My Supermarket Fix

I can't believe it's weekend again!  It seems like I just finished putting away the newly washed clothes and its laundry time again! (Weekends are our laundry time)

Besides doing laundry, one of the things we do (I love to do!) is going to the Supermarket, my happy place! 

When you are at the Supermarket, did you ever want to look at other people's carts? (Come on, just say it, haha!)  Well, I do!  Haha!  Not that I'm nosy, I'm just. . . curious!  I'm just curious what other people have in their list or what brand they prefer or if there are new stuff in the market I don't know about or that they might have tried something which is better than what we are using.

So if you are a curious person like me, I am sharing with you some of my favorite (tried and tested) supermarket finds these past few months:

I love to stock up on pasta sauces for those days when you don't know what to eat and you have to eat, haha!  I know that food made from scratch is better and healthier but let's face it, we can't do it ALL THE TIME.

For the pasta sauce, I always buy Bertolli's Alfredo Sauce because it is the best white sauce I've tried and the kids love it!  The kids love it so much that they don't like the tomato-based sauces anymore.  It's creamy and cheesy (it has Parmesan cheese).  It's a good basic pasta sauce which you work around to impress the family!  

Image from www.villabertolli.com

You can just heat the sauce but I take it up a notch and put some bacon love in it!  Toss some bacon in the pan and wait for the bacon to render its fat because that is what you're going to use when you saute your onion.  I also put some veggies in it.  

I think your picky eater will love it!  (Mine did)

I am a junkie. . .okay that didn't sound right, haha!  I mean I am a junkie. . . I love junk food!  I love Chips and dips!  My most favorite dip. . . Stonemill's Spinach and Artichoke Parmesan dip!

Image from www.shopwell.com

It is best when it is heated. . . warning: it can be addicting!  For those times when I'm lazy to prepare my lunch, I just grab a bag of chips and my favorite soda (must be ice cold!). . . and I'm a happy camper!

I tried using it as an omelette filling too and it was so good!  We had it for 2 days and had to stop because it's just bad, haha!  

(Now I feel like fixing myself an omelette, haha!)

I also like having some instant sauce mix in the pantry.  Lee Kum Kee is one brand that I like.  I've tried Lee Kum Kee's Chicken Wrap sauce (blogged about it here) and loved it!  So I thought of trying their Mongolian Beef which was good too!  

Another Lee Kum Kee product which I like is their Oyster sauce.  Oyster sauce is a staple in our pantry because it just adds or enhances the flavor of the food that you cook.  I love that Lee Kum Kee came out with a NO MSG and Gluten-free oyster sauce!  I just hope it's true, haha!

Since I have a sweet tooth (a really sweet one, hehe) and I love sweet endings, do you know what is the best (ever!!!) brownie in a box in my book?  It is still Ghirardelli's Triple Chocolate Brownie mix. I guarantee this!  

It's so moist and super chocolatey. . . and with choco chips!

The other day, Hubby and I feel like having a fancy dessert. . . at home!  So we just heated the brownie in the microwave for 20 seconds and put a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top and tadahhh . . .

Brownie ala Mode!

Who says you can't have a fancy dessert at home?! 

It was definitely good. . .that I will bake another batch after I put up this post! haha!

Will be sharing more of my supermarket finds in the future.  As they say. . . Sharing is Caring! =)

Have a good weekend everyone!!!

My New Favorite Number!

Eight is my favorite number because a) it has been said (for the Chinese) that it's a lucky number and b) our wedding date is on the 8th too.

But I just found my next favorite number!

Yesterday morning, the Princess and I were doing puzzles (the puzzle's design shows the numbers 1-20).  I know that she already knows her 1-10 so I don't expect her to know the rest of the numbers.

But I was wrong!

She saw this puzzle piece

And shouted. . . "Double 1!!!" (Haha!)

Anyway, so I told her, that's the number Eleven.  (But the little girl has a point, it is a Double 1!)

I am surprised (and proud) that she used the word "double" and came up with her own "number". Haha!

Now I'm afraid to show her my tops size, hahaha!  

Hope you had an enjoyable weekend full of good laughs! =)

Update: Sunday Morning with a Princess

I've mentioned in my previous post how I wanted to buy the little girl a Princess gown but she managed to do something about it.

Guess what. . . . we just got a wonderful surprise yesterday!!!

Spell SERENDIPITY!  

She can now do her royal curtsy with a real gown!  

It may be short for her but it's still longer than her frou-frou skirt!  Haha!

And yes, she has yet to learn on how to sit like a Princess! =)

Thank you to my cousins Ate A and Ate E for this wonderful pasalubong! =)  

You just made one little girl very happy!

Happy Baby = Happy Mommy!

Saturday Morning with a Princess

I think all little girls go through a "Princess" phase.  My sweetheart just started hers!  (Thanks to Disney's TV cartoon series, "Sofia the First").

The other night, she was walking and holding her imaginary ball gown and was curtsying!  

So this morning, I thought of going to the mall to buy her the "Princess stuff". . . like a Princess gown and a tiara!  So I told her (excitedly) about what we'll do but she wasn't really to keen on going out.  After a few minutes, she went to her closet and got her frou-frou skirt and said "Princess" and asked me to put it on her.  Then she went to get a piece of our puzzle floor mat and put it on her head and said that was a "crown".  I found her idea of a crown to be . . . fresh!  (Good job Ate!)

Her take on a Princess outfit. . .

I told her to smile and she gave me these faces!  Haha!

Thank you my Princess for reminding me that we can have fun with the things we already have.  We just have to be a little more imaginative!  =) 

 . . . Oh And that Princess gowns don't have to be long, haha!

Happy Weekend everyone!

Stakeout?

Was checking for a Wi-Fi spot in a mall when I saw one particular network that caught my attention . . . 

*NBI stands for National Bureau of Investigation, equivalent to FBI

And I thought one should be discreet when doing a surveillance??? 

Would be interesting to know if there is indeed a stakeout happening in the area, haha!  How exciting!

Or probably someone just thought of using this name for fun =)

The Mannequin

Growing Over the weekend, Ate found a long, lost brother. . . .from another mother.

Haha!

I don't know if she just misses her little brother (he stayed at home) . . .

 or she noticed that this boy's hair is like hers. . .a mop of black hair!

Which can only mean two things:  The mannequin wears a beautiful wig that looks like the real thing OR Ate's hair looks like a wig?!  Haha!

Take your pick . . . 

Ice Cream Love

I think Ate took after my love for sweets!  (Patay!  Haha!)  First, it was M&M's, then Ice Cream.  

As I've mentioned in a previous post, eating Ice Cream has helped us in managing her crying bouts when she takes her Medicine.   I guess there is really just something in ice cream that makes it comforting and brings joy to whoever eats it.  It can even solve problems!

If you want to shop and make a toddler sit still, Ice Cream can save the day!  Haha!  

P.S. And pray that he/she stays that way until the ice cream is gone, heehee.

A Few Good Laughs

This is probably one of the funniest (and most embarrassing?) experiences I ever had.  (Just thinking about it makes me laugh again!  Haha!)

We went to my favorite Ramen place (Santouka) yesterday.  When I was about to enter the restaurant, I saw a couple who were waiting to be seated and were browsing the menu.  When the girl looked up, we caught each other's eye and she flashed me a big, warm and sincere smile and she said. . ."Heeeyyyyyy"  and instinctively, I flashed her a big smile too and said "Helloooo!!! I didn't recognize you!".  (She was an acquaintance from the University. . . ummmm, some 20 years ago?! Haha!)  We sounded like really good friends who didn't see each other for a looooong time and were excited to catch up!

But waiiiit. . . the guy with her wasn't her husband!  I looked at the guy again kasi baka her husband lost weight lang. . . but it wasn't really her husband!  Then I realized for a quick few seconds. . . .she actually WAS NOT the girl I thought she was, hahaha!  (And I even had to say "I didn't recognize you!" Toinks!)

ANDDDD judging from her face, I can see that just about the same time, she realized that I wasn't a friend of hers too!  

HAHAHAHA!!!

I think both of us were so shy embarrassed that we weren't looking at each other's direction the whole time we were eating. (Tough luck, our tables were even beside each other!  Haha!)

Yup, it was a good (and funny!) way to cap the weekend!  

What have I learned?  That it's actually nice to share a smile (or a hearty laugh!) with a stranger.

As they say. . . 

Image from www.imagedesktopwallpaperz.com

So to the very nice lady in an orange and black top and striped leggings, thank you for making my day!

Oh and for being a pretend friend that day, haha!

Breakfast in Bed!

Good Morning!!!

Here's my breakfast. . . . 

A serving of warm sunny (smile) side-up and a huge slab of a meaty (baby) bacon! Haha!

Excuse me. . . I just have to go and dig in =) 

Happy Sunday to everyone!

Pasalubong from the Weekend

My brother and my sister-in-law went to Tagaytay for the weekend.  (Tagaytay is a popular tourist destination and a favorite weekend escapade for locals because of its landscape and cooler climate.)

They brought us pasalubong (gifts) from this city which have become our dessert and merienda (snacks) for the past few days.  They brought buko (coconut) pie from Bahay Pastulan, a retail shop run by the Good Shepherds Sisters which sells the different goodies that they make.  My brother's fave is their buko juice while some of my friends love their ube jam. 

This is what's left of the pie. . . .in less than 24 hours, haha!    

The last piece!  (We were saving it for my sister)

It is actually just a simple pie.  What I like most about it is you can taste the freshness of the coconut meat (they didn't scrimp on the coconut meat).  My brother's theory for this ---the pie filling has buko juice in it!  And there's probably some pandan in there too.  So yes, this pie has become a favorite and holds the record as the pie that was consumed in the shortest time, haha!    

From Tagaytay, they stopped at Nuvali in Sta. Rosa (another popular destination) and got us a box of Revel Bars from Purple Oven (it has been said that the pastries/cakes served in Starbucks come from Purple Oven).  I am not fond of Revel Bars. . . but these sweet treats from Purple Oven are my exception, heehee.  

A box contains 16 pcs. of bars

Happiness in a bar =)

So yes, you can say that I had a sweet weekend and it's going to be sweeter in the coming days =).

Hope you had a good day today!

*Bahay Pastulan opened a new store in Sta. Rosa (this is where my brother bought the pasalubong).  I am so sorry I wasn't able to get the address from the box.  The old store in Maryridge, Tagaytay is now being used as their production site. 

**Purple Oven's contacts nos. - 631-4221 / 910-1363 to 1364  
Branches:
1) 63 Saint Peter St., Oranbo, Pasig
2) YMCA Bldg., 7 Sacred Heart St., San Antonio Village, Makati
3) The Clubhouse at Temple Drive, Corinthian Hills, QC
4) Solenad 2, Nuvali, Santa Rosa, Laguna
5) San Antonio Plaza Arcade, 50 McKinley Road, Forbes Park, Makati

Crafts for a Cause by Kultura Filipino

One of the places I like going to is Kultura Filipino, found in all SM stores (affiliated with SM Incorporated since 2003).  It is a large retail chain which houses a wide array of local products (from food, fashion accessories, clothes, home decors, etc) that are export quality and are proudly Pinoy.  It is a popular place to go to for pasalubong (gifts) and even for personal shopping!  There are so many things one can find that sometimes, I just go there just to look around without really buying anything, haha!

On a recent trip to their branch in SM Aura, I went to Kultura Filipino and saw a corner which says Crafts for a Cause which piqued my interest.  There are so many beautiful things on that table that were made from recycled items.  To name a few, there were bags made from soda pull tabs . . .

And clutches made of Foil 

I wanted to take more pictures but there were Sales Associates and Security lingering around . . . and who (I feel) might tell me that taking pictures is not allowed!  So inunahan ko na, haha!  

I've googled about Kultura Filipino and their Crafts for a Cause project and saw a blog (www.pinasmuna.com) which has a post about it.  Please click on this link to read about it.

Who said Money can't buy Happiness?!  When we support projects like this, our Money goes a long way because it benefits and improves the lives of  the disadvantaged people from different communities.    

So what are we waiting for, tara na, let's go and Shooppp!!! =)

What the F!

And It's not what you are (might be) thinking, haha!  But my Sunday was all about the letter F!    

I had Fun with the Family . . . had some girl bonding time with L, my Sister (and as we grew older, she has become one of my Best friends too.  Sis, I know you are reading this---yiheee, haha) and some quality time with my Princess too.

Scored some good Finds that are marked down significantly. . . 70%!!!  Sweeeet!

Got myself a pair of jeans (from Php 3,150 to Php 945), a black linen capri (from Php 1,650 to Php 660) and a top (from 1,650 to Php 660).  You gotta love a Sale!  Haha!

And because we want to look good and be Fab for somebody (you will know who in the succeeding posts!) we went to the Salon.  

It was Ate's first time to have her hair cut in this Salon I go to.  We usually go to a Kids Salon for her haircut where there are toys and cartoons to watch.  But I think she's ready for a "grown up" salon!  She sat still, enjoyed being shampooed (I know it doesn't show, haha!  But she did like it) and didn't even mind the blow dry!

I waaannt her hair!  Haha!  And I think she loves it as much as we do!

And of course. . . though shall not forget. . . FOOD! Haha!  Having Ate with us only means we go to a place where there is soup and noodles. . . .so we had Ramen!

(Will be blogging about this in a separate post)

So yep, my Sunday was all about Fs.  But if I have to give one word to sum up everything, it was a Fruitful day!

Hope you enjoyed yours and wishing you a good week ahead!

As for me, I'm going to have a really, really memorable week!  You'll know why soon!

P.S., If you loved Ate's hair (we loved ours too!), please look for Lita at H&M Hair and Make-Up Studio located at 4/F, Glorietta 4, Ayala Center, Makati. =) 

What's the point?

There's actually no point, haha!

But the quote below makes a good one =)




Wishing everyone what may be a pointless weekend . . . but one that is full of fun and adventure! =)

F***!

Image from www.quotepictures.net

You know what my first is?  It's a 4-letter word!

F....FOOD!!!

What were you thinking?!  Haha!

Happy Weekend!

Special Mail Delivery

Image Source

I think this is one mail we would all like to send!

Hope you enjoyed your weekend as much as I did =)

Baguio Faves and Finds

Just got back from a nice weekend in Baguio with my brother and his family.  It was Ate's first time to go to Baguio and her first out of town trip with her cousins.  Before the trip, I was planning on blogging about it, from start to finish, especially the in-betweens.  I even read foodie blogs hoping we can go for some gastronomic adventure in the City of Pines (I have my  list!).  So I thought. . . because the truth is, I won't be able to, haha!  I have a few, but how I wish I can do some more!  It's just that having four active, curious kids (a couple of toddlers, a naughty 4-yr old and a precocious 6-yr old) requires great skill, strength. . . and PATIENCE!  Haha!  It was a challenge to take photos AND chase my toddler!  That is why I have a few photos and stories to share.  The gastronomic adventure I was hoping for?  It didn't happen!  But it's okay =)  This trip was for the kids.  The most important thing is they had fun. . . and they can't wait to go back! 

One of the things I want to share with you are the goodies which I got from Baguio =)

Since we were staying at the Baguio Country Club (BCC), we got their banana cake (one of their best sellers, the other best seller is Raisin Bread) as pasalubong (gift).  We also got some raising bonnets which we found good.  (Tip:  We don't have to go to BCC for some raisin bonnets.  French Baker also has good ones!)

Another favorite stop for pasalubong is the Good Shepherd Convent.  They offer a wide range of goodies.  Their most popular item is the Ube Jam.  Other popular items are their Strawberry Jam and Peanut Brittle.  They do offer a wide range of food items (different cookies, other peanut items and preserves. . . I even saw santol champoy!)  For easier reference, there is a display shelf which indicates the price and size of the item.  You just have to list down what you want to buy, bring your list to the cashier and pay.  (They accept credit cards.)

I got these =)

I told my brother I want to get some Ilocos blankets since Hubby and I love the first one we got (as a present).  Since we didn't have time to go to the Baguio Market, we just went to Mines View Park.  

Got my blanket . . . and a back scratcher!  Haha!

I suggest you buy this kind of scratcher if you want one that really does a good job!  It is made of Kamagong (if my memory serves me right) which is a harder wood as compared to the ordinary ones.

For Lengua de Gato, Rico's is our preferrerd brand.  We also got to try a new brand for peanut brittle, Baguio Sweets by Mother's Best.  (Romana's is actually the most popular one).  We got it because its expiry date is in the bottle, haha!  It says May 2014.  I buy food items that are at least a year before its expiry or best before date. . . especially for peanut food items.  Don't you just hate it when the nuts taste rancid already?  

Just in case you're wondering. . . . yes, we loved the peanut brittle!  They taste like. . . I'm glad we bought it and should have bought some more!  Haha!

And just for laughs, I got my sister . . . 

a Barrel Man!

This is probably one of the most popular pasalubong from Baguio.  If you are a Filipino, you  know why.

And if you haven't acquainted yourself with Mr. Barrel Man here, here is something from Wikipedia that would help you:

A barrel man or barrelman is a souvenir doll or statuette popular in the Philippines. The statuette usually consists of a crude male figurine carved out of wood, partially hidden inside a round wooden barrel. When the barrel is taken off, the male figure inside is revealed, sporting a prominent phallic protrusion in the lower part of the figure's anatomy.

While going aroung the Club's Greenhouse, I saw these cute of argyle print garden boots of Manong Hardinero and I'm totally crushing over them!  I asked him where I can get those and he said that I should be able to find them at the Baguio Market. . . which we weren't able to go to.

Aren't they the cuuuttest?!

So these boots are in my list. . . for the next Baguio trip!  Heehee

But my most favorite thing from our Baguio trip is having some "just you and me" time with my precious little girl.  It feels nice to sleep and wake up beside her (again) . . . something which I've been missing.    

But I got to tell you. . . I think we (us, the adults!) need a vacation from this vacation!  Haha!

Hope you had an enjoyable weekend too! =)

How hard could a group photo be?!

It is extremely hard. . . if you are talking about taking a group photo of children!  Hahaha!

While some of them would have their camera ready smile, one of them would veer away from the camera.

Or all of them would be wearing their perfect smile BUT
not everyone will still be looking at the camera! *heavy sigh*
Someone is always ready for the cam!

But that someone will eventually get tired from all the smiling and picture taking . . .

Just when the others have become ready for the camera,
that someone just had it!  Hahaha!

Take 2!!!  Let's try this one more time!

See what I mean?!  Hahaha!

I know that taking a perfectly timed photo of a group of children can be quite challenging.  (Unless you have a really good camera that takes a hundred or a thousand frames per second!  Heehee)

Whether perfectly timed or not, I think the spontaneity of children is what makes their pictures beautiful and heartfelt.  (Yes, even if they are not looking at the camera, haha!)

Have a nice weekend ahead!