How Sweet

I love this picture sent by my cousin taken a week ago at Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, San Francisco. That's my sister! Inscribed on the sand is "Tita loves A" (my daughter's pet name). How sweet! Haha.

She has been living in the U.S. for two years now. She and my daughter are very, very close. They spent a lot of time together during my daughter's toddler years up to the start of her tween years. They are the ones left in the house since my husband and I go to our respective works. From the time my sister left she regularly gives my daughter a call and that is almost everyday, same thing my parents do. My sister and my daughter, they just click together. :)



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Mood: A little exhausted. Just finished helping my daughter review.
Music: Burnin' Up, Jonas Brothers (that's care of my daughter's cd playing right now)

Dear Heart

I was channel surfing yesterday afternoon when I chanced upon a scene with a very young Sharon Cuneta. I stopped clicking the remote control to see what movie could this be. Next scene showed yet again a very young Gabby Concepcion. I decided to watch it. After a few scenes I realized it was their first movie together, Dear Heart.

Boy, it was a trip down memory lane. I think the movie was around 1981 when I was in second year high school. Technically I was just supposed to be in 6th grade but I studied early. Anyway, there was a scene where Gabby paid for their snack - 2 burgers with 2 soda in can. It costs P12.00! These days value meal starts at around P35 pesos. That's how old this movie is. As old as some buildings in Cubao, Edsa I guess.

Sharon's "malling" scenes were shot mostly at Greenhills. A lot were taken at the famous Shoppesville. My high school friends and I frequent this place as well as Ali Mall in Cubao. Shoppesville is a teenager's haven back then. There's Gift Gate, Regina's (bags, apparel, and the like), Tickles (a novelty shop), Chocful O' Nuts (snack bar) and of course, Le Ching, home of my favorite spareribs! Vira Mall, Shoppesville......the land of Sperry Top Siders, argyle socks, espadrilles, Hanes, Levis' - these were the cool items during that time. The good old days.

One cannot turn back the hands of time. Reminiscing is both fun and sad. I'm glad to have great memories of my younger years. High school is one of the best years of my life. Right now I'd like to go back in time and be in high school once again. The first crush (well first intense crush, my first crush was actually when I was in fifth grade), first boyfriend and first love. My friends for life I earned when I was in high school. First dance, first party, first camping...a lot of firsts. I suddenly found myself browsing through our school's website. Memories, memories.

To be young and carefree. I miss that.

I was not able to finish the movie because I had an errand middle of it. But I was glad to have traveled back in time even for a few minutes. All I can say is I love my life, then and now.

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Mood: Nostalgic.
Music: Big Girls Don't Cry, Fergie

Amidst Busyness

It's crunch time both for me and my daughter. And hubby has never been busier too (whispers: he's always like that anyway, I'm used to it). My planning presentation is due in less than a week and I have not started on it because my day at work is spent for a budget presentation on Wednesday. On top of that are other functions that go with my job. And if I may say, I've open my own business venture more than a week ago which needs supervision too. I usually drop by there at night before heading home.

When I get home, I prepare my daughter's review sheets for her major subjects. Fate you might call it. Our two day annual business plan presentation falls on the same dates as my daughter's second mastery examinations. This means we are going to be very, very busy this week, especially this weekend. Breathe, breathe, breathe. These too shall pass...with flying colors. :)

To keep my mood up and about...


All these inspirational quotes and cute graphics from Sally Huss.

Calvin and Hobbes is still a favorite. They never fail to amuse me. :)



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Mood: Geeky.
Music: Out of My League, Stephen Speaks

All Good

There are a lot of things I have to be thankful for amidst my confusion. I would have written about some of these last Monday but it felt so good I just have to leave them on my thoughts for a while. I keep on repeating the word 'good', because they are, great even. :)

* I received a good news from one of my prospects. This really gave me the needed boost in my energy.
* I received a good review. It feels good that my capabilities are so trusted. The message is clear, in spite of my demands, I am needed where I am. It was really encouraging. It pays to be honest. It's all for fairness.
* I am thankful that I have overcome the pressure of a big presentation due in a week's time.
* I was late with my appointment this morning but still, the meeting went smoothly and the deal is on.
* My business endeavor is doing good progress. Keep them coming. :)
* My daughter is one of the contenders in their Science Quiz Bee. I am so proud of her! :)
* I was able to overcome laziness/exhaustion I attended our worship service tonight.
* I am thankful I know what I want, will stand by them, will live by them.

I don't have to look hard really. Blessings continue to pour in my life. I thank God for always bringing joy into my heart. I thank Him for letting me realize and feel that even mundane things can bring great joy in my life. :)

Be inspired and read on others' sharing on what they are thankful for. :)

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Mood: Grateful.
Music: Spell, Deon Estus

Kombi

Ang litratong ito ay kuha sa Cocorama, isang restaurant sa Shangrila. Maganda ang tema ng lugar na ito. Psychedellic, dekada sitenta. Makulay, flower power at ang isa nilang atrakasyon ay ang kombi - isang van na gawa ng Volkswagen na usong-uso noong panahong 70s.

(This was taken at Cocorama, Shangrila. The theme of this restaurant is psychedellic, back from the seventies. It's very colorful like reliving the flower power culture. One of its attractions is the kombi - a van manufactured by Volkswagen which was a hit in the 70s.)


Maganda ang pagkakagawa nila sa kombi na ito na ginawang dibisyon ng counter at kitchen. Cute at makinis ang pagkakapintura. Maitatanong mo sa sarili na luma na nga ba ito? Maganda ang pagkaka-restore. Nakatuwaang mag-pose ng aking anak sa harap nito. Peace sabi ng kanyang mga kamay. :)

(The combi serves as a division between the counter and the kitchen. It's nicely painted in red and has a very smooth finish. You would want to ask yourself if this is really an old car. Restoration is superb so to speak. My daughter fancied posing in front of the car. Peace men.) :)

Check more pictures here at Litratong Pinoy.

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Mood: Giddy.
Music: None. Am alone in the house and it's really quiet.

A Hearty Dinner :)

One of the activities I look forward to during weekends or whenever I don't have work is experimenting in the kitchen. I have been doing this for a long time now. I have not mastered the pots and pans, the slicing, chopping, mixing, garnishing and all things related to a successful cooking or baking. But I enjoy every minute of it. It's tiring and I am a mess in the kitchen but it's fulfilling.

I have always dreamed of a spic and span clean kitchen while I am cooking in the same way as how we see it on television. Think Rachel Ray, Giada, Barefoot Contessa and Ellie Krieger. No sweat. I don't think I can talk much while I'm preparing ingredients and focusing on the simmering mixture. Oh how I love to be like these great ladies in the near future.

Later this afternoon I tried my hand on a recipe from Yummy Magazine - pork binagoongan sa gata (pork in shrimp paste mixed with coconut milk). I am not that confident as how it will come off. I just cooked the way it was directed.

I love the smell of sauteed garlic, onion and tomato. Adding bagoong (shrimp paste) made it all the more appetizing. I have to say that for some people I know, the strong pungent smell is repulsive. Making the coconut milk is what I found a little hard. This was the first time I squeezed the juice of coconut using a cloth. I wasn't sure if I was doing the right thing. I just squeezed and squeezed until there's no more juice to squeeze.

We still had dinner on time, a little past seven in the evening. It took me an hour to prepare everything. It was my first time to hear an honest to goodness praise in my cooking. Even my daughter liked it. :) And so that capped our Sunday. Everyone's resting now. My daughter is sleeping. My husband's watching a Mark Wahlberg movie over at HBO and I'm blogging about my successful dinner. :)

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Mood: Accomplished.
Music: Tell Me Something I Don't Know, Selena Gomez (from my daughter's music files)

Beautiful Day

Things are going a little crazy the past weeks. It's creeping into me. It's starting to get the better of me. And I don't like it that way. I am always in control. The really important things are getting sidetracked again. I am agitated all because of the stress I am experiencing. There is no room for negativity. So I must eliminate the source of this "turmoil".

I will live up to my values and will not allow anything to ruin them. I will not go with the system but instead hold on to my principles and act accordingly. As it is and always shall be, my values should be aligned with the circle I move in.

I value work-life balance.
I value professionalism.
I value independence.
I value peace and harmony.

God is good. In my moment of confusion, He let me turn to Him again. "The Lord will guide you always, he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land. You will be like a spring whose waters never fail." (Isaiah 58:11)

Relax, smell the flowers. It's another beautiful day. :)

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Mood: Spreading the love.
Music: Blue Sky, Hale

Image from Getty Images.

Popcorn!

That's what we had for dessert instead of the left-over cake I bought the other day from Mary Grace. At least this has less fat, less sugar but high in fiber. :) I have been eating a lot of popcorn lately. And my daughter have been blurting "corn pop boy!!!" whenever her dad pops corn in the microwave oven. The expression came from Joe Jonas, you know this generation's tween obsession, from the great Jonas Brothers.

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Mood: Calm.
Music: Here I Am, Peggy (Camp Rock)

Luma Na (Something Old)

Ang laruang ito ay sampung taon at tatlong buwan na. Halos kasingtanda ng aking anak. Ito ang unang laruan na binili ng aking asawa ng isilang ko ang aming anak. Inilalagay namin ito sa gilid ng aming kama at sinusundan naman ng tingin ng aming anak kahit na siya ay ilang araw pa lamang noon. May malumanay itong musika kasunod ng pag-ilaw ng mga paa, mga kamay at ang puso ng teddy bear na ito.

(This toy is ten years and three months already. Almost as old as my daughter. This is the first toy which my husband bought when I gave birth to our daughter. We put this at the bed side where our newborn can turn her head to follow the blinking lights and the beautiful music.)

For other entries of anything old, you may visit Litratong Pinoy. And I also shared an old presidential plane at my other blog, Everything and then Some.....Take a peek. :)

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Mood: Excited.
Music: Say It Again, Marie Digby

Abe

I would like to share one of our weekends at Abe in Trinoma where we had gastronomic feast on choiced Filipino dishes. Surprisingly my daughter loved the morcon better instead of her all time favorite sugpo (giant prawn). I guess it's the way it was cooked. She loves her prawn simply as sinigang (cooked in sour soup) or just plain steamed dipped in lemon-butter sauce. The prawn we had was dipped in coconut milk. The funny thing is she chose to have a chocolate drink to go with the food. But then there's water after.

As for me and my husband, we love Abe's crispy tadyang (deep fried beef ribs). I wonder how they make this. It looks burnt but it's actually crispy in the outside but so soft and chewy in the inside. The wonders of cooking.



Sugpo sa Gata (Prawn in Coconut Milk)

Crispy Tadyang (Deep Fried Beef Ribs)

Morcon (Beef Meat Roll)

My drink and hubby's

Chocolate Drink
For rice eaters, you may order their rice per bowl good for one serving or their unlimited rice where you just call on the server if you want some more. There is not much difference with the price.

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Mood: Giggly.
Music: Summer Breeze, Jason Mraz

Ang Aking Kompyuter (My Computer)

Ito ang aking kompyuter na aking madalas gamitin kapag ako ay nasa bahay. Kaarawan nito noong nakaraang buwan, dalawang taon na. Espesyal ito sa akin dahil sa bigay ito ng aking pinakamamahal na Tatay. :)

(This is my computer which I often use when I'm at home. It turned two years last month. This laptop is very special to me because it was given by my dear, dear father.)


Minsan ay hinihiram ng aking anak ang kompyuter kong ito dahil sa wala namang Fate na naka-install sa kanyang kompyuter. Hindi ko alam kung ito ay nada-download sa mga game sites. Ito ay isang laro na sinasabing isang role playing game. Ang larong ito ay isang add-on sa aking kompyuter.

(There are times my daughter borrows my laptop because a game called Fate is installed here which her computer does not have. I have no idea if this game can be downloaded as trial version from gaming sites. It's a role playing game. This game is already installed as an add-on in my computer.)

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Mood: Full
Music: Dancing Queen, Abba