Sydney's First Bath

Happy & smiling but clueless...

Yummy shampoo...

Looking cool...

Clueless, of what will the husband do to her. Sydney had her first bath yesterday. She's very cool about it. I did not even saw her hesitated of what was going to happen, not even a single cry for help! Seemingly, she enjoys the experience so much. Just look at the pictures.

8-8-08

Many say today is a lucky day because of the series of 8's in the date. According to Feng Shui, eight is a lucky number because of how you write it. It's always going upward. Yeah, whatever! By the way, Feng Shui is the ancient Chinese practice of harmonizing the built-environment with spiritual forces. Personally, I don't believe in that stuff. I strongly believe that God created everything beautiful and equal. It's how we perceive and see things that makes them unlucky or lucky to begin with. So, whatever number or day it is... It's a new day. A new life. It's up to us how will we make the day to be lucky or not. Have a great day ahead to all!!! (",)

Hancock & Sunflower Seeds

Hancock is not the typical superhero story that's action packed. It's more about the character and his life with superhuman powers. Though, it had poor to average reviews. I kinda like the story because there's a twist that is different from the superhero movies I've watched before. Maybe it will have a sequel. The effects of the movie are great. Like always, Will Smith who plays John Hancock, is a hunk and co-star Charlize Theron who is one of my favorite actresses, is a knock-out! If you want to read the plot of the movie, just click here. By the way, as we are watching... my two boys munched happily with this sunflower seeds you see in the photo above. They both love seeds and nuts, that we call "kutkutin". This is what Wikipedia says about this yummy sunflower seeds.

Arte y Pico Award

I’ve been awarded with this by Meg, a fellow blogger. This made me feel so good.

The rules for passing this honor on:

1) Pick 5 blogs that you would like to award this honor to.
2) Each award has to have the name of the author and also a link to his or her blog to be visited by everyone.
3) Each award winner has to show the award and put the name and link to the blog that has given her or him the award itself.
4) Award-winner and the one who has given the prize have to show the link of “Arte y Pico” blog, so everyone will know the origin of this award.

The award goes to the following bloggers, Merlyn, Enday, Carol, Joy & Ericka

Dating 101

Tagged by Eds. Thanks girl!

Players: Ozzy’s Mom | Me,Myself + 2 | Kidd Designs | Fun.Fierce.Fabulous | Me and Mine | Little Peanut | Pea in a Pod | Creative in Me | Notable Bistro | Sugarmagnolias |Around the World | Eds Mommy Life | My Precious Niche | Just Me.. Eds | D' Cooking Mudra | ISL Family | Pinoy Merienda Classics ATBP | YOUR BLOGS

1. When was your first kiss and where?
..::.. way back 1992.

2. When was your first real relationship and how long did it last?
..::.. I had only one and now he's my hubby. We dated for 7 years then got married.

3. What age were you allowed to date?
..::.. My Mom is liberated about having relationships with the opposite sex, no age in particular.

4. What’s the craziest thing you did (for love) when you were a teenager?
..::.. Everyday, I wrote him a letter. I compiled it. Send it weekly to him. And vice versa. We did that for about three years tapos nagsawa na rin paminsan-minsan na lang :)

5. How long was your longest relationship and what’s the secret?
..::.. Like I said, I had only one boyfriend. He's my husband now. Hmmm, secret... I guess, accepting the good & bad side of each other, learning to compromise, respect & love, of course!

6. How long did you date before you decided to settle down?
..::.. 7 years

7. How did you know he was the ONE?
..::.. I just know!

8. Now, at what age will you allow your kids(s) to date?
..::.. Like my Mom, no age in particular. Just as long he's mature enough to handle relationships.

9. When it comes to your kids dating, will you be a cool parent or a strict parent?
..::.. A little of both.

10. What piece of advice can you give to your child when they start dating?
..::.. You are only young once, so enjoy your youth, never rush things.

Tagging: Everyone in my blogroll!

"Ginisang Upo Sa Giniling" (Bottlegourd Saute With Ground Pork)

Ingredients:

• 2 tbsps vegetable oil
• 3 cloves of finely minced garlic
• 1 large red onion, halved & sliced thinly
• 1/3 cup (50 grams) of lean ground pork
• 1/2 tsp of cracked peppercorns
• 1-1/2 tbsp fish sauce (patis)
• 1 pc (1.15 kilo) bottlegourd (upo), slice at 1" x 1/8" cubes
• 1 sachet (8 grams) all-in-one seasoning granules
• 3/4 cup water

Procedure:

In a wok, heat over medium-high fire. Put oil and garlic. Saute until garlic is golden brown. Follow with onion. Cook until limp. Add ground pork, cracked peppercorns and fish sauce. Stir-fry until aromatic. Put the rest of the ingredients. Mix well. Lid on. Cook until veggie is done but not overcook.

Serve with any fried meat or fish and steamed rice.

Yen's QOTW #26

1. How is the weather like outside?
Gloomy & wet.

2. If you’re given an hour to raid a closet of a blogger friend who would you choose? And what would you get?
It would be you, Yen... LOL! A LV bag :) hehe!

3. Do any of you know why we sneeze? Where did “God Bless You” originate?
A little, its a way of expelling foreign substance in the air passage or nose. That one, the God bless you part... no idea whatsoever!

4. Which is worse? Finding a bug in your sandwich or a very curly hair in your soup?
Curly hair in my soup... gross!

5. What is the color in your room you are in right now?
pink & lavender

6. If I asked every person that you’ve kissed, they’d say that your kisses are tentative, wild, intense, or sweet?
Intense but sweet.

7. Which do you prefer, Not eat for lunch or not eat for supper? Why?
Not eat supper. To have a long peaceful sleep.

8. It’s August already, which month so far was the best month ever? Why?
April. When we had our summer vacation at Puerto Galera.

9. If you could write a book that was guaranteed to be published, what would it be about?
Food, of course!

10. If there was an extra hour in the day, what would you spend it doing?
Go to a spa and have a full body massage.

WW - Blue, Red & Yellow Flowers

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Pillsbury Fried Chicken

It's not a recipe from Pillsbury but one ingredient from them. I have a Pillsbury coating mix sitting in my pantry for sometime now. It was free from the Pillsbury pancake flour I bought. I was curious how it tasted but I did not want to follow the instructions how to use it. As for my experience in the past, breading mix usually has a high content of sodium. If you use it like the instructions say. The chicken is very salty on the outside but bland inside. And I don't like that. What I did, is to marinate 3 chicken leg quarters, weighing about 800-900 grams, each cut into three & pierced for several times with a fork, with a teaspoon each of iodized coarse salt & finely ground black pepper, a good dash of garlic powder and half a tablespoon of liquid seasoning or you can also use light soy sauce, whatever you prefer. Set aside for 15-20 minutes. Meanwhile heat the pan with lots of cooking oil, about two cups. In a paper bag, put 6 tablespoons of all-purpose flour, 1/4 teaspoon of paprika and 3 tablespoons of Pillsbury coating mix. Mix well until blended. Put the chicken, shake and tumble until chicken is fairly coated. Deep-fry in medium heat until golden brown. Drain in paper towels. Serve with catsup.

Pandan Plant

Lots of Pandan plants in our backyard.

New sprouts of baby Pandan plants showing its roots.

My Pandan-flavored steamed rice.

Pandan or Screwpine is well-known in Southeast Asian Cuisine. It is commonly used to add aroma to rice and curry dishes. Personally, every time, I cook steamed rice. I made sure to put some leaves tied in a knot just after boiling. It renders a sweet-herby smell that lingers all through-out the house which is a very nice and comforting fragrance for me. Pandan is also a medicinal plant. You can use its leaves for healing wounds, headache, athiritis and stomach spasms. As for its roots, it is believed to have aphrodisiac properties. An herbal alternative for viagra. Just boil its roots with some water and drink like a tea. That's what my Uncle said... LOL! I also read that Pandan leaves are also used to make baskets and bags. I have several Pandan plants in my backyard that was planted by my Mom. But I'm the one now caring for them because my mother is living with my bro in Davao. Shown above are some of the photos of my Pandan plants.

WS - Tempura, Shrimp Flavored Snack Chips

Last Saturday, after several hours of waiting for my kiddo to finish his school dance practice & ballet class. We went home straight. Had a late lunch. I took a nap for an hour. Then, the husband loaded the Pirates Of The Carribean At World's End for us to watch. While doing so, we munched on this shrimp flavored snack named Tempura. Which by the way is yummy and not that salty like the other chips I tasted.

Manic Monday #128

Using no more than 10 nouns, and ONLY nouns, describe yourself.
Mother, Wife, Sister, Daughter, Friend, Cook, Homemaker & Photographer Wannabe

If you owned your own store, what would you sell?
Of course, Food!

If you were to name the most comforting thing for you to hold in your hands, what would it be?
My little boy's hands.

Fish Cracker

I've learned to eat foodies like this from my Mom. She loves "kutkutin", that's what she calls the food that you have to eat one by one and very slowly but very addictive. It seems you can't have enough. A traditionally Filipino style junk food. I guess, it's not really junk because it is made out of fish, flour and egg. Best dip in garlic-vinegar. I haven't been able to cook this but I love buying them. They are usually sold inside the bus and small stalls in terminals. But my Mom is a suki of a vendor who sells fish cracker that she drops by our house monthly to sell this to us.

Kaffir Lime Tree

I bought this Kaffir Lime tree several months ago at Manila Seedling Bank in Quezon Avenue. It has tripled its size now. When I got it, it was just about 5 inches tall. I'm so amazed by its appearance. It has double petal and very thorny. The husband said that all citrus plants are like that. I think so, because the Philippine Lemon plant we have is also like that. I've read so many Asian recipes, particularly Thai and Malaysian that include Kaffir Lime in their ingredients. One of these days, I'm going to try it. I just wanted my Kaffir Lime to get a little bigger before I start using their leaves for my cooking delight.

Click here to see what Wikipedia says about Kaffir Lime.

Yen's QOTW #25

Join here.

1. Your true happiness?
The husband and Lil'One.

2. Which is more embarrassing to you? Walking with toilet paper on your shoe or with your pants unzipped?
Pants unzipped

3. Would you rather be gossiped about or never talked about at all?
neither.

4. Would you rather find one million dollars or find true love?
I'd go for the first coz I already found my true love, harhar!!!

5. Which is worse? Foot odor or armpit odor?
Armpit odor.

6. Who would you want to meet? Snoopy, Mickey Mouse, Garfield, or Bugs Bunny? Why?
Mickey. I haven't been to Disneyland.

7. Would you rather have wheels or wings?
Wings.

8. How do you feel about haunted houses? Would you visit one?
Exciting. Yup, I would like to visit one.

9. Which would be worse? Bleeding to death or starving to death?
Starving to death.... I love foods (",)

10. Which is worse? Stepping in a dog poo or sitting in gum?
Stepping in a dog poo. Eeewww!

WW - Caldereta Meal From Red Ribbon

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No Water!

It's been a week since we got no water. The pipes before our water meter is broken. That's why it's only us who do not have water supply in our neighborhood. I've reported it to the authority which is Maynilad Water Services but still no repair have been made. Hay.... Well, to be fair, after 3 days of my complaint. Someone from Maynilad came to see what's wrong. Guess what? They just look at it, never told the husband when will they come back to fix it and left. Until now, we still have no water. Fortunately a few houses from us. They sell water for php2.50 per container. For now, it will do but imagine the hassle! I'm so pissed off! Grrr! Looking at the brighter side, the husband and Li'lOne have a bonding time together. They are the ones who are fetching water, hehe! At least, my kiddo experienced the hardship of no water supply from the faucet directly. Sometimes, or i may say, oftentimes, experience is the best teacher. It taught my kid to value and appreciate and never waste water!