Little Joys in Life

Nobody and nothing in this world is perfect. Not everything that happens in your life is according to what you want. You get to experience challenging situations. You need to decide on very important matters but sometimes you are not sure if your decisions were right.


Anyway, I don't want to dwell on the negatives and I don't want to get depressed by something I have written in the past. With that being said, I will write about simple things that make me smile, laugh, grin or even cry. Things that make my heart happy.

• Playing what my 3-year old son recorded on my mobile phone...over and over. I always imitate him after.


• Knowing that my daughter knows a lot about computers and the internet... more that her father. She is six.


• Watching movies during wee hours knowing that it's going to move me into tears.


• Buying Reese's peanut butter cups for my hubby.


• Baking orange muffins and oatmeal cookies for my kids.


• Playing games on FB.


• Reading Rajo Laurel's blog. I love his travel pictures.


• Chatting with friends on social networking sites... friends I have known since grade school and high school.


• Receiving a wedding invitation from a college friend whom I haven't seen or spoke with for years.
  
• Eating fresh or dried fruits.


• Getting my nails done.


• Knowing that I have a secure relationship with my hubby, I hope...hahaha


• My kids saying "I love you, Mom."


• My kids kissing me. Mind you, they need nothing...no nothing at all. They just want to kiss me.


• Reading Yek's blog. His recent thrift shopping, his dressing up and his MIADORE's. I got one Miadore. I super love it.


• Reading Karl Marx's biography and his works. I have been doing this for the past few days.


• My husband telling me that my timing was just right when I hopped in the car--he was playing Martin Nievera's "Be My Lady." This happened today.


• Eating salty and greasy chicharon.


• Having buffalo wings for dinner. My hubby cooked it.


• Writing this makes me feel good already.
  
  

I still have a few on my list but I do not want to make this entry very long. Until next time. Hugs!

8-Course Degustation

Degustation is the action or instance of tasting especially in a series of small portions. I was invited by no other than my husband to do just that.

My hubby is a student at CCA (Center for Culinary Arts) and he is now at level 8. Two more levels to go! I am so proud of him . I know how he worked so hard to get this far and I am sure that he is excited to become a Chef already. I am very confident that he will finish his course because he is a very hardworking man and is very much dedicated to what he does.


I have been invited to some of their activities at school, some I was not able to attend to. The latest was their Degustation which was held last night at CCA. They prepared an 8-course meal for their guests. They occupied a classroom and 3 laboratories (kitchen) for the said event. There was a seating arrangement and I was really surprised because what I thought was just a card where the guests names were written for seating arrangement purposes, was actually a card with a personal message written inside. I'd say it was romantic.


It was an 8-course degustation. The menu includes Amuse Bouche, Bulalo Consomme, Kilawin Tanigue, Sisig Ravioli, Kalamansi-Basil Sorbet, Pan-seared Besugo with Laing, Steak Kare-Kare, Maja Blanca Cheesecake and Sago.


The food was sumptuous, I should say. I loved the liver sauce for the lechon, the menu was called Amuse Bouche. Their Bulalo Consomme was the best. Consomme is a clear soup made from stock. Ingredients like the beef, corn, and vegetables were wrapped and fried. It was very interesting how they made the bulalo ingredients into a dumpling.


Other favorites were Sisig Ravioli and Pan-seared Besugo with Laing. The Sisig Ravioli was served with two sauces--pesto sauce made of olive oil, pine nuts, basil and garlic and a white sauce made of pork brain. The Pan-seared Besugo with Laing was sinful. The plating was so inviting, you can't help but dig in.

I hope I get invited again soon and I wish that it will be their own restaurant next time.

Tiny's New Baby

Honda City Model 1996

This is how the hood looked like before it was painted.

The battery is not even 6 months old.

...sigh

...transformations begins

I wanted it darker but it was not a decision for me to make.

The car is not yet finished.

We will see more of her soon...

Jologs Chic

We were never introduced formally...I thought it was not necessary. We have a common friend who posted a link about him on a social networking site. That is how I came across his blog. I was so amazed with what I saw when I visited his blog. It was like love-at-first sight. He is a genius. Oh, I am talking about Yek Balingit.


Yek is a Visual Artist for local fashion brands. His team are the ones designing/dressing the windows of shoppes. Aside from being a Visual Artist, Yek creates lovely neckpieces.


I added him as a friend on a social networking site and the rest is history. We met just today...I got myself a MIADORE. He took a picture of me wearing his creation and I was not prepared. Darn, I should have known!


His Miadore is now an official label at the House of Laurel. Yes, Rajo Laurel! He shared how Rajo grabbed him when he saw him at BED club. How cool is that, Rajo grabbing you because he adores your work? Yek also added that he was just there because a friend invited him. What a coincidence!


Visit Yek's blog and I'm sure you will be amazed as well.

Alyssa's Hierarchy of Rules

I have been taking the laptop to work for quite a while. That means my daughter (Alyssa) can't log in to my hubby's and my Facebook to play games. She can't visit YouTube to search Disney Movies' original sound tracks (with lyrics) and she can't play Moshi Monsters--her current favorite game.

I went home one day and found my notebook lying on the table. There was something written on it and I was very sure that it was not my handwriting. It was Alyssa's. That was not something new because she does scribble on my notebook about pretty much anything. What surprised me was the content.

She wrote rules... and take note of the hierarchy.

1. Listen to Mom and Dad.



2. Bring toy for Ate (pasalubong).



3. Do not bring the computer.

The kid sure knows how to bribe Mom and Dad, huh! I have to admit that this deal is not bad at all...and oh, let me add she is beside me while I am writing this and she said that I can bring the computer if it's buste

Alyssa, making a funny face

Easter Sunday Egg Hunt

My daughter was so excited about the Easter Egghunt that she insisted on buying plastic egg containers. We filled it with coins, chocolates and candies. She may not fully understand the whole concept but she is aware as to why we celebrate Easter Sunday.


Easter Sunday is the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Chist. According to scriptures, it was the day Jesus came back from the dead. To celebrate this, modern Christians and non-Christians alike go egghunt. It is relatively a new element.


Easter eggs are apparently hidden by the Easter Bunny for kids to hunt down Easter Sunday morning...and that is just what we did!

Aside from egg hunting, we usually get together as a family. Time for catching up and for sharing old memories. Sharing food each family prepares and kids just having fun and playing with their cousins. It also is a family reunion of some sort I guess.

CROCS MEGA SALE

I was at the Crocs Mega Sale today and managed to get two pairs, one for me and one for my son. My daughter insisted on buying a Play-Doh Magic Swirl Ice Cream Shoppe instead of a pair of Crocs. She got what she wanted of course...such a Daddy's girl.

Entrance was free since I have a Citibank credit card (one of the sponsors for this year's sale) and you are allowed to have one companion. I was alone though. For those who do not have Citi cards, the fee is P50.00. The sale will run until tomorrow.

It was very hard to get a pair because you have to search for sizes and their pairs in the sea of footwears. Adult sizes are either 8-9-10 or 4-5-6. My shoe size is between 7 to 8--depending on the style. I was lucky to get what I really wanted.

Most of the items on sale are for kids. From tiny footwears with different colors to sizes that fits a 13-year-old. Since I only planned to buy two pairs, I did not bother bringing a plastic bag but for those who plan to buy a truckload, I suggest you bring one.

UTI in Preschoolers

My daughter woke her father up one evening and asked him to buy medicine because her tummy aches. We gave her an antispasmodic/anticholinergic medicine because it was what the pharmacist recommended and we thought it was just a disturbance of some sort in her tummy. We were wrong. She was still complaining about stomach pain the next day so we took her to the hospital. She was diagnosed with Urinary Tract Infection or UTI.

She underwent tests like urinalysis and CBC--which she hated. It was hard to see her cry but these tests has to be done. There is nothing more painful than to see your kids get hurt and you know that there is nothing you can do. No amount of explanation and bribery can lessen the pain. I wanted to stop the procedure but I know that it was essential so I did not.

Although most doctors do not believe that Urinary Tract Infections are caused by poor hygiene, I still talked to her yaya and asked her how she washes her after defecating. I was relieved knowing that her yaya knows how to wash the right way--wipe her bottom from front to back. My daughter also takes a bath twice a day. It would not do any harm making sure that she is always clean.


I am left with one possibility, she is delaying her trip to the comfort room. My daughter's classroom is located at the second floor and their comfort room is located downstairs. According to articles I have read, regular urination flushes away bacteria. Holding in urine allows bacteria to grow and it also means keeping the muscles tight for a long time making it hard to relax when it is time to urinate. This results to a bladder not to empty completely.

There are several symptoms of UTI. My daughter had fever, abdominal pain and lesser trip to the comfort room. Signs also include painful urination, decreased ability to control the bladder and vomiting. Talk to a doctor if you suspect that your child is suffering from UTI. Untreated urinary infections can lead to a serious kidney damage.

Gamer's Cube Videogame Console Rentals

NBA 2K10, Tekken 6, Dante's Inferno, Bayonneta, Resident Evil 5, Final Fantasy XIII and Uncharted 2. These are just few of the games offered at GAMER'S CUBE. The shop is located at 2324 Suter Street, Sta. Ana Manila and is owned by a friend who loves playing games. He is very passionate when it comes to video games. I remember accompanying him hunt for video game discs. We did not stop until he got himself one.


He started December last year with 2 units of PS3 and 3 units of XBox. He is now looking into expanding by getting a bigger place and adding more units. His shop is not even six months old. Talk about good management. I say KUDOS to him.


His customers suggested to have a tournament and so he did. The first tournament was the NBA 2K10 and the winner took P2,000.00 home.


Gamer's Cube has a Facebook account and already has 75 fans. A good start. I'm actually a fan myself.


Putting up a business is never an easy task. Aside from the money, you also need time--a lot of it. This is a challenge specially for those who are employed like my friend. He has to juggle between his work and his business...add to that his personal life. Time and money are essential but not sufficient. I believe that one also has to be passionate with what one does in order to achieve the desired goal.

LIFE

It is interesting how things turn out. It could be something favorable to you or something you least expect... or should I say something you wished never happened.

I met with old friends today. One is a friend since grade school. He just arrived from overseas. It was fun revisiting grade school and high school memories. We shared future plans with our family over dinner. The dinner was on him of course but that was not the highlight of the night. We talked about future business deals. Something small and manageable. I hope it will push through. I am excited!

I also met with my other old pals from my "past life" after the dinner. We wen to a wake. A friend of ours lost a beloved at a very tender age. It was not a beautiful sight. I did not have the heart to peak inside the coffin. In fact, I don't even want to talk about it anymore. I'll zip it!

Today's happening kind of reminded me how precious but short and surprising life is. We never know what tomorrow brings.

HOT AIR BALLOON

My hubby was at the 15th Hot Air Balloon Festival held last February 5, 2010, Friday at Clark Field Pampanga. I was not able to join because I have work so I have to make do with the pictures taken by his friend. Thanks to Aldrich for lending me this wonderful pictures.

The activity started as early as five in the morning. Participants started preparing. There were about 20 to 25 participants according to my hubby.

There were interesting balloon figures like the turtle, the house, the sun (my daughter's favorite) and the beer. There was of course the usual balloon shape but they come in different colors and sizes.

Aside from the usual hot air balloons, there were gliders who added excitement to the show.




I assume that the Gliders are members of the Philippine Air Force. I could be wrong but never the less, they still are an added attraction.

Below are some of the pictures of the balloons at the Festival. These are the interesting ones.

When you say Hot Air Balloon Festival, you think of balloons only. Make this an exception. Aside from the usual flying of hot air balloons, there were booths (although there were no enclosures) where you can take pictures wearing military gears, guns, ammunitions and gadgets.

It also includes taking pictures with the military personnel and their toys/vehicles like the pump boat, military jeep, helicopters and planes. There were no fees involved...surprisingly.

All in all, it was probably an exhausting day but it was full of fun activities.

Grammy Awards

The recently concluded Grammy Awards was a sham. I am not a musician or a critique but TS winning album of the year? Seriously!


Aside from winning album of the year, TS also won the Grammy for the best female vocal performance. She was not able to give justice for the award she got that night...shammy.


Just a thought...what if Lady Gaga omits the production?


I love Lady Gaga but I love Pink more. It was an awesome performance...Pink, you ROCK!


Almost all had a production that night...It was all Lady Gaga's doing. She did set a trend.


RIP Michael Jackson. I love you.


Lady Gaga's costume freaked me out. Did she have it taped? LOL. I saw still pictures of her--she wore nothing!


There was a few close ups of Nicole Kidman. She was beautiful and all but I saw B-O-T-O-X spelled across her forehead. Her skin looks like it's made of plastic. She must have undergone polymerization...LOL


Grammy host Stephen Colbert was funny... I sooo love the iPad part.


I really liked Beyonce's eye shadow but not her performance. Enough with the production!


Green Day and American Idiot cast sung "21 Guns"...simply awesome!




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Valentine's Gift Ideas For Her

It's February and we all know that it is the LOVE month. Some may have bought their gifts for their wife's or girlfriend's already but for those who have no idea what to get their partner's, here are some gift ideas that might help.

Bib Necklace

This will really look nice on her plain white shirt-- price varies depending on where you purchased the item.

The Beat by Burberry

The last time I checked, this was around P4,700. You can grab one from almost all department stores.

Omnia Green Jade by Bvlgari

A 100ml of this costs P4,500 to P5,000. She will definitely love this!

Juicy Couture Wrist Watch

I saw this at Gateway...be ready with P9,000 to P12,000.

Flowers

Roses, roses, roses! You can never go wrong with flowers.





Whatever you decide to give your honey, at the end of the day it's still the thought that counts... I hope :)

Use Protection...

Yes, use protection...protection from the sun. I have been on the early morning shift for quite a while an I rarely get to experience being burned by the sun.



I left home 10:00 this morning because my work does not start until 12:30. I got basked with the burning rays of the sun and I was not ready for that. I had to wear my jacket even if it was warm and I was sweating all over.


I decided to search for products that would protect my skin from the sun.



These sunscreen products does not only protect your skin from the damaging rays of the sun but it also moisturizes and rejuvenates your skin.



1. Aveeno Sunblock Lotion (soy protein)
2. Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry- Touch (Vit A, C and E), can protect your skin for 5 hours.
3. NO-AD (alovera and cocoa butter), water resistant




Our face is one part of our body that is always exposed to the sun and we also need to protect it. Try products like Pond's Mend and Defend Intensive Protection Moisturizer with SPF15 and Olay Complete Defense UV Moisturizer with SPF30.


With enough and the right protection, you can still enjoy the sun...Happy summer!

Kyle's First Visit To The Dentist

Kyle is three and I want him to learn how "not to be afraid of the dentist" so I tagged him along and he had his first prophylaxis.




I remember growing up and going to a public school. Dentist's would come visit and provide free dental services. I would go hide under my mother's table--she is a teacher. I was scared back then because I had this idea that they randomly extract molars. I grew up scared of even just the thought of going to the dentist.


I know better now. Although I was not successful with my eldest, I'm not gonna let it happen to my son.