Almost there . . .

Three more weeks to go before we see our Little Man!  Just like any expecting moms, there are stuff to prepare before the big day comes. . . I've done some of the things I have to do---check things needed for the Baby and the Nursery and I still have some left in my To-do list---My Hospital Bag (MUST.start.packing!) . . .oh and finalize our Little Man's name! (Hubby and I are getting there!)  

I have all of these in my list and . . . "more". . . 

Hot Oil Treatment - check

AND THREADING! - check

Foot Spa and Pedicure -check, check

My oh so chubby fingers! Haha!

No color for me (for now) . . .just playing around with these nice
summery colors =)   Which color do you like best?

And after a couple of hours of pampering. . . 

In an attempt to hide my oh so chubby self,
I used a small picture, teehee

I'm ready!

And this is how I roll. . . Haha!

Can't wait to meet you Little J!  See you sooonnn  =)

Our First Princess

Iya, my 6- year old niece, is the first grandchild in my side of the family.  I have blogged about some Iya stories before which included our "chubby" conversation and about love and sharing =).  She even gave me some travel tips for toddlers before the Little One and I left for LA last September.  

She is growing up to be such a smart and sweet little girl who loves her parents SO MUCH!  How much?!

So much that one day, she told her parents that she won't get married so they can all be together FOREVER!  (Okay, i'm giving her a few more years and we'll see about that, haha!)

She is also a responsible achi (it means "oldest sister" in Hokkien) to her siblings.  Knowing that her younger brother has stopped drinking milk, this is what she had to say:

"Shoti, dapat drink ka ng milk para di ka mamatay ng maaga."

(Shoti, you should drink milk so you won't die early.)  

She took up a number of classes (like dancing and piano) that she has developed a certain level of  confidence.   When a boy classmate told her "you're a little bit fat". . . she just shrugged it off and didn't mind at all.  (And I told her that she isn't fat at all!)   

Last Valentine's Day, she made a card for her parents . . .

Unedited
Dear Mom and Dad,  I love you so mush and I will shere my money to you
and Happy Valentines Day!  Love Iya

Yes, she has also learned that Sharing is Caring!  (I hope she shares her money with everyone in our family!  Haha!)

Thank you Iya for making us laugh and for sharing with us your wisdom and learnings.  =)

'Til the next Iya story . . . 

Bread Eats: Jipan's Monroe Bread

I am a bread person.  I think I can give up rice easily. . . but bread??!  I don't think so!  (And that is why low-carb diets don't work for me, haha!)

One bread that I love is Jipan's Monroe Bread.  It is like a croissant but comes in a loaf.  And just like a croissant, it's light, flaky, fluffy.    

Looks like a croissant =)

If you don't eat crust, I think you won't mind eating this kind.

Breads are like a plain canvas, you can do anything with it!  Prepare a nice sandwich with your favorite filling--- like your favorite cold cuts and cheese or perhaps a chunky chicken or tuna spread with some sandwich fix-ins like lettuce/cucumber (Ooohh and some potato chips on the side!) . . . and have it with a nice hot or refreshing cold drink . . .it is like bringing your favorite deli or coffee shop to your own home! =)

Have a great day ahead!


Jipan Bakeshop
Level 2, Glorietta 4
Ayala Center, Makati  

                

In English Please . . .

A couple of years ago, I went to my niece's school to watch her  Pre-Kinder class recital.

One part of the program calls for the teacher to ask the class what sounds do certain animals make.  So while watching the kids, I was answering as well.  (more of mumbling actually)

Teacher: How does a cow sound?

Class and Me: Moo. . .moo. . .moo

Teacher: How about a cat?

Class and Me: Meow. . meow . . meow

Teacher: What about a dog?

Class and Me:  Arf. . .arf. . .arf

Teacher: How does a frog sound?

(Ofcourse I got this!)

Me: Kokak. .  . kokak. . . kokak

Class: Ribbit. . ribbit. . .ribbit

Photo source: www.michelesworld.net

Toinks!!!  *Embarrassed* . . . how can I forget my Sesame Street!

But hey, I'm not completely wrong . . . "Kokak" is also a sound that a frog makes. . . in the Filipino language!  Heehee

Well, at least I got the dog right. . .I didn't say "Aw-aw"!  Haha!

Jailhouse Rock

We went out for a family dinner earlier this evening.  I just finished dressing up the Little One when my dad, her lolo (grandfather), saw what she was wearing:

Lolo: Wala ba siyang black leggings?
        

Me: Meron (I sort of know where this conversation is heading)
       

Lolo: Eh yung dark blue na skinny jeans?  (Oh yes, he may be in his early 70s but he knows what skinny jeans are!  Haha! )

        

Me: Meron din, kaya lang hindi pa niya nasusuot itong leggings na ito eh.

(I know there's something coming!)

Lolo:  Ahhh. . .   Kasi parang taga-Alcatraz siya dyan eh.

Guess this is what he had in mind. . .

Photo from: jailcostume.org

Sorry Dad. . . it may be "Alcatraz" for you  . . . but it's fashion for me!  Haha!

Goodnight everyone, hope your day went well =)

Easy Italian Sausage Pasta

The Little One prefers to eat the tangy Italian spaghetti over our Pinoy sweet spaghetti (where we use banana catsup as an ingredient!).  When we were in LA, this tomato-based pasta recipe has been one of her faves (she also loves her Papa's Adobo and Ginisang Sayote) that I always cook this for her almost every week.  (Now that we're back in the Philippines, I haven't cooked as much as I want.) 

This has become a fave of mine too because it is fast and easy to prepare.  The use of Italian sausage definitely gives additional flavor to the pasta sauce (flavors like Italian seasoning, garlic powder, fennel seeds, paprika)

For this pasta recipe, you will need:

Spaghetti noodles
Italian Sausage
Olive oil (preferably)
Garlic, chopped
Onion, chopped
A bottle of your favorite marinara sauce (a personal fave is the Barilla brand)
Cheddar cheese singles
Salt and Pepper
Sugar (optional) - Pinoy talaga! haha!

Let's start cooking . . .

Cook the pasta noodles according to its direction.

1. Remove the sausage meat from its casing and cook it until it turns brown. 

2. In the same pan, set aside the sausage and saute the garlic and onion.

3. Add the Marinara sauce, let it boil and simmer for a few minutes.

4.  Add the Cheddar slices, let it melt.  Season the sauce with
with salt, pepper and a little bit of sugar (according to your taste).
Stir the sauce and let it simmer for a at least 10 minutes.  I noticed
that simmering the sauce slowly and for a little bit longer
enhances the flavor of the sauce.

After tasting the sauce and you got that smile on your face which makes you say "Perfect!", 

toss in your cooked spaghetti noodles and sprinkle some Parmesan cheese

(which I didn't have when I cooked this pasta, haha!).

Buon Appetito!

Okay, it actually tastes better than it looks!
I am blaming this on a) the bad lighting or b) the Iphone's camera, Haha!

I keep this pasta dish simple for the Little One but feel free to add your favorite veggies like mushrooms, bell peppers or olives. . . and if you want a fancier pasta dish. . .throw in some fresh basil leaves!  Ooohhh and some toasted garlic bread on the side!  Yuuummm!  (Now I'm craving for some Italian food!)

If you're having a lazy weekend at home, and you plan to wear your PJs the whole day . . .but would love to eat some pasta,  you might just want to cook and eat at home.  

Hope you're having a fantastic weekend!  =)

Of Dreams and Prince Charming

I usually forget my dream is all about when I wake up in the morning.  But there was one dream that I'll always remember.

I dreamed that I was a princess, dressed in a gown (similar to that of Snow White's).  I was in the garden  with My Prince Charming (whose face I couldn't see) . . . we were so happy, we were dancing and he was twirling me around.  Just as we were about to end our dance, he held my back and gave me a dip!  My world stopped, my heart beat faster . . . as he was about to kiss me on the lips!  AND then I heard my mom's booming voice, trying to wake me up!!!  Haaayyyyy!!!  

I actually tried going back to sleep, hoping I can pick up where I left off . . . just so I can have that kiss!!!  (I really tried!  Haha!)

 

And as Snow White said, "Some day my prince will come, Some day we'll meet again."

I'm happy we both did . . .

I married my own Prince Charming and got that kiss!

He still owes me a dance though, haha! 

Happy Valentine's Day Hun. . . we are thousands of miles apart but know that you are always in my mind and in my heart. . . 

We miss you. . . Love you =)