A Minnie Mouse Party

My adorable little niece turned one this month and her Minnie Mouse party was colorful, fun and exciting. Everyone had a blast!

Minnie Mouse Decorations

Minnie Mouse cake

Minnie Mouse favors

Minnie Mouse mugMinnie Mouse puppet showMinnie Mouse game host

Minnie Mouse pinata

and of course, the birthday girl wearing her Minnie Mouse costume

Recipe: Stir Fried Scallops

Cooking home meals rather than dining out is one of the surest way to save money. And not only that, you can make sure what you're eating is clean, delicious, and healthy too.

I have all the time now to experiment new dishes so my first attempt is called Stir Fried Scallops. This quick recipe is good with white rice or crispy noodles.

What You Need to Prepare:
-wok or large skillet
-two small pans

Ingredients:
First set:
-3/4 cups scallops, washed and drained
-small garlic, crushed and finely chopped
-small onion, finely chopped
-small fresh ginger, crushed and finely chopped
-white wine
-1 teaspoon salt
-1/2 cup chicken broth
-olive oil
-sesame oil


Second set:
-olive oil or canola oil
-medium onion, sliced
-1 small can of mushrooms
-broccoli, blanched
-cauliflower, blanched
-1/4 cup oyster sauce
-1/2 tablespoon cornstarch dissolved in water

Let's start cooking:

1. Blanch the broccoli and cauliflower in a small pan for three to four minutes.

2. In another small pan, add olive oil over medium heat. Add garlic, onion and ginger. Add the scallops. Cook for one minute. (This part is very fragrant!) Drizzle with white wine and sesame oil. Add salt and chicken broth. Cover and let stand for another two minutes. Then remove from heat.

3. Heat olive oil in wok or large skillet. Add sliced onions and mushrooms. Push mushrooms to the side of the wok. Place precooked scallops and blanched vegetables at the center of the wok. Toss to mix. Add oyster sauce and dissolved cornstarch. Season and stir fry for about two to three minutes until the sauce thickens.

Serve with love!

NOTES:

1. You can buy frozen scallops in SM Hypermarket. 500 grams is around Php250.

2. Feel free to add more vegetables like carrots, asparagus, or baguio beans. Adding prawns to this recipe will also be a good idea.

3. While blanching the veggies, you can precook the scallops to have a better blend of flavors and save time as well. You can cook this meal in less than ten minutes!

Bed Weather

January and February of each year are usually the cold months in the Philippines. But there's something different with the weather this year. I grew up in the Philippines and I've never felt this cool breeze of air in our city before. The 17°C temperature is also consistent throughout the past days and nights. We're like living in Baguio City which is the coldest place in the country. (According to the news, the temperature in Baguio is almost 07°C today.) These exceptional colder days bring out my hibernating mode... and I'm not enjoying it.

My faithful alarm wakes me up at seven in the morning but these January winds and weak light are pulling me back beneath the sheets. This somber weather also frustrates my sports minded and physically active hubby. Gilbert has tendencies to hit the couch any moment too but I'm trying to motivate him in sticking with his exercise routine.

Close friends can affirm how much I prefer warm, sunny days with the blue sky, or fruit shakes and barbeque beside the beach. But I guess, I need to live up to it especially now they're saying that the earth is on the brink of Ice Age. Whoa! Let's prepare for that, just in case. (Source: http://english.pravda.ru/science/earth/106922-0/)

I was thinking of ways on how I can stay fit and at the same time, be more creative at home when the weather is this gloomy. So here goes my list:

1. Make myself busy - First thing that came to my mind is to do my household chores. I'm hitting two birds with one stone. Oooppss, make that three! Our little home is cleaner than ever. I have a fit and toned body through stretching. I'm being productive despite this chilly weather. Yippie! I started to clear off a section in our already too cluttered closet for our cold gear - jackets, scarfs, and thick socks.

2. Drink water - EVEN IF I am not thirsty. Remember that a person can be dehydrated in the cold as in the summer season. 8 to 10 glasses of water everyday is still advisable. Besides, it'll keep myself internally moisturized and prevent dry skin.

3. Care for my skin - When temperatures drop, it also zap the moisture on our skin. I replenish it by using mild soap to clean my face every morning and before I sleep. I also exfoliate and scrub my skin before showering at least once a week. And lastly, moisturize using a lotion everyday with a natural ingredient. Organic is better.

TIP: You can apply lotion on your feet at night and cover them with cotton socks to keep them moisturized. Believe it or not, I got this idea from my brother. He's a bit vain.

4. Exercise for my heart - At the end of the day, I'll enjoy the cold, quiet moment with the person I love. We'll drink that hot brewed coffee while exchanging stories and snuggling up! Surely, this is the best cure for cabin fever.

I guess this bed weather is not that bad after all.

Future Fashion Model

Philippine Fashion models have a new competitor on the rise - my niece.


Quintin enjoyed every minute of her first birthday photo shoot. No wonder she was featured Baby of the month.


When we came back to get a copy of her pictures, we were all delighted to see her charming smile on the shop's advertisement. Of course, the beaming grandpa snapped a souvenir of his grand daughter's public photo and proudly announced "This is my grand daughter!" .

Photos from Colorado Photo, SM Pampanga

Hotel Vida - A Review

August 8, 2008 was detox time from our busy lives as we took a day off and spent an overnight stay at Hotel Vida. This hotel is a true gem! It is located in Clark Special Economic Zone, Angeles City and it is nearby all that you would want to do in and around Clark.


What I like about it: It took me only about 15 minutes to make a phone reservation. We were then entertained promptly when we arrived. Our junior suite room was decorated exquisitely. We even have fresh fruits as welcome tokens for our stay.

The kitchen was very cozy with its modern style furniture.

Gilbert enjoyed the spacious living room and the comfy trundle bed.

The pool side view from our soft bed is also marvelous and the ambiance is very relaxing. All hotel staff were courteous and accommodating.

Salt Cafe/Restaurant was also excellent for fine dining. Waiters and chefs served us with a smile. Well worth the money!

What needs to be improved: First, they could have used bigger bathtubs in the hotel rooms. Don't get me wrong. The tub is clean and comfortable to soak in but my 5'11 hubby just couldn't fit in. I also realize that the tub is really small because water is rolling off the bath tub side and sliding off the edge when we shower. Second, when I made our reservation, I was guaranteed that Wi-Fi connection is free of charge. When we got our total bill, I was surprised to see an additional Php500 charge for Internet. Well, I was totally in-love with the place so I didn't protest about the misunderstanding anymore. We were very satisfied overall. We highly recommend it to our friends and relatives.

My ratings for this hotel are:
4 of 5 = Check in / front desk
5 of 5 = Quality of Service
5 of 5 = Value for Price
4 of 5 = Rooms (Bathroom, Kitchen, etc.)
5 of 5 = Cleanliness

You can view more about Hotel Vida by visiting their site: http://www.hotelvidaclark.com/

A Ten Minute Chat

On my way to meet my sister-in-law in Clark, I got an intriguing text message from a good friend, Inna, so I rushed to eTelecare to meet her.

I saw her from afar with a big grin. We hugged each other firmly and at an instant, we were just like crazy radio actors narrating all the highs and lows of our lives. Imagine us chatting about these topics which were flowing sporadically in averagely ten minutes.

-She shared about the current status of their employment.
-I ached for her work concern.
-She confessed how sad she felt for recently arguing with another colleague/friend.
-I assured her it won't stain their relationship.
-She declared how happy she is now as a married woman.
-I attested the truth of her statement.
-She told me about Naning's health status after a minor home accident. (Naning is Cleo's daughter.)
-I praised my friend Cleo for being a super mom.
-She broke the news that she's three days delayed!
-I was ecstatic and advised her to see her OB Gyne right away.
-She stressed that she'll take care of herself for her baby.
-I encouraged her to try thebump.com online for her baby planner.
-She reminded me of the time and my appointment with my sister-in-law.
-I squeezed her tightly and thanked her for a lovely chat.
-She beamed a wide smile and kissed me goodbye.

So I drove away with mixed emotions - wishing I could stretch the time.

Recipe: Crispy Fried Chicken

An ordinary, quiet evening is enough for you to try this simple, good for two recipe. It's easy to prepare and an absolute favorite! Preparation time is less than ten minutes and estimated cooking time is about 30 minutes.


What you need to prepare:
-Deep Fryer
-plastic storage bag
-two bowls
-tissue paper


Ingredients:

-chicken drumstick, 4 pieces
-1 teaspoon salt
-1 teaspoon pepper
-1/2 teaspoon of Aji Ginisa Flavor Mix (or garlic powder)
-1 cup all-purpose flour
-1/2 cup milk
-1 egg
-breadcrumbs

-canola oil for frying

Let's start cooking:

1. Clean the raw chicken with water and pat to dry. Rub the chicken with salt and pepper. Let stand for one to two minutes.

2. Pour all-purpose flour and Aji Ginisa (or garlic powder) in plastic storage bag. Add the drumstick before sealing the bag. When completely sealed, turn chicken to coat evenly.

3. Beat the egg lightly in a medium bowl and add milk. Spread the breadcrumbs in another bowl. Meanwhile, heat frying pan with canola oil.

4. Dip the chicken in egg mixture then roll the chicken in the bowl of breadcrumbs.

5. Deep fry in medium heat until cooked in a lovely golden brown color. Repeat Step Four with remaining chicken. Drain on kitchen towels to remove excess oil before serving.

NOTES:

*Make sure that both the fryer and cooking oil are extremely hot before deep frying.

*Cook the chicken in medium heat. High heat will make your chicken golden brown but not cooked through.

*Try a mixture of Del Monte Catsup and Low Fat Mayonnaise for your dip.

I'll share with you my coleslaw and other side dish recipe next time. Enjoy your meal! Yum!

my priceless blessing

Gilbert and I are seriously, annoyingly affectionate with lots of everyday hugs, winks and kisses. Today marks the fourth year of our married life and it still feels like we've just met. I learn something new from him and about him each passing time. Well, he's definitely not a saint with his flaws but his generosity and honest love overshadow them. He's a matured, sensible man with a waggish humor.

Our life together is like climbing a tall mountain. Naturally there are many inherent difficulties on our way to the peak, but we stop once in a while to appreciate the miracles we receive each day. We try not to set our eyes on the steeps, stony or icy paths we ascend because seeing only those will make our climb useless.

We do have a long way to go but just being with him in this journey is one of my priceless blessings.

my inner bride avatar

Found this amusing inner bride avatar from theknot.com. It kept me busy the whole night!

You can create your own wedding bride, choosing all the details - from your skin type to your personal accessories. It's a cute way of seeing an animated version of your bridal look.

This is my cartoon wedding look in January 2004 (church wedding):

closer view

I would also want to celebrate and renew our marriage vows on our tenth year anniversary. Just for fun, here's how I would want to look like on that day.

closer view

Create one now using this path (http://weddings.theknot.com/myinnerbride/) and share it with your friends! Have fun!

Money-Saving Resolutions

In 2009, I am committing to these money-saving resolutions.

- It'll break my heart but I need to ditch my designer coffee habit. It gave me palpitations years ago so I promised not to drink coffee anymore. Well as they say, promises are made to be broken. My hectic schedule as a trainer pushed me to drink that tempting, aromatic liquid again. So this year, instead of heading to SM Clark Starbucks, I'll settle with a cup of Nescafe classic at home.

- Goodbye to my credit card debt. I’ll need extra discipline to ignore whatever heels or lingerie that will catch my eye until I’ve paid my balance.

- Settling my bills online will save me both time and energy instead of going personally to the bank. Besides, I will have real time access to my income and expenses so BIG thanks to BPIExpressOnline!

- I will allocate a little more on our lot amortization. Allotting an additional Php5,000 a month on our current paying plan will save me around Php40,000 and I could pay it off over two years early.

- Sticking to my monthly budget is a bit difficult. If I can't keep up to it, I will try budgeting expenses weekly. It's always wise to know where our income is going and it'll help me determine any unnecessary expenses.