wife's term of endearment to me = photograpens.com ... sounds good to me.

If you are interested to know, I plan to go the "event photography" route. Portraiture also interests me, so I also got myself a nice prime lens (Nikon 50mm f/1.8).

Excuse me, I'll just step out to practice my shots. ;)

Got my Nikon D90 + Other Gear!

My latest Digital SLR Camera finally arrived after several days of waiting! It's a Nikon D90 with Kit lens (18-105mm), but I am planning to sell the lens. I bought 2 other lenses (Tokina 50-135mm f/2.8 and Nikon 50mm f/1.8) which I will frequently use.

Here's a sample shot using Tokina 50-135mm on D90 body:



If you click HERE to view large size, you will see that the focus is very sharp and the bokeh is excellent!

Street photography, Event photography and portraiture are my interest, so I am going to need a lot of practice to master all my gears!

Black Friday and Cyber Monday Deals!

Black Friday Sale officially begins today. While some people prefer to camp out and line up at stores like Walmart and Best Buy, others conveniently shop online.

If you want to take advantage of huge deals on the internet, try shopping at Amazon.com. They have wide selections of items ranging from electronics to home/garden to fashion. I am getting myself a brand new Nikon D90 DX 12.3MP Digital SLR Camera, as I want to upgrade my "skills" in photography. I am planning to use the camera for blogging (on my sites) and for a small photography business here in JC, NJ.

Don't have the time to shop today or still can't make up your mind on items you want to purchase? Don't worry, the Amazon deals will extend until Monday (called Cyber Monday, November 30, 2009), and you still have the chance to get cheap stuff! You have to hurry, though, before the items are gone.

Shop at Amazon.com NOW! :D

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy thanksgiving to all! Time for some turkey, mashed potato, and cranberry juice with family members and friends! most importantly, this is the best time of the year to reflect about the things or people we are thankful for.

Enjoy your holiday! And don't gain too much weight by eating and sleeping! :P

Need to Buy A New Car? Check This Out ...

This is for my friends in United Kingdom (UK). If you want to buy a new cars, visit buyyourcar.com.uk and check out their car listing.

The site offers many features that allow buyer to research the car that fits his/her budget. You can make a detailed query of the car of your choice: by model, by make, or even by model range. Buyyourcar.co.uk can offer big discount as they have entered partnerships with many dealers and brokers across UK. What’s also great is they run a comparison chart of car prices showing how much you can save if you use buyyourcar.co.uk.

I know the economy is hard for almost everyone. That’s why if you need to buy a new car, try the site and see how much you can save. You're welcome. ;)

Typhoon Ondoy's Wrath

Strong typhoon hit Manila, Philippines causing heavy flooding especially in the depressed areas. My hometown (Pandacan, Manila) only suffered minor flooding and power outage, but the surrounding towns and cities were submerged in flood water.

Watch the 10-minute youtube video below (contains foul language in the middle portion of the clip) as it shows how devastating the storm was:



The government is calling for unity now, "bayanihan" in our local parlance. As of this writing, the flood water in some areas has receded down to knee. Traffic has returned to normal in some roads, but some streets are still not passable.

Cool Diesel Undies from Zappos

The first time I saw this underwear (in the pic), I thought it is cool and hip. I consider myself a simple man, so I settle for something not "fancy", especially for things that nobody else sees. In simple words, I'm fine with "tighty-whities".

However, after getting married last month, I thought "some variations" could be fun, especially if they're from Diesel. I've always liked Diesel: pants, shirt, or perfume. I'm sure these new undies are top-notch in terms of quality and style. The wife is going to enjoy them if you know what I mean. ;)

Did I mention Zappos'intimate selections? Check them out and see how sexy those jocks are. Read the reviews from other customers and learn how happy they are with the underwear. The designs are stylish, and the fit is perfect. I can't wait to get myself one or two!