Purple Birthday Cake

Birthday cake
Purple's my favorite color, and I love Red Ribbon's ube cake—even if it is too sweet. So, I asked my mom to whip up a homemade ube cake for my birthday, so she can adjust the sweetness herself. She made her own ube chiffon cake and layered it with halayang ube in between. And it was excellent, for her first try; it really is a massive cake. I'm afraid my camera phone doesn't really do it justice. It's delicious, but I'm only too happy to share it with people, so there's less temptation at home!

Parents' progress update
My dad cut down his snacking habits for only a week so far, and he and my mom have started walking regularly, and you know what, he's already visibly lost some weight. Again, I hope he can keep this up so he can get into shape, and for his own health.

Family time
Last night, we went again to San Juan Arena to watch college women's volleyball this time, namely the ADMU-FEU game. I'm usually not a fan of women's volleyball, but my younger brother is, for obvious reasons. We had dinner at Ristras again, and despite my long list, I thought we did well on our orders, since we just ordered four dishes and shared it among the five of us. Well, I just allowed myself one bottle of beer to celebrate ADMU's come-from-behind win.

Workout update
Had to cut Saturday's workout short because of some recurring pain in my torso. Ugh. I should really stretch more often, or maybe this two-day rest will relieve me.

Saturday's workout
- 1,800 on the jump rope
- 3 x 15 alternate bicep curls with 2 x 5 lb dumbbells
- 3 x 15 dumbbell raises with 2 x 5 lb dumbbells
- 3 x 15 tricep curls with 5 lb dumbbell

Saturday's meals
Breakfast: Pancakes with butter and real maple srup, coffee with low-fat milk
Lunch: Pan-fried cream dory with garlic and parsley, parmesan-encrusted chicken breast, pork embutido, brown rice
Dessert: Peanut butter chocolate chip cookie, Vosges Creole Bar (bittersweet chocolate with chicory, espresso, cacao nibs)
Dinner: Grilled liempo, squash and eggplant sarsa, tomato/eggplant/salted egg salad, brown rice
Dessert: Peanut butter chocolate chip cookie, halayang ube

Sunday's meals
Breakfast: Oatmeal waffles with real maple syrup and butter, coffee with low-fat milk
Lunch: Grilled liempo, squash and eggplant sarsa, tomato/eggplant/salted egg ensalada, brown rice
Dessert: Peanut butter chocolate chip cookie
Snack: Whole wheat pan de sal with peanut butter, coffee with low-fat milk
Dinner: (at Ristras) Al pastor taco, barbacoa taco, barbacoa burrito, Ball Park nachos, Negra Modelo dark beer
Dessert: Peanut butter chocolate chip cookie