Foodie Goodie | Red Velvet Cupcakes in a Jar.

Cupcakes in a jar are all the rave these days. They're so popular that I see them every so often on social media sites - on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Especially Instagram. And with Christmas just around the corner, these bottled desserts are ubiquitous now more than ever. They're a sure-fire hit at any party - especially with the kids, and they make great gifts and giveaways, too.

If you'd like to take a shot at making these 'mashed confections', here is a quick and easy recipe that you can follow.

Red Velvet Cupcakes in a Jar

Ingredients:

1 cup butter, softened

4 cups powdered sugar

1/4 cup milk

1 teaspoon vanilla

Unfrosted red velvet cupcakes (made from your preferred mix) 

Procedure:

1. In a large mixing bowl beat butter with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds.

2. Add 2 cups of the powdered sugar, the milk, and vanilla. Beat until smooth. 

3. Add remaining powdered sugar and beat until combined.

4. Beat on high speed for 2 minutes. 

5. Place frosting in a pastry bag fitted with a large star tip or in a zip-top bag with one corner cut; set aside.

6. Cut cupcakes in half horizontally.

7. Place bottom half of cupcakes, cut side up, in half-pint canning jars. Pipe frosting on top of each.

8. Add cupcake tops, cut sides down. Pipe frosting on top of each.

9. Add lids to jars and decorate as desired.

As seen on Recipe.com.

Wordless Wednesday #112 | Happy Birthday to Me!

I turned 33 last Sunday, and yes, I have no qualms about revealing my age. :)
Despite the bad weather brought about by Typhoon Hagupit, I was able to celebrate my birthday at home, with my family.

With my little man and my princess niece. :)

Big thanks to my fambam, my friends, my colleagues, and Chael Sonnen (he sent me a birthday greeting via Twitter, how freaking awesome is that) for making my day super special. :)

Make a wish! :)

Oh, and here's a close-up shot of my birthday cake. My sister got my KPop groups mixed up, and baked me an EXO cake! Haha, the irony! But who cares about the design, as long as it tastes great, right?

My EXO birthday cake courtesy of Bake it Away.

Smart Money Management Apps to Add to your Smartphone

Why not make your smartphone really smart - especially in the financial sense - by installing some really engaging and power packed money management apps? Here are 3 irresistible options for you to begin with.

Expensify.

Expensify
Expensify is not the ordinary money management app that records your expense entries under different categories and generates colourful charts at the end of the month; it's the real deal. Especially useful for freelancers and field job employees, Expensify come with features to take pictures of receipts and add them to expense records, track distance covered and multiply the same with preset number to reach upon billable kilometres for taxis, and track time for freelancers to accurately and honestly bill their clients. All this is in addition to the amazing feature that lets you add your credit and debit card to the app's web cloud, which automatically ensures that all your routine cashless expenses are automatically recorded for you. Of course, there are the usual features of categorical expense recording and smart reporting.

Slotomania.

Slotomania slot machine app
It’s sad that many guides to apps that help you with money management don’t tell you anything about apps that could facilitate money earning for you! Well, coming to you from the world of breathtaking online casino games is this app, offering you the best casino gaming experiences from the Slotomania slot machines app. Use the app to win some impressive rewards before the Christmas festivities take over, so that you don’t mind going out of your tight tracks in terms of money spending. What’s more, this is the time to leverage pre-Christmas promotions and bonus offers on Slotomania to give yourself the maximum chance of winning.

Spending 2.

Spending 2
Ideal for all those of you who wish to establish a chronological tracking over their expenses, Spending 2 is also among the simplest of money management apps, especially appealing to those who are still in the habit of recording their expenses and earnings on paper. Comparing your expenditure for today versus the last day, tracking month wise and even year wise expenditure, and category wise expense recording are the useful features on offer in the app. And, you can record your frequent expenditures as ‘repeat’, which lets you easily and quickly enter the expense. This one’s ideal for people whose monthly budget changes frequently, and for users such as businessmen and investors. What’s more, you could track your monthly performance on Slotomania in conjugation with this app!

Globe offers Libreng Tawag from 8 countries to the Philippines.

Leading telecommunications company Globe Telecom is offering Libreng Tawag services to the Philippines from eight countries in Asia, Europe, Middle East, and North America in support of overseas Filipino workers who may want to check on their families residing along the path of Typhoon Ruby.

Gil Genio, Globe Chief Operating Officer for Business and International Markets, said that the countries identified are among those with the highest number of Filipino migrants and expatriates in the world.  They include Spain, UK, Saudi Arabia, Canada, Singapore, Hong Kong, USA, and Italy.

The onslaught of Typhoon Ruby.
Photo credit: Inquirer.

“We realize how important it is for our kababayans abroad to get in touch with their families especially during calamities.  This is why we have set up free calling stations in these 8 countries where Globe is directly serving the Filipino communities there,” Genio said.                   

“In Italy, free calling services are available at the Globe Stores in Milan and Rome. For Spain, UK, Saudi Arabia, Canada, Singapore and Hong Kong, this public service started yesterday and is being offered through some of the accredited Globe retailers in those countries,” said Rizza Maniego-Eala, Globe Senior Vice President for International Business.                

“For the United States, Libreng Tawag in the west coast will be available in all branches of Seafood City through our partnership with them while Filipinos in the east coast will be served via web through the subscribed access service of Lunex, the Globe partner servicing the area,” Maniego-Eala added.                

Libreng Tawag will be available until 11:59pm EST on 08 December 2014.

ONE FC: Warrior's Way | Wins, Losses, and all the Action!

'Twas another night of hard-hitting, world class mixed martial arts action as ONE Fighting Championship (ONE FC) returned to Manila last night for ONE FC 23: Warrior's Way. Here's a recap of all the action that happened at the Mall of Asia Arena.

ONE FC Bantamweight World Champion Bibiano “The Flash” Fernandes retained his title with a submission win over Korea’s Dae Hwan Kim. Kim proved to be a live challenger as he tested Fernandes’ championship mettle in the first round with a display of lightning quick strikes that found their mark. In the second round, Fernandes turned to grappling as he quickly worked to secure Kim’s back after the Korean missed a punch. Moments later, Fernandes locked in a Rear Naked Choke, forcing Kim to tap out.

And still the ONE FC Bantamweight Champion!

In the co-main event of the evening, international mixed martial arts superstar Brandon “The Truth” Vera of the Philippines defeated URCC champion Igor Subora of the Ukraine via spectacular knockout, sending the MOA Arena crowd into a frenzy. The fight started off with both fighters trading heavy blows. Vera caught Subora in a Muay Thai clinch and unleashed a couple of knees to the head. Towards the end of the round, Vera slipped a punch by Subora and countered with a straight left, dropping his opponent and throwing in two more kicks for good measure. The referee stepped in to stop the fight, awarding Vera with the victory.

Brandon Vera comes home - and takes the win!

Timofey Nastyukhin of Russia defeated hometown hero Eduard Folayang after connecting with a combination of devastating strikes to win by knockout. After a solid exchange of power shots at the center of the cage, Nastyukhin landed a flying knee to the chin of Folayang, sending the Filipino to the canvas in the first round. Two quick kicks finished things off as the referee stepped in, awarding Nastyukhin the victory.

Flying knee to the chin of Folayang.

Roger Gracie of the renowned Gracie fighting family made a successful ONE FC debut against the hard-hitting James McSweeney. In a feeling out round, the two light heavyweights spent the majority outside of each other’s range until McSweeney connected with a roundhouse kick. In the second round, a cut opened up on McSweeney’s right eye courtesy of a Gracie left hand. Gracie went to work on the eye for the remainder of the round. In the third, things got worse for McSweeney as he hurt his foot after missing with a kick. Gracie immediately capitalized on the situation and pounced on McSweeney with downward strikes, causing the referee to call a halt to the contest.

Roger Gracie's first ONE FC match, and he takes the win!

In a bantamweight matchup, Kevin “The Silencer” Belingon impressed with a strong performance against the highly touted Koetsu Okazaki of Japan. After a slow start, it was Belingon who was able to land the damaging blows as he dropped Okazaki to the mat with a thudding right hook towards the end of the round. In round two, Belingon continued his dazzling display of elite striking with a wide array of kicks, punctuated by a flashy spinning side-kick that knocked Okazaki back. In the third, Belingon scored on a pair of kicks and finished the round with a series of sharp elbows from top position. All judges were in favor of Belingon, who won by unanimous decision.

Herbert Burns needed just a few minutes to take care of Honorio Banario, working and securing a Rear Naked Choke to end the fight in round one. As soon as the opening bell sounded, Burns took Banario’s back with lightning quick efficiency, sinking in the hooks almost immediately as both fighters hit the ground. For the rest of the round Banario tried desperately to defend from the choke but it was inevitable. Once the choke was locked in, Banario had no choice but to tap out, giving Burns the submission victory.

In a battle of light heavyweights, former NCAA Division I wrestler Jake Butler dominated Sylvain Potard in a much anticipated rematch. In round one, Butler controlled most of the action, keeping Potard ineffective against the cage. Butler used his wrestling again in round two, this time to gain mount, letting his hands go with a combination of damaging left hands. Butler continued his dominance to the end of the third and final round, winning the fight by unanimous decision.

Former Lumpinee champion Dejdamrong Sor Amnuaysirichoke of Evolve MMA showed fans just how dangerous his world-class Muay Thai can be by taking care of Rene Catalan of the Philippines in a clash of ferocious flyweights. In round one, Sor Amnuaysirichoke worked masterfully in the clinch, blasting a plethora of vicious knees to Catalan’s midsection, one of which sent the Filipino to the canvas writhing in pain. With his opponent unable to continue, Sor Amnuaysirichoke nabbed the win by knockout.

Ana Julaton wins via unanimous decision.

Former boxing world champion Ana Julaton showcased her newfound grappling skills against opponent Walaa Abas, winning a unanimous decision. In the first round, both fighters traded strikes in the clinch but it was Julaton who was able to score on a takedown. In the second, Julaton’s boxing shone through as she landed a series of solid blows. The third round saw much of the same action as Abas tried her best to keep the distance and avoid Julaton’s power punching.

Amazing ground and pound by Jujeath Nagaowa.

The Philippines’ Jujeath Nagaowa and Cambodia’s Tharoth Sam kicked off the action for ONE FC: Warrior's Way in an entertaining women’s atomweight contest. The former pro-boxer Nagaowa dominated the fight with impressive boxing in the clinch and some solid ground work. In the second round, Nagaowa caught Sam out of position and swiftly worked to get full mount, unleashing ground and pound to win by referee stoppage.

Official results for ONE FC: Warrior's Way

ONE FC Bantamweight World Championship bout:
Bibiano Fernandes defeats Dae Hwan Kim by Submission (Rear Naked Choke) at 1:16 minutes of round 2
Heavyweight bout: Brandon Vera defeats Igor Subora by Knockout at 3:54 minutes of round 1 Lightweight bout: Timofey Nastyukhin defeats Eduard Folayang by Knockout at 3:11 minutes of round 1
Light Heavyweight bout: Roger Gracie defeats James McSweeney by TKO (Strikes) at 3:15 minutes of round 3
Bantamweight bout: Kevin Belingon defeats Koetsu Okazaki by Unanimous Decision
Catchweight bout: Herbert Burns defeats Honorio Banario by Submission (Rear Naked Choke) at 3:59 minutes of round 1
Light Heavyweight bout: Jake Butler defeats Sylvain Potard by Unanimous Decision
Flyweight bout: Dejdamrong Sor Amnuaysirichoke defeats Rene Catalan by Knockout at 2:30 minutes of round 1
Flyweight bout: Ana Julaton defeats Walaa Abas by Unanimous Decision
Atomweight bout: Jujeath Nagaowa defeats Tharoth Sam by TKO (Strikes) at 3:34 minutes of round 2

And in case you missed the action, log on to www.onefc.com/livestream for the full replay of the fights at only US $9.99.