Tuesday, April 30, 2013

I've Always Loved You Best

I saw this in FB (Mom and Dad's Time Out Corner) and found it funny, heartwarming and true in more than one way.

After having two kids, one would say that we know what to do already, that it gets easier with each child that comes.  The truth is, Hubby and I are still the "unsure parents trying to work the bugs out".

To our precious J and J, you will always be our babies!



*************************************************************************************************************

I've Always Loved You Best
by: Erma Bombeck

It is normal for children to want assurance that they are loved. Having all the warmth of the Berlin Wall, I have always admired women who can reach out to pat their children and not have them flinch.

Feeling more comfortable on paper, I wrote the following for each of my children.

To the First-born: I’ve always loved you best because you were our first miracle. You were the genesis of a marriage, the fulfillment of young love, the promise of our infinity.

You sustained us through the hamburger years. The first apartment furnished in Early Poverty … our first mode of transportation (1955 feet) … the 7-inch television set we paid on for 36 months.

You wore new, had unused grandparents and more clothes than a Barbie doll. You were the “original model” for unsure parents trying to work the bugs out. You got the strained lamb and three-hour naps.

You were the beginning.

To the Middle Child: I’ve always loved you the best because you drew a dumb spot in the family and it made you stronger.

You cried less, had more patience, wore faded, and never in your life did anything “first,” but it only made you more special. You are the one we relaxed with and realized a dog could kiss you and you wouldn’t get sick. You could cross a street by yourself long before you were old enough to get married, and the world wouldn’t come to an end if you went to bed with dirty feet.

You were the continuance.

To the Baby: I’ve always loved you the best because endings generally are sad and you are such a joy. You readily accepted the milk-stained bibs. The lower bunk. The cracked baseball bat. The baby book, barren but for a recipe for graham cracker pie crust that someone jammed between the pages.

You are the one we held onto so tightly. For you see, you are the link with the past that gives a reason for tomorrow. You darken our hair, quicken our steps, square our shoulders, restore our vision, and give us humor that security and maturity can’t give us.

When your hairline takes on the shape of Lake Erie and your children tower over you, you will still be “the Baby.”

You were the culmination.

Monday, April 29, 2013

Strengths and Weaknesses


Image from www.babysavers.com

I am strong, I am strong . . . 


But it didn't say anything if the Chocolate came in a bag!  Haha!

I can be strong. . . but I'm not perfect, heehee.

Hope you had a sweet day just like mine! =)






If you love Beckham . . .

I went for a foot spa yesterday (Woohoo for some "Me time"!) and was reading Cosmopolitan (Philippines) when I came across this . . ."google David Beckham and H & M. . .and you'll thank us."

Curiosity got the better of me so I did!  Haha!

and tadahhhh. . . .

Photo from www.eonline.com
Photo from www.fashion.telegraph.co.uk

If you are a fan of David and H&M, I'm sure you know what was coming!  

I read that H&M's David Beckham Bodywear collection was actually launched February of last year!  I guess I read an old issue of Cosmo then, haha!

So if you are a fan of Becks, . . . .yep, thank Cosmo Philippines! =)




Friday, April 26, 2013

My "Learning Book"

The other day, the Little Miss saw these in my room, took one and said "Boook".  (I guess because just like her books, they are colorful, big and with letters)



I know this "book" is different from her books but she can learn a thing or two from mine.  Look, my "book" also has

Numbers . . .

Animals . . .

Shapes . . .

and Colors!

It can teach her some parts of the body like
The eyes and lips (loving this shade by the way, haha!)

and fingers!  (Cool Manicure!)

There is also something about Nature
There's the sky, the clouds, the sea and a tree

Oh and beautiful flowers too!  (the kind that grows in the head, haha!)

One of these days, I'll teach her about patterns . . .
like Plaids

Polka dots and Stripes!  Haha!

Seriously, I can't remember what was the last book (a real book!) I read.  I think it's time to visit a bookstore.   

What's on your reading list?

Happy Weekend everyone!















Thursday, April 25, 2013

Finding Joy . . .in Food!

I've blogged in an earlier post about "Finding joy in the ordinary" everyday. . . do you know what joy I found today?

Eating this . . .

KARE-KARE!
*Kare-Kare - One of may favorite Filipino food.  It is a stew made with peanut sauce and can be considered a "complete meal" since it has meat and vegetables in it.  


with THIS . . .

BAGOONG!!!! (Shrimp paste)

The last time I had Kare-Kare was when I was pregnant.  Being hypertensive, I was put on a low salt diet, which means no bagoong for me!  Can you imagine eating Kare-Kare without Bagoong?!!!  Unthinkable!  Pure torture!!!  (If you're a Filipino, you would understand my pain, hahaha!)

I know it sounds trivial, but I am full of joy because FINALLY . . .  I ate Kare-Kare the way I want to, the way it is supposed to be eaten. . . with bagoong!  Haha!

Happy Tummy, Happy Mommy!

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Our Favorite Pancake Mix

Pancakes (also called "hotcakes" or "flapjacks") are one of my favorite breakfast food.  It has become the Little Miss' fave as well.  We have tried so many brands before (both local and imported) but I found the pancakes to be dry and bland . . .the thing that made them good?  Butter and maple syrup, haha!  But I'm happy to say, our search for a good pancake mix is over.  

Thanks to . . . 


I am not a pancake expert and I'm sure there are better mixes and recipes out there.  Just saying that this is the best among all the mixes we've tried.  

The pancakes did turn out fluffy and tasty.  One thing I like about this brand is each box contains two- 250 gram packs of the mix.  You can make 6-8 pancakes in each pack.  Directions for preparing the pancake is found at the box.  However, I tweaked their recipe a little bit since the pancakes were a little bit thick to our liking.  Instead of adding 3/4 cup of water, I used 1/2 cup of water and 1/2 cup of evaporated milk.  Another thing I like about it?  Among all the mixes I've tried, Maya gave me the prettiest homemade pancakes, heehee.

    
Since I love sharing my finds to friends, I told a group of friends about the Maya mix and lo and behold, they know about it and that they actually grew up eating this!  So yes, for this particular find, I am the last to know,  hahaha!

But as they say, better late than never! 

And yep, it's going to be pancakes for breakfast tomorrow!!!


I  



Monday, April 22, 2013

SMILE!

Just because today is a terrible day doesn't mean tomorrow won't be the best day of your life. You just gotta get there.
Source

Little Miss . . . Shopaholic?

Uh-oh . . . .



Huney, Be afraid. . .be very afraid. . .Haha!  Just kidding Dear!  Don't worry, everything is under control.  We were not really "shopping" . . . we were just having therapy! 












Sunday, April 21, 2013

If I could go anywhere right now . . .

I would fly to Singapore to eat these local favorites . . .

Black Fried Carrot Cake - my all time fave!  It comes in black and white (I prefer the black kind).  The "carrot cake" is a misnomer since this local specialty is not made of carrots but of radish and flour.  (Some recipes I saw in the Net though have grated carrots in them.)  The "carrot cake" is then stir fried with other ingredients like samballl!!! (yum!) and a sweet dark sauce (this is what makes it black) and egg.  I can eat this everyday!  (Swear!)  

Fried Carrot Cake, Black @ Makansutra Gluttons Bay
Photo source

BBQ Chicken Wings - I know we all have our own fave BBQ chicken but these wings are on top of my list!  It was love at first taste for me!  They may look ordinary and not heavily sauced (which I like) but they burst with such great flavor that one order is not enough, haha!  I saw a recipe for these Singapore wings here and would try it one of these days.  (and hopefully they turn out the way they are supposed to) 
Grilled Chicken Wings @ Makansutra Gluttons Bay
Photo source

Char Kway Teow - This is always the first thing I have when I am in Singapore, be it in the hotel or in the food court.  It is a noodle dish that is packed with so much flavor because of its ingredients.  I'll just let the photo below do the talking, heehee.  
Char Kway Teow @ Chomp Chomp Hawker Centre
Photo source

But more than the  food, I would love to go to Singapore to visit and catch up with good friends I've made who call this food haven their home (and to some them, their new home).  

Surely, the best way to enjoy all these glorious food is to share and eat it with good friends! =)

Hope you all had an amazing weekend!

Friday, April 19, 2013

Pesto in a Pouch

I love Pesto!  It's one of my favorite (or probably is!) pasta sauces.  I like it in pasta, in sandwiches, as a dip . . . anything where you can put pesto in it!  But I've never tried making my own pesto.  (I will . . . one of these days, haha!)  I just buy the bottled ones I see at the grocery.  I don't have a favorite brand since they just taste umm ok.  Nothing compares of course to freshly made pesto (basil leaves, olive oil, garlic, pine nuts).  But I am happy to say that I finally found "the pesto" for me (the ready made kind). . . and it came in a pouch!

Clara Ole
Image from www.claraole.com

It tasted better than I expected!  It had the garlicky pesto flavor I was looking for and the pasta looked good with the sauce, haha!  I will definitely buy hoard some more =)

Just like  the other Clara Ole products I've blogged about in the past (marinade sauce and the Kung Pao pasta sauce), this Cheesy Pesto sauce didn't disappoint too.  I am now officially a Clara Ole fan. . . that I'm going to "Like" them in Facebook, Haha!

Tuna Pesto Pasta
My sister's lunch box =)

For this quick Tuna with Pesto pasta recipe, I used the following ingredients:

- Olive oil 
- Garlic
- Clara Ole Pesto sauce
- 250 g of Pasta
- Canned tuna flakes (I always use the spicy one)
- Black Olives
- Button mushrooms
- Salt and Pepper to taste

Directions:
1. Cook pasta as instructed in the box.
2. Saute garlic, add the tuna, mushrooms and black olives
3. Add the pesto sauce and stir.
4. Add the pasta noodles.
5. Season with salt and pepper if needed.

Bon Appetit!

Have a nice weekend ahead!



Monday, April 15, 2013

Finding Joy

An inspiring thought to start the week . . .

Image from www.diydaily.com

Today, I tried a recipe which my father liked, prepared pasta for my sister's lunch, managed to take a nap, put up a blog post today (this one!  haha!), and drank an ice-cold Coke Light!  

We think that finding happiness is always found on such a grand scale that we miss those little beautiful things that come our way everyday.  We don't realize that no matter how small they may seem, they are capable of bringing us joy.  =)

Yes, I promise to "find joy in the ordinary" everyday.

Wishing you all so many great little moments everyday of your life! =)

Saturday, April 13, 2013

It's a Marry Weekend!

I'm feeling romantic this morning. . . all because of the movie "Leap Year" (I didn't even know about this movie until I saw it in an article in Yahoo, haha!).  I love Amy Adams (charming as always) and it was nice to see Michael Goode again (love the accent!)!  I had a crush on him when I saw him in the movie "Chasing Liberty" (in 2004!) where he co-starred with Mandy Moore, teehee.

What is the movie all about? (from Wikipedia)
Leap Year is a 2010 American romantic comedy film directed by Anand Tucker starring Amy Adams and Matthew Goode. The film is about a woman who heads to Ireland to ask her boyfriend to accept her wedding proposal on leap day, when Irish tradition holds that men cannot refuse a woman's proposal for marriage. Her plans are interrupted by a series of increasingly unlikely events and are further complicated when she hires a handsome innkeeper to take her to her boyfriend in Dublin. The film premiered in New York City on January 6, 2010.[3]

And in it is one of the sweetest wedding speeches I've ever heard . . .

Image from ohsam-movie-quotes.tumblr.com

*Heavy Sigh and a dreamy look here* 

I want to get proposed to and get married again . . . to the same man of course =)

And speaking of weddings, if this song already existed in 2009 (when Hubby and I got married), it would definitely be a part of our wedding playlist!
 

Wishing all of you a marry merry weekend . . .full of loving!

Friday, April 12, 2013

LOL Friday

A yellow, laughing emoticon,
or  George Clooney?!
 I thought so. . . haha!
Image from www.sodahead.com

I was watching the news yesterday and the reporter was interviewing a couple who found a 3-yr old boy, crying at the Metro rail station.  They decided to bring him home while they try to look for his parents.  Since the boy doesn't speak clearly yet, he couldn't even give them his name.  So the couple named him "Tom".  The reporter asked the man why the name "Tom", he said. . . "Our last name is Cruz. . . so it's Tom Cruz".  Hahahaha!  Filipinos do have a good sense of humor, it's one of the best traits we have!

We also have a knack for coming up with the most creative (and funniest!) business names.  I saw this list from Kapisanan's blog site.  This is too funny not to share!  Some of the names are hilarious!  Haha!

Laugh to your heart's content. . . Enjoy your weekend!

(By the way, just in case you're wondering about what happened to "Tom", he is now reunited with his parents, and his real name is John)

Pinoy Business Names
1. Parlor in San Juan is named “Cut & Face”.
2. Wholesaler of balut in Sto.Tomas, Batangas: “Starducks”.
3. Fast food eatery in Nueva Ecija: “Violybee”
4. Internet cafe opened among squatters named “Cafe Pindot”.
5. In Manila , there’s a laundry named, “Summa Cum Laundry”.
6. Petshop in Ortigas: “Pussies and Bitches”.
7. A pet shop in Kamuning: “Pakita Mo Pet Mo”.
8. Bakery: “Bread Pit”.
9. Bank in Alabang: “Alabank”.
10. Restaurant in Pampanga named, “Mekeni Rogers”.
11. Restaurant in Pasig : “Johnny’s Fried Chicken: The ‘Fried’ of Marikina “.
12. A boxing gym: “Blow Jab”.
13. A tombstone maker in Antipolo: “Lito Lapida”.
14. A copy center in Sikatuna Village called “Pakopya ni Edgar”.
15. A beerhouse in Cavite called, “Chickpoint” .
16. Laundromat in Sikatuna: ” Star Wash : Attack of the Clothes”.
17. Internet cafe in Taguig named, “n@kopi@”.
18. Name of a kambingan, “Sa Goat Kita”.
19. A salon somewhere, “Curl Up And Dye”.
20. A lugawan in Sta. Maria, Bulacan: “Gee Congee”.
21. A water refilling station in Dapitan named “Wa-Thirst”.
22. A store selling feeds for chickens: “Robocock”.
23. Shoe repair in Marikina : “Dr. Shoe-Bago”.
24. Shoe repair store along Commonwealth, “SHOEPERMAN: we will HEEL you,
save your SOLE, and even DYE for you”.
25. Petshop: “Petness First”
26. Flower shop: “Susan’s Roses”.
27. Taxicab: “Income Taxi”.
28. A 2nd hand watch store: “2nd Time Around”.
29. A squid stall in a wet market: “Pusit to the Limit”.
30. A gay lawyer’s extension office: ” Nota Republic “.
31. A ceiling installer: ” Kisame Street “.
32. A car repair shop: “Bangga ka ‘day?”
33. An aquatic pet store in Malolos: “Fish Be With You”.
34. A beauty salon: “Saudia Hairlines”.
35. A bakery: “Anak Ng Tinapay”.
36. A resto along Mayon road in Manila : “May Lisa Eatery”.
37. Laundry shop: “Wash Your Problem”.
38. This mobile massage business name isn’t funny, but
their slogan is: “Asian Mobile Massage Service: Massage only, God is
watching”.
39. Ice cream parlor: “Dila Lang Ang Katapat”.
40. Chicharon store: “Chicha Hut”.
41. Neighborhood pizza store: “Pizza Hot”.
42. A fishball cart near UST: “Eat My Balls”.
43. A barbershop in Cagayan de Oro: “Pinoy Big Barber”.
44. A Resto: “The Last Supper”.
45. A goto resto: “Goto Ko Pa!”
46. A gym in Malolos: ” Gaymann Fitness Center “.
47. A store selling fresh chicken, owned by woman named Dina: “Dina Fresh
Chicken”.
48. Salon: “Hair Dot Comb”.
49. Signage on a restaurant: “We are open 25 hrs. a day – no lunch/dinner breaks!”
50. A funeral parlor in Bacoor, Cavite :”Funeraria Happy”

Thursday, April 11, 2013

Quick and Easy Bulgogi

One of our favorite Korean dishes is Bulgogi because of its barbecue taste.  Bulgogi literally means "fire meat" in Korean.  I haven't eaten Korean food for quite some time so when I saw this bottle at the supermarket, I was thinking of getting it.  Just "thinking". . . because the problem with ready-made sauces is it can be a hit or miss.  But reading the bottle's label, the manufacturer (CJ Brand) claimed that this is the No. 1 Bulgogi sauce in Korea from 2005 to 2010.  And that was enough to convince me to try it, haha!  I got one, crossing my fingers, hoping that this is going to be more of a hit!  



It also says that it has Korean Pear and Apple which creates a natural sweetness and fruity flavor.  When I googled for Bulgogi marinade recipes, most of them actually call for some puree or juice from apples or Korean Pears.  I guess this marinade sauce is close to the real deal then.  (If you want a basic Bulgogi marinade recipe from scratch, please click here ) 

For this easy peasy recipe, you just need the following:
- Bulgogi Marinade
- Chicken Breast (or your preferred meat) - sliced thinly
- Yellow onion, chopped
- Onion leeks, chopped

I'm sorry I don't have measurements, I just eyeballed the amount of marinade to be used for the meat.  I suggest you go easy on the sauce since it's salty.  You can always adjust the taste when you cook.

Cooking Instructions:
Just marinade the chicken with the sauce and chopped onions

Mix everything and  let it sit overnight

You can grill, stir-fry or broil your meat.  I chose to stir-fry it.  To add some color and some more flavor, I added some chopped onion leeks.

Serve with steaming hot rice. . . and a SMILE! =)

This Bulgogi (from a bottle!) was a success!  I'll definitely make this again.  Next time, I'm thinking of adding mushrooms or bell peppers and probably a drizzle of sesame oil =)

Happy Cooking!

Baby Blues

It's been almost three weeks since I brought Little J home.

And I have something to share with you . . .this was ME . . .

Image from www.mommastime.com

When I got home from the hospital!
(Okay, I was actually thinking of putting an image of a HEADLESS  chicken, haha!)

I was happy and excited to be back home and enjoy Little J with the whole family.  I was also looking forward to being with the Little Miss again! (whom I missed dearly)

But the first night back home proved to be. . .challenging.  (Ok, stressful!  Haha!)  It wasn't easy.  I was still physically tired, there's the need to breastfeed and the million things I have to do (at least in my mind, haha!) for the kids.  Little J was still adjusting to his new surroundings that he doesn't want to be put down (yes, it was a rough night!).  One of the hardest things I have to deal with was the guilt I feel when I look at our Little Miss.  It breaks my heart that when she runs to Mama and asks to be carried, I couldn't.  Yet she sees me carrying her little brother.  But I think she understands when I explain to her that Mama couldn't carry her because she still has an "ouch-ouch" in her tummy.      

And so the next day, I found myself crying for the most part of the day.  Sometimes, I would just be sitting down and the tears would just roll! It didn't help that the person I would like to be with and who always make me feel better is thousands of miles away (miss you Huney!).

I was just really tired, I was overwhelmed.     

This must be Postpartum!  (I didn't get any during my first pregnancy.)  I prefer to call it "baby blues" though, haha!  It's just that Postpartum sounds dreadful.

I read from Babycenter that during Postpartum:
You may also feel exhausted, unable to sleep, trapped, or anxious. Your appetite may increase or decrease, or you might feel irritable, nervous, worried about being a good mother, or afraid that being a mother will never feel better than it does right now. Rest assured: All these feelings — known as the "baby blues" or "postpartum blues" — are normal during the first couple of weeks after childbirth. In fact, up to 80 percent of new moms experience them.
Yes, I belong to the 80%!

I was in that sappy mood for just a couple of days.  You know what helped?  A good bath and a Big Mac with an ice-cold Coke Zero!  Hahaha!

This is me now. . .

Photo: Baby, it's just you and me (because no one is here to take our picture, haha!)

I'm feeling much better, I'm getting my groove. . . Thanks to a loving husband, a supportive family and thoughtful friends.

So goodbye baby blues. . . Hello happy Mommy =)

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

AMEN!

Read this quote at a local actress' IG account (itago natin sya sa pangalang Kim Chiu, haha!)

Our life is meant to be lived  . . .love it and learn from it =)  

Image from raininginpdx.blogspot.com

Sunday, April 7, 2013

Krispy Kreme's Truffle Creams

Dropped by Krispy Kreme yesterday and saw their new offering. . .Truffle creams!  They had me at Truffles, haha!

They come in 6 flavors:  Chocolate Chocolate Kreme, Chocolate Chocolate Mocha, Vanilla Strawberry Kreme, Vanilla White Chocolate Mocha, Vanilla Chocolate Caramel and Chocolate Chocolate Caramel.

I got a box of 3 for Php 150 - 1 Chocolate Kreme and 2 Mocha

Here's a look inside . . .



They actually reminded me of cake pops.  It's really a doughnut cake with thick choco/mocha frosting.  They taste okay, I was actually expecting the inside to be more fudgy (because the name had truffles in it!  Haha!).  For Php50/piece, I would get something else to satisfy my sweet tooth. 

One thing I'm impressed with though. . .  

their packaging!  Lovely and elegant

Hope your weekend was full of sweet moments =)















Why I love Packing!

I saw this from a friend's FB post and found it funny!  It reminded me of Hubby and me.

Hubby is actually the one on the LEFT and I am the one on the RIGHT, haha!

Whenever we travel, he packs for us. . . for all of us!  Since he's really good at it, I let him do it (gladly! ).  Hey, not that I don't do anything, I put out everything that needs to be packed and then he takes it from there. (we make a good team! )  

And that is why I love Packing. . . because Hubby does it, Haha!  Yes ladies, I am one lucky gal! =)

I love you Big J and we miss you!  Here's to more family adventures and vacations!

Hope you're all having a relaxing weekend =)

Saturday, April 6, 2013

The "H Deficiency"

No, I am not referring to some health/medical disorder but I am referring to the Kapampangan's "missing H" syndrome.  (Kapampangans are the people from the province of Pampanga, which is located in the Central Luzon Region of the Philippines)  Yes, we tend to omit our "Hs" in words when we speak.  I'll let our Little Miss show you what this is all about.  

The heart shape is the first shape that the Little Miss learned.  But we noticed that instead of saying "Heart", she says "Art".  So we teach her the right way to pronounce it . . . everyday!

Me:  Baby, say "Heeaaarrt"

Little Miss: "Art"

Me: No Baby, it's HHHearrrt (with an emphasis on the H)

LM: "Art"

Me: What about "Hat"? Say "HHHaaatt"

LM: "At"

Me: Okay, say Hellooo

LM: "E-Ohhh"

Me: It's He-He-Hellooo

LM: "E-Ohhhh"

Me: Say "Hiiiiiii"

LM: "Iiiiiii"

*Sigh* Oh yes, there's definitely Kapampangan blood running through her veins!  

A a a a!  (That's my Kapampangan side, laughing! Haha!)

*************************************************************************************
Just in case you're wondering why we do have this "H" syndrome, I've read in Wikipedia that in our dialect, we lack the *phoneme "H" as compared to the other Philippine languages.  

*Phoneme means The smallest phonetic unit in a language that is capable of conveying a distinction in meaning, as the m of mat and the b of bat in English. (www.thefreedictionary.com)

Friday, April 5, 2013

Pink O' Plenty

Hubby's (Big J ) wardrobe consists mostly of blacks, blues, grays and whites.  There was one time that I saw a cute pink polo shirt and told him to get it so he can put some color in his wardrobe.  He sort of gave me that look . . . "me?  in pink???"  And I told him that real men wear pink!  Haha!  While pink may be considered a feminine color,  when a man wears pink, he just exudes some air of confidence.  (Say Aye if you agree!)

Just look at Mr. Beckham!
Photo from kitmeout.com

So to develop Little J's confidence, I let him use some pink stuff which were his sister's . . . just kidding!  Kidding on the developing his confidence part, but I wasn't kidding when I said he was using some pink stuff.  Since we already have some baby stuff plus some hand me downs from his cousins, I really didn't buy much for Little J.  I bought him a few essentials and the practical mom in me says that we can manage with what we already have.  

Yes, he has a few pink stuff. . .   
Care Bears pillow cases . . . which were lovingly made by Grandma
for our Little Miss

A pink (and floral at that!) blankie ---I know it's too. . . girly, haha!
But it's one of the most comfortable blankies ever! 

Pink bottles. . . but hey, his milk dispenser is bluueee!  Heehee

But as much as I'm okay with him using pink stuff. . . I won't ever let him use these!!!

This is where I draw the line!

Agree?  Haha!

Have a nice weekend with your loved ones! =)









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