MISSIN' BACOLOD

I couldn't believe my boyfie & I missed the Bacolod Masskara Festival. We planned to go to this year's Masskara Festival after missing it last year.... Waaa! We have completely forgotten it! 


Bacolod has been my home for a year after having my post graduate internship there. I have fallen in love with city and had almost traded it for my hometown Iloilo City. (But of course, I didn't, hehe. Very much still a proud Ilongga!hehe) 


So, let me count the ways why Bacolod has once stolen my heart.....


Let's start with their restos, cafe and foods, oh my! It's a mecca of gastronomic goodness.


1. BASCON'S CAFE

Their spaghetti is my type of spaghetti, sweet & creamy and I like flavor and crisp of the bread that comes with it. They also have a wide array of chocolate cakes to choose from. And oh, how much, I LOVE chocolate cakes! Yum! What I like also about Bascon's cafe is its interior design-- wooden furnitures, old sewing machine turned into tables, colorful abstract paintings on the wall. 

2. GYPSY TEA ROOM

I took my sister, nephew and sister-in-law here when they visited me in Bacolod. What makes this cafe unique is that they have a fortune-teller there to give you palm-reading or tarot card reading (Note: It's not for free). I am not sure if they still have fortune tellers in the cafe nowadays. They also have henna tattoos done there. Before it was located below the Orange Gallery in Mandalagan but now, they have transferred in Sorrento, Lacson Street. The cafe has bohemian feel to it - dim lightings, wooden drums, paintings on wall and they even sell necklaces, bracelets & stuff. When we went there, we just tried the coffee. It was not that amazing but the ambiance made up for its uhmmmm not-so-amazing coffee, hehe

3. KUPPA  COFFEE & TEA

image from the web

The structure of this place is amazing & unique and it gets even better when you come in. You know this place has been designed for aesthetic purposes. They have different types of tea to offer you served in a transparent flask with colorful flowers & tea leaves swimming in it. I was tipped by an OB resident here in Iloilo that they serve this satisfying big "open-face" burger. That, I still have yet to try.


4. L'SEA CHINESE RESTAURANT

   
This is our go-to resto of my co-intern (at that time, now Dr.) Gayle Elizalde. This is how we want our Chinese food to cooked. They have affordable rice toppings and our favorites are beef brisket & sweet  and sour pork. Theír dumplings are also worth mentioning. Now, I'm starting to get hungry, hehe.


4. KAISE JAPANESE RESTAURANT


If you love Japanese food, this is the place to be. Food recommendation: California Maki!


5. PENDY'S


When you come in at Pendy's, it's like entering a romantic villa with its white steel chairs and fine dining atmosphere. In a corner, they sell Bacolod delicacies. This is where I buy my Napoleones that I take home as pasalubong for my family.

image from web

   
6. THE OLD PALA-PALA


I still prefer this one than the new posh Pala-Pala. This is Bacolod's version of Manila's  Dampa... Go ahead, get your hands dirty here, no spoon & fork needed, just todo lamon, hehe.


7. PEPE'S


It is just a small place and it is always packed. Food recommendation: Beef Salpicao.


8. AIDA'S  at MANOKAN COUNTRY


You couldn't leave Bacolod without eating their chicken, no sireee. If you drop by Manokan Country, you would hear waiters & waitresses shouting at you to try their "manuk", but I usually go to Aida's Manokan. Again, no utensils needed. I like eating here with my bare hands. Their chicken oil is yummy and tastier than some chicken oil I've tasted. I always leave perfectly satisfied.


9. MUSHU RESTOBAR


This a classy restaurant and bar that is a favorite of many. In one of my trip to Bacolod to spend time with my boyfie who used to work there, Mushu was on our itinerary for an early dinner. However, we weren't able to witness how the place transformed as evening  deepens when the place becomes dimmer, with  a DJ & loud music, people dancing, drinking and having a fun fun night. 

Hainanese Chicken 

Sweet & Sour Pork

10. CALEA CAKES & PASTRIES

This is heaven. They have many variety of cakes to offer. They are also very good with ice cream cakes. 

We had these cakes with Mel and her friends who are working in Riverside Hospital on our detour back from Dumaguete . Tempting, isn't it?

My boyfie brought this cake when he first visited me at home to meet my family, hehe.

Now, that was just foods in Bacolod. I also love their adorable boutiques and ukay2 stores. In one of the boutiques, I discovered the 8-way bikini... You can have different style in one bikini. Sooo cool!

I also have this favorite internet shop which I totally forgot its name, found beside La Salle University. They have a nice interior design. So classy and has calming cool place. They also serve sandwiches & drinks.     

Also, I enjoy the mornings at the Lagoon where they have free aerobic exercises and somewhere in a corner, there are also people doing tai-chi.

Another go-to place is the RUINS at Talisay. Many has use it as venue for their prenuptial  pictorial because of its romantic rustic atmosphere. You go there and go crazy with your point & shoot camera, which my boyfie & I did when we went there. They also serve meals and it is best  in the early evening when you can have romantic dinner at the garden. 

  

The charm of Bacolod is in it's wide road, quiet quaintness, a good number of quirky cafes, cheap yummy foods, rustic old houses and love for aesthetics. It has been fun reminiscing of my good times in Bacolod.... I will see you soon Bacolod.... Maybe next Masskara Festival... Keep my fingers crossed... hehe

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TIPS ON BUFFET DINING

A few days ago, my boyfriend texted me at around 5PM, "Baby, are you hungry?". I thought that was a weird question. I replied, "Why baby?" He texted back, "Let's go buffet dining?" Of course, I replied back, a happy "Yea!" Hungry or not, we have been planning to go on a buffet dinner several times but it never pan out. 

We wanted to go the Emilion Japanese & International Cuisine located at 3rd floor of Grand Dame Hotel In Lapaz and that's where went to. 

My boyfie thought every buffet night in Emilion is International Night -cuisines from different part of the world, but today is just Japanese Night. He smiled at me and said, "It's your night baby." He knows my penchant for Japanese food, hehe.


Look at the gastronomically-enticing sight laid before us.

I apologize I wasn't able to take note of the names of each dishes. All I know is that each dishes were in exotic Japanese-sounding names (duh!) but I was to busy heeding the voice of my greedy stomach. I wasn't also able to take pictures of the dessert that consist of cakes from JD bakeshop, fresh sliced fruits and halo-halo. The buffet cost P330 per head, drinks not included. But they will charge you P660 if you have a left-over... Oopps! So make sure you don't put too much food in your plate that you can't handle.


I realize that going in buffet dinners you have to come prepared. A few tips are needed to enjoy a filling buffet dining:


1. (I apologize for being redundant). Never put in your plate more than you can handle. (Not unless you want to pay the extra fee for the left-over)


2. Try to skip on the rice because it would make you full really fast.


3. Same goes to other beverages like sodas or juices (though my boyfie & I ordered an iced tea, big mistake. Lesson learned) because like rice, you would feel full really fast.


4. Don't skip lunch just because you are going to a buffet in the evening. By dinnertime, you will be so desperate enough to satisfy your hunger, you munch the food too fast without savoring it and after a few bites, you couldn't take anymore. Believe me, it has happened.


5. Leave some room for desserts.


6. Take time in enjoying your food. It is not a race or a food-eating contest. 


7. Grab a perfect partner (gastronomically adventurous) to enjoy the experience.

We ate a more than P330-worth meal that night, wahaha! Really! So, sulit ang bayad, hehe.... We went home, so satisfied and bundat, hehe.... Thanks for the dinner, baby.... Burp! Opps, excuse me, hehe......

  

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THE HAPPINESS PROJECT

I was looking for a perfect travel book companion for my weekend trip last week to Manila. I was deciding between Sylvia Plath's Bell Jar or Gretchen Rubin's The Happiness Project. Considering the gloomy weather and my pursuit for positivity & happiness, I chose the latter (even if I find melancholy romantic). A sunny book about happiness or seeking it is a perfect companion in my alone -time in airports and planes while I look out at the stormy weather outside. 

This book is a non-fiction. It is about Gretchen Rubin, a wife & mother, not depressed or clinically unhappy in any other way, and how she dedicates her 1 year in seeking to be more happy after an epiphany on a bus ride. She systematically listed her goals in becoming more happy by 12 months. Then she specifically listed several tasks in how to go about it. During that time, she also researched on books about happiness and took on the meaning of happiness & obtaining it in a very scholarly manner. She also had resolution charts to track her progress. Though her sentiments is quite similar as Melissa Gilbert's Eat Pray Love (refer to the book, not the movie. Because the movie took out all its essence & deliver a message to the public that you should get a guy to be happy. Wrong!), she didn't go to Italy, India or Indonesia to find what can make her happier. She started to search for it in her own life, in her apartment in New York with her husband, 2 kids, family, friends & colleagues. You would get a grasp of what kind of a person is Gretchen Rubin as she goes in this personal journey in pursuit of happiness. Though I might not follow exactly her different goals for each month, you would be inspired to do a happiness project of your own. Which many have been indeed inspired with this, since this book was initially stemmed from the blog of Gretchen, detailing her daily experience as she underwent this project and got a large number of following. However, I might rather dedicate my 12 months in improving my desired characteristics to be a better person and in turn be happy. Because if you are fully functional or self-actualized, you are more happier, healthy and with better relationships. I know Gretchen Rubin will agree too. But what I did was to list things that make me happy and this self-awareness would come in handy later on. Though, there are things in the list that should be done sparingly because if it is done too often, it would lose it effectivity.

Here are my happy-ness lists (a.k.a. things that make me happy):

1. Coffee in the morning or with friends or when I'm by my lonesome (Though, I recently contemplating on switching to green tea for its health benefits. So let's see about that.)

2. Long stimulating chats with my sister or friends  (maybe over coffee or preferably, green tea)

3. Watching good movies in the comfort of my own bed with comfort foods.

4. A good book/s

5. Alone-time at a quirky coffeeshop (drinking tea) with a new magazine

6. A good meal at a new restaurant with sister or boyfie

7. Blogging

8. Compliments

9. TV time with boyfie

10. Traveling

11. A new clothes/shoes/bag/accessories (My boyfie infected me with the shopping bug. I use to be a "non-shopaholic". But shopping does make you happy or at least I felt loved by yourself if you indulge a little. )

12. Successful performance on stage

13. Playtime with my nephew

14. Lechon Lunch with my boyfie

15. Voluntary work in an organization of my advocacy

16. Ticking off all my to-do list for the day

17. Morning Yoga or Jog

18. Mediation time with the Lord

19. A good hair day, blemish-free skin and clothes that matched perfectly 

20. Laughter with coworkers

21. System/Order/Cleanliness

22. New cosmetic or skincare product

23. Enough money, hehe

24. Harmony within the family

25. My Iphone (stolen but replacing it soon)

26. Kisses and hugs from my boyfie

27. If I inspired someone or got inspired by someone or something

28. Incense oil or sticks

29. Soulful music

30. Chocolate cakes

31. When I can fit in my skinny jeans

32. Meeting interesting people and making new friends

33. Organizers

34. Warm bath

35. Observation of the adorable quirkiness of strangers and acquaintances 

As long as I am living, this lists will be getting longer and that is a relief because that means a lot of things are there to make me happy.... We have only one life to live, lets make it a happy one, people!  

Agree?

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INSPIRATIONAL SUNDAY: MEMORY & MEMORY CARD

Last weekend, I had a weekend trip to Manila because I took advantage of the peso-sale of Cebu Pacific and I miss my sister who now works there. Even with the heavy rain and ambivalent weather, I manage to meet up with an old friend;  tried all the restos I wanted to try & went to Tagaytay with my sister. I took a lot of pictures with my digital camera. I love the pics I took and enjoyed watching it over & over again, until a catastrophic thing happen in the night before I am to have my flight back to Iloilo. While we were trying to download the pictures from my sister's DSLR to my memory card in her laptop, my memory card got stuck in her laptop, it won't come out! We tried everything to wriggle it out there. And when I finally got it out, I tried it in my camera, all the pictures were gone. My memory card got corrupted! I wanted to cry but I held it back. I thought of all the memories of those pictures washed away in vain. I tried to be positive and hope it can be remedied when I get back to Iloilo. When I arrived, I dropped my traveling bag at home, I went straight to 3 camera doctors to have my memory card fixed. All 3 of them had a same diagnosis: my memory card got corrupted. It's dead! I have to admit, I cried for  a bit.  I was thinking that the loss of the pics in my memory card is like equivalent to the fact that I haven't been there in Manila with my sister at all and that thought makes me sad. Now, I know why Ryan Gosling's character in THE NOTEBOOK is so sad  that his wife has lost her memory of them as a couple. It is like she lost her memory my loss card of her digital camera in her brain. (I know that sounds stupid, but you know what I mean). While I was drowning with my misery of my loss, THE NOTEBOOK popped in my brain as a empathic companion. (Please understand.) Another thing is, I guess this sadness I am experiencing may be contributed to this generation need for validation with the use of social networks. What will I show for when I get back in Iloilo? Pictures (in facebook) says a thousand words.....  I was too excited to post it on my facebook or share it in my blog. Then after a long realization, i thought..... nothing is indeed actually lost. It's just pictures. Nowadays, we put too much emphasis on things when (according The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint Exupéry) "what is essential is invisible to the naked eye". What is important was I spent a fun and quality time with my sister who also happens to be my best friend..... Those long chats over coffee, good laughs in her room, bonding over food are irreplaceable and not gone. And those moments goes to my happiness jar that dwells in me. So pictures or no pictures, the memories of these "kodak"moments will forever will be with me. And I should remember this incident next time I take for granted what is essential to the nonessential stuff....

Though, I been known to be Little Miss Forgetful, a nudge in the head and it comes back to me and it's all good. Just a little defective sometimes but still working. Now, I'll just have to pray hard I won't have Alzhiemer's Disease like in THE NOTEBOOK, hehe.... 

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TELLTALE SIGNS THAT A MAN IS FOR KEEPS

TELLTALE SIGNS THAT A MAN IS FOR KEEPS

1. He makes you coffee when he knows you really need it


2. He accompanies you to watch sappy romantic movies even if its not his thing


3. He doesn't allow a little misunderstanding or fight to last more than 24 hours. 


4. He never fails to tell you that you look pretty and meant it.


5. He proudly introduces you to his family, close friends and co-workers.


6. He argues his point without name-calling and abusive remarks.


7. He never tells you, "I told you so".


8. He supports your dreams, big and small.


9. He brings you a share of his snacks he had or food in his office (like siopao or  corn crunchie)


10. He allows you to have a me-time or time with your galpals.


11. He gives you a hug (not a lecture) when you really need it.


12. He doesn't indulge you in your tendency for gossip and doesn't say negative things about other people.


13. He respects his mother.


14. He holds your hand when you walk together and never let go.


15. He can't be drag down by your bad mood.


16. He wants you to scoot closer towards him when you are sitting together.


17. He holds your hand with his free hand when driving.


18. The day always end with his lips on your forehead and with an "I love you".


19. You bloom and glow ever since you got together.


20. He would text you a spontaneous "I love you" when he wakes up in the middle of the night.


21. He makes you happy --- naturally.

* The list was based on my boyfriend... Yes, I am a lucky girl!

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MOVIE REVIEW: NO OTHER WOMAN

After seeing the trailer of the movie, No Other Woman, I was already convinced to watch the film. My friends unfortunately watched the movie without me because I was busy that time. So I asked my boyfie who is such a sweetheart to watch with me and he said ok right away.


The actors casted for the movie were perfect for their roles. Derek Ramsay definitely blossomed as a real leading man and not just a pretty face. He holds true to his character and conveys emotions through his eyes. Though at times, he would become a tad too overacting especially in the scene where his wife (Cristine Reyes) was trying to seduce and he excuse himself to take a shower and telling her he will be back to finish what they started. He looked so comical when he said it, it looked like a cheap comedy. But in other scenes, he was actually good.


Cristine Reyes is a surprising choice for the role. She usually played the "other woman" but in this movie, she is the demure wife of Derek Ramsay. I think she played the part really well. And being in a relationship now, I was silently cheering for her. Her albatross skin, silky straight hair and good choice of clothes by her stylist make her a typical woman a man wants to marry (but apparently a woman who get cheated on too). She held her own in the movie and you just can't help but feel sorry for her.

But the big revelation was no other than Ms. Anne Curtis herself. She stole the show completely and carried the entire movie. She looked magnificent on screen that you would be pretty convinced that a guy could never say no to that. Her clothes and accessories were so beautiful, especially her bikinis... Ayayay! Except that I was bothered by her pale nude lipstick in some of her scenes. Her tussled wavy hair and amazing body were enough ingredients to seduce a man like Derek's character. She played her role so well that she was charming and seductive one minute and became this helplessly crazy-in- love woman. Her transition was very convincing and there was a point that you feel a little sorry for her too in the end. 

Another noteworthy performance was Carmi Martin. Though she might look like she had a lot done in her face and body, she was soo funny especially when she delivered her infamous line:

What made this movie work is the screenplay. There were a lot of verbal swordfights in the movie that seem sharper than a regular knife. It was also to a point comedic but it worked anyway because the audience are entertained & engaged. The cinematography was not bad too.The furnitures used in the film was exquisite that I want to take it home. But then again it has to look exquisite because Derek's Character sells furniture for  a living. The flow of the movie was just right. No dragging moments, good transition, prefect climax and satisfying conclusion. 


Moral Lesson of this movie: Karma is a bitch (Sorry for the foul language.) This movie can be used to scare your spouse or boyfriend to cheat on you because if you will, you will be hit by  a steel bar while driving. Or if I was the director/ screenwriter, Derek should have been been hit by a steel bar on both his eyes rather than his shoulder, so he cant see (no) other woman. (Cue in: Devilish Laugh). Well, actually, him (Ram-Derek's character) cheating was an accident waiting to happen. He uses his sex appeal to sell his furnitures and he doesn't wear his wedding ring to get a sale. Now, come on! You are playing with fire, boy! Well, he did and eventually burnt down (figuratively) his career and his marriage. But good thing, this has a happy ending. Basta #1 ka, #1 ka. So don't settle being #2 because as this movie showed us, you are at the losing end.


I asked my boyfie opinion on the movie (which he surprisingly enjoyed too) to get a male perspective. He said cheating is a complete waste of energy because it only complicates your life and in turns destroy everything that truly matters. Why look somewhere else when you got everything right beside you....


Hehe, I guess men is now stirring away from steelbars just in case, hahaha!


Go watch this movie, guys! Now na!   

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GOIN' JAPANESE AT HAMADA

As a physician, we need to update ourselves with latest management and guidelines to treat our patients efficiently. Lucky for us, our pharmaceutical friends would invite renowned physicians, expert in their chosen specializations to conduct a round-table discussions or conferences with us, fellow doctors about the current trends in managing patient and reintroducing old concepts we learned in med school. Another perks of being a doctor is that these conferences are for free (hehe) and are held in different restaurants or hotels in the city.  

Last week, there was again a round-talk-discussion about the latest  and more sophisticated anti-hypertensive medicine in the market held in a Japanese restaurant, Hamada. My boyfriend & I ate in that resto on his birthday and I was totally unimpressed. I decided to give it a second chance. A perfect opportunity to hit two birds in one stone -- to indulgence the doctor in me & the blogger in me...

Me and my co-residents were the first ones in the resto so we got some time for picture-taking and to be a bit silly. ( Yes, doctors can be a bit silly too.. No, stereotyping please.) 

with my Family Medicine co-residents

Goin' Japanisa....

The exterior of the restaurant is consistent to the Japanese theme: bamboos, clean lines, orange-red-brown walls... The place has a nice ambiance but it was a bit too crowded to hold functions like this because, it was hard to squeeze yourself out to go the comfort room. The uniform of the waitresses are so cute : sexy gold kimono...

While waiting for the others, they served us, Miso soup.

Miso Soup

This is the Japanese version of Thai's Tom Yum Soup. But I prefer the Tom Yum Soup. This soup filled with tofu, herbs and mushroom. It has a tangy taste which I think Japanese likes but I don't. It is a mixed of salty and bitter with a weird after-taste. And not surprisingly, I didn't finish my bowl so did my co-residents.


We were also served platter of sushi. My favorite and the reason why I love Japanese foods.

Heaven in a plate

My favorite is the california maki (mango & crab) and the salmon skin sushi. I think I chow down so many of it... It enjoyed it so much. I was one happy little girl, hehe.

Then, dinner was served. I apologized for some of the pictures. When I got to them, they were almost empty, hehe...

BEEF TEPPANYAKI

You get a bit of beef and mix it with some veggies. It take like your regular beef steak but it lacks the saltiness that I crave. It is quite on the bland side. A 5/10.

YAKISOBA

This is your pimped-up version of the instant yakisoba... It was alright. It was not amazing, just alright. 

CHICKEN WAKATORI

This is one of my favorite in the buffet table. It is similar to my favorite Chinese food, sweet & sour "pork". It is also sweet and sour without it swimming in a lot of sauce. And the sesame seeds add a nice crunch to the chicken.

TONKATSU

This is a breaded deep-fried pork. I ate a lot of pork lately, so I took one bite and left it on my plate. It was just too heavy and too much breadings plus there are no sauce in sight to help me with it.

EBI TEMPURA

This is my 2nd favorite Japanese dish next to sushi. Together with its sauce, it is perfect. It is consistent to what an Ebi Tempura taste like.. Crunchy and the shrimp inside just felt right into my tastebuds.

After that filling dinner and which my co-resident & I unanimously enjoyed, we wanted to wash away the MSG-rich food we ate. We played a little game of guess what. What are the desserts in Japan? "Oraka", one resident volunteered. "Tiramisu", another resident guessed. It did sound Japanese. Another resident joked, "What if the Japanese dessert is just green tea?". We were all wrong. We never expected what a Japanese dessert is: Mango Pudding.

MANGO PUDDING

Mango Pudding?! It didn't look like a pudding to me, more like  a colorless jello to me. To be honest, I was disappointed when I first saw it. But after tasting it, I could say, looks can be deceiving. It is quite good. It was drenched in evaporated milk and some bit of cherry on top. It melts in your mouth. A good complimentary dessert after a too much soy-sauced meal. It wasn't too sweet, and I like the citrusy-after taste in your tongue after you swallow it. 


Verdict: I am happy I gave Hamada a second chance. Me and my co-residents were so satisfied with the food especially the sushi and  Ebi tempura. I will definitely come back here next time. 


Hamada is located in Plazuela, near SM City. It is found in front of the fountain area of Plazuela. Definitely not hard to miss.

  
Me... Super happy with my Japanese dinner.. Check out my connector ring.... I'm thinking of giving away three connector rings to one lucky reader this month. Watch out for it. Click LIKE on this link: littlemisshoneyblogspotcom  and stay tuned for more announcement. Oishi! 

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WOULD YOU MARRY MR. GOOD ENOUGH?

In one of our stimulating conversation with my single & attached girlfriends, we would dissect at the scarcity of good men nowadays. We see amazing, beautiful and intelligent women who are still single (who admitted that they are lonely) and we would lament at the fact that there are just a lack of Mr. Right out there.

In one of my visits in my favorite store, National Bookstore, I would sometimes have an implusive serendipitous purchase if a book would caught my eye and it would beg me to take him home with me.  I came across a book that made me realize that maybe what me and girlfriends are wrong after all. Maybe there are no scarcity in a few good men. Maybe because of this generation's emphasis on women's empowerment and self-actualization, our definition of a good man is actually screwed. 

Lori Gottlieb, the author, is a young-ish  40-something Jewish New Yorker in a search for love. However, in the course of several unsuccessful relationships and the annoying tick of the biological clock, she decided to take the matter into her own hand, by having herself inseminated. But still, even with a baby, Gottlieb couldn't deny the need of companionship or as corny as it may sound, love (that doesn't have your own DNA). She, too, thought that they might be a shortage of men for us, empowered women. But with a lot of interviews, researches, and even going into online dating, matchmaking and getting a dating coach, she reached, we  are so wrong. This book is not a book to teach you how to find your own true love. There would be no step by step instructions or pep-talks in finding your man. If that is the book you want, then this is not the book for you. This book is actually Gottlieb's personal discovery in opening her eyes to what real and what not in finding love.

We, women,  were taught to think highly of ourselves, to never settle for less than the best. So we nitpicked every mannerisms, clothes choices, shape of the ear, choice of words of every man we dated. One tiny negative point is grounds for us to break up with them. 

We all want the alpha male: devilishly handsome, successful & rich, charming and articulate, comes from a good family background, has charity works and is athletic, too. Definitely, good in paper. Someone that your family and your friends would automatically love and welcome with open arms. But the question is: are there any left? If there are, do they want us too? And better yet, once you have them, are they really the one for you? They might be Mr. Perfect but that doesn't mean they are perfect for you. You might even be more happy with a guy who is averagely handsome, drinks beer rather than wine and makes you a mixtape rather than give you expensive long-stem roses on your birthday. But apparently, we convinced ourselves that we are too amazing to settle for anything less than perfect. And we pass on the balding but sweet officemate, the short but family-oriented old classmate or the reliable and trustworthy guy from a wrong side of town and wait..and wait... until 45years to realize that you are alone and Mr. Perfect is not the guy for you after all. And when you search for your past suitors, they are apparently happily married. And so were the women who settled for Mr. Good Enough. We were to busy nitpicking, we realized we are not Ms. Perfect ourselves. Also that in marriage, things that we put on top of our priority list doesn't really matter, like age, height, amount of hair, college they went to, place where they used to live, their type of work (as long as they are working). We should put more emphasize on how much he loves you, his trustworthiness, if he supports your dreams, if he doesn't belittle you but rather praises you, makes time for you and is proud of you. But sadly, these women realized these when it is too late. And that the women who they laughed at for settling now got the last laugh. Marrying Mr. Good Enough doesn't make you desperate (which you will be if you keeping praying for Prince Charming & still be at the search at age 45) or it means you are settling. You might just be realistic and in turn, happier. 

Blame fairytales for making us fantasize that there is actually Prince Charming for everyone of us. Someone handsome, chivalrous, strong, romantic and kind. Maybe the movie, Shrek, has a better grasp of what Prince Charming really is--- good on paper but actually, egotistic, handsome (because he spend a good 2 hours fixing his hair & doing his facial regimen) and shallow, in reality. But we never consider Shrek, unrefined, below our social circle but is actually sweet and sincere. In an article by Yvonne Chase, a  dating & relationship coach, its says:  He was everything I said I didn’t want BUT was everything I needed.  I guess sometimes we get too choosy but really, we don't know what we want.

So for singles out there and unhappy attached women (who are busy obsessing in their partners  annoying   characters, not unless he is an abuser--now you MUST get away really fast), this book is for you. Learn from Lori Gottlieb's mistakes and realization and you just might find your happy ending....   

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