Shopping Lists

Dear Son,

Everyday, your shopping lists for Dadday is growing.This is your way of saying goodbye to Dadday whenever he goes back to the office after having lunch with us, (yes, he's been joining us for lunch since we moved to this new place in Sanabis a month ago):"Dadday, I like balloons, lollipop, windmill, kite and mirror."You've just added mirror today, after seeing a magnifying glass (I think, and not a mirror)from Kiper (one of your favorite TV show).

The yoyo is off the list, since Tito Oliver gave you one a few weeks ago.

I hope that the items on the lists will remains as simple as these, not high-end toys like PS3 (if I'm not mistaken, not familiar with this).

I love you son and please don't grow too fast.

Love,

Mommay

Isaiah 40:31

~source

Sorry

Sorry blog for neglecting you.I am quite busy, with another blog.I hardly write there anyway, so don't be jealous.As if I write here.

The other blog is all about weddings.Now I know what my dream wedding is.Garden cum tent wedding and with green as motiff.

If I could just get married again, with the same man, of course.

Documentation

This is very important, particularly with my profession.

~via www.quote-book.tumblr.com

Another movie quote

~ via www.thinkmei.tumblr.com

Dream bath

Presenting my dream bath.

~ Source

Philippians 3:20

I love this .

~source

Bad yesterday,hopefully good today

I did not only start the day wrong yesterday by eating corn muffins, but I spent the day munching on carbs (chocolate, cereals and rice). I really need to be consistent and avoid these kinds of food, foods rich in sugar.

Today is another day. I had green tea sweetened with Sweet N 'Low this morning and I had my aerobics afterwards.I hope to spend the day eating the right foods.

Lord, please help me become consistent and to have the discipline in order to be fit and healthy.

Bargain Hunters

Bargain hunters, that's what we were yesterday.We finally bought our furnitures from a Flea Market yesterday.Yes, we got all our furnitures from there after all those mall trips.The furnitures are not high end, but I don't mind.Anyway , we are not furnishing our own home.If we decide to leave, we will be leaving the furnitures behind anyhow.

We're moving to a cheaper flat in a couple of days.But we would have to give up these luxuries; a lift, swimming pool and a gym.The flat is on the first floor, so we really don't need to have a lift.Baby G loves to have a dip in the pool often, but with the scorching heat, it is not a good idea, even at nightime.We might just as well go to an indoor pool.And the gym, as much as I want to go there everyday, I can't, not with the little boy.And hubby wouldn't allow me to go on my own, fearing that I would get dizzy and pass out.

The flat is semi furnished.It is budget friendly compared with all the others that we've seen with all the house hunting we've done.And it is conveniently located near all the 3 major malls here and near hubby's workplace.He could go home for lunch now.

We got these extra furnitures from our original mall budget: TV stand, book shelf, dresser and a cupboard.Not bad at all.And the sofa is custome made, I chose the fabric myself, with the approval of hubby of course.

My son was bathing in his own sweat when we went to the Flea Market but it was worth it with the bargains that we got.My haggling skills were put to a good use.LOL.

After our flea market trip, we went to the mall and dined. Afterwards, Baby G had his first full lenght picture from the big screen.It 's none other than, Shrek.He enjoyed it well, the first half, that is.He got bored with the other half and decided to have a snooze. I was worried that he would make noise like he might cry, luckily he did not.But he made some other type of noise.He was naming everything that he saw from the screen, out loud.

Wrong move

I was about to exercise this morning, then I decided I wanted to have coffee before I start.But, I didn't have just coffee.I didn't only have one but two corn muffins with it.Bad, bad, bad.

I better rest the oven for a while with my baking.I really need to shed a lot of weight.But, I don 't know if the scale I recently used is accurate. It must be accurate because it's a hospital equipment.If that is indeed accurate, it means that I lost 4.5 kg in a span of one month.I can't believe it because I 'm not seeing any difference.

Off I go, I better start with my aerobics while the little boy is still fast asleep.Ciao.

Luke 11:13

~source

Psalm 19:1-2

~ source

Multi-colored cake

It must be very time consuming and tricky to bake this cake.I wonder if each layer comes with a different flavor.Or maybe not.The taste might be very complicated if that is the case.Whatever, it is picture perfect.

~ Photo is from here

Cupcake

I'm planning to make vanilla cupcakes soon, perhaps on my son's birthday.I 'm hoping that I could imitate this one.It looks so yummy and cute, isn't it?

I need to practice how to pipe buttercream frosting.I also need to replace our electric mixer, it resigned last week when I made some Goodie Bars. I don't intend to spend a lot of time whipping creams just to make frosting.

We went to a bakeshop last night and we were surprised how expensive custome made cakes are.So, I told my husband that I would just make a cake for Baby G or we'll just buy in Carrefour.I 'm not ready to spend a lot of money for a piece of birthday cake.Even if it's for my child.Call me stingy.

~ Image swiped from http://www.justbesplendid.tumblr.com/

Car's gender is...

While inside the car yesterday, Baby G said, "Oh, bumpy ride, the car hurt himself."

LOL.How did you know that our car is a male? Our car's name is Sam by the way, short for Samson and Samuel.

Forgiveness

- Taken from here

Hope

I hope to find faith and love.
~source

It's Noynoy and Binay

As I write this, I'm watching GMA News and the press conference of the President-elect Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III has just started.He 's being bombarded with questions, particularly about the problems he has to face as the next President of the Philippines.

Thank goodness for the success of the first ever automated elections.I think Mar Roxas who lost for the vice-presidency is still trying to question the results.Apparently, he lost by around 600,000 votes and there were about 2.5 million null votes.But, what if those null votes has got more votes for Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay?

Anyhow, the Filipino people decided to elect, hopefully what they thought were the best people to lead the country towards economic prosperity and for the betterment of the Filipino people.

Matthew 7:13-14

~source

Another proposal by Julia Roberts

I'm just a girl, standing in front of a boy, asking him to love her - Anna Scott played by Julia Roberts in Nothing Hill

Speaking of Nothing Hill, I miss the place, errr.. the tube station.I change line there on weekends when there are engineering works.I miss the musicians, one of them sounded like Brian Adams.

I miss London in general.

Proposal

Look, I guarantee there'll be tough times. I guarantee that at some point, one or both of us is gonna want to get out of this thing. But I also guarantee that if I don't ask you to be mine, I'll regret it for the rest of my life, because I know, in my heart, you're the only one for me -Maggie Carpenter played by Julia Roberts in Runaway Bride

I remember RJ, a former flatmate who knows these lines by heart.

Nighttime potty training

Baby G is now potty trained during the day with both no.1 & 2.I need to start potty training him during the night sooner rather than later.

Here are some tips which I got from here:

-Explain to him what he needs to do.
-Take him to the toilet before he goes to bed.
-Make sure he has a night light on somewhere for him to be able to see where and what he is doing.
-Make it clear to him that she is able to call you for help if he wants it.
-It may well be a good idea to wake him and take him to the toilet before you go to bed to begin with.

I will have to buy a mattress protector first and some pull ups before I start potty training the little boy at night.Oh no, he's not little anymore.He's a big boy now.

Someday

Yes, I'm dreaming of going to this place someday.I can imagine myself walking around the place with a beautiful hat.Oh, it is so nice to dream and believe in the One who can make them come true.

~photo is from here

Want

I really want this.The mural,that is.And the geometric pattern of the cushion covers.

~source

Habakkuk 3:19

~source

Red Polka Dots Teapot

I love to be photographed even if I'm not worthy to be photographed.I always find interesting places and opportunities to catch and preserve the memories through photos.

I would like to have a photo of me taken in here.I wonder where this is.There's a double decker red bus behind.It must be in London.

~photo source

How to remove oil stains

I always have this problem.It's because I don't wear an apron when I cook.

Here are some tips which I got from a program from the UK.

From carpets: Place kitchen towel over the spill and apply a cool iron to the other side to draw the grease up into the paper. Shampoo the carpet.

From fabric: Use a pre-wash stain treatment or rub liquid laundry detergent into the fabric before washing in as hot a wash as the fabric can take. If the stain is persistent, repeat the process.

From upholstery: Cover the stain with talcum powder. Allow to dry then vacuum off. If the stain persists, try dabbing with methylated spirits (test on an inconspicuous area first) or a proprietary stain remover.

I still have to see if it's effective.

Lovely Kitchens

I wouldn't mind having one of these fantastic kitchens.Dream on...

~All photos taken from this website

Dream Houses

These aren't my dream homes.These are too big for me and my family.I just love their porches.

~all photographs were taken from here

Healthy Oils

So much has been said and written about the goodness of canola oil and olive oil.I'm joining the bandwagon, because I have to.I must say that they are not budget friendly.But,since I have to change the way I cook forever,it means that we've been using less oil.

I use canola for sauteeing, can't live without this method of cooking, although I could drop this off.Web rush a little olive oil to fish and poultry when we steam,grill and oven bake them.I use the spray to grease baking pans and cookie sheets.

Goodbye frying and saturated fats, hello good cholesterol.

Always be ready...are you?

~source

One of my fave

This is one of my fave verses which I found here.

Psalm 90:2,4

Yet another lovely illustrated verse from here.I'll make it a point to repose all their illustrated verses here daily.

Money management for wives

According to Elizabeth George, author of A Wife After God's Own Heart,"we should make a commitment to God to do a better job with His resources and money,and do our best to manage our parts as wives of the family finances."

She further wrote that we should:

• Pray - managing God's money is not only a spiritual issue requiring spiritual disciplines and character qualities, but it is a matter of obedience.
• Give - because God asks us to.
• Save - because it will better your family.
• Budget - because it maps out the path for your lifestyle.
• Do without - because a host of spiritual disciplines are birthed and enhanced as you do so.
• Beware - of greed, lust, bitterness and envy.
• Grow - in contentment.

Today's verse

Before I sign-off let me share today's illustrated verse from here.

Thank you Holy Spirit for dwelling in me....

Oven baked lemon chicken

From this:



To this:

Recipe:(I can't give the exact measurements because I only did some approximation)

5 pcs of chicken thigh
salt
one lemon
butter
italian seasoning

Wash and put the chicken in an oven proof dish.Mix all the ingredients after squeezing the lemon juice.Bake for 30 minutes.

This is an improved version of the Greek Chicken that I used to do in London.The Greek chicken is seasoned with salt and oregano powder.But because I didn't have Oregano Powder I decided to use Italian Seasoning that I have in the kitchen cupboard.It contains Oregano anyhow.The addition of lemon added zing to this delicious and easy to prepare viand.

Pretty

I salute the one who thought of this brilliant idea.Who would think that the humble tins that we often ignore and just throw in the bins (guilty, obviously not recycling) can make a good and pretty storage solution.And we would even help to save mother earth if we do this.Should be copied by parents and children now that it's back to school time in the Philippines.

~source

Dreamin'

Dreaming of making beautiful pancakes like this.

I made some whole wheat pancakes over the weekend.I can't remember where I got the recipe from.My 2 boys didn't finish all 3 that I prepared for them.I must admit that it is not good as a pancake made of regular flour.But it is healthy.

Maybe if I could make the presentation better, I think it would be more appetizing.I need to find out what other fruits I can put on top aside from blueberries as I rarely see fresh blueberries this side of the earth.And if there are some, they are either too expensive or doesn't look fresh anymore.

I'm hoping that I wouldn't need a pancake pan to make this lovely pancakes.I just have to practice a bit more.

I will take photos when I'm contented with the looks of my pancakes and will post it here.

~photo taken from here.

This is definitely true

“Feelings of worth can flourish only in an atmosphere where individual differences are appreciated, mistakes are tolerated, communication is open, and rules are flexible — the kind of atmosphere that is found in a nurturing family.”- Virginia Satir

~ source

Wow, finally learned how to make a link.I didn't know that it's just very easy.Yeah, I'm a blogger in progress.

Hard to go on a diet

Yes, it is hard indeed, especially if you live in an area surrounded by restaurants .Most of these restos are new to me, therefore I want to try what each has to offer.Thank goodness, we're moving soon.But I also have to remember that we will be living near all the major malls.

Yesterday, my diet dictated that I have steak to make up for my protein needs, after having been on fruit and veg diet for the last couple of days.I asked my husband if we could try Ponderosa Steakhouse.We always pass by this place and it really looks good and inviting from the outside.I didn't get to eat steak but ended up having buffet.It's just too hard to resist.

Here's what I had:

Not included in the pictures are:corn soup, green salad,iced tea and a few pieces of nachos.My diet has been completely ruined.I really need to do aerobics for one whole week and go on a strict diet.In fairness, I only took the fruits in the last picture.

Sofa + pillow ideas

We are still searching for the perfect sofa for our flat.These are some of the ideas I've got so far.Warning:I haven't got any designing or decorating talent, not even a little.

~via www.desiretoinspire.com


~ via www.tumblr.com/tagged/livingroom/page2666383871

I know, i know, my finds are not that interesting at all.But I just want it to be simple, yet comfortable.

Products I love

Got these items this morning when we went to the American Naval Base here.Our friend/churchmate M took us there, otherwise we're not allowed to go there.The security was strict.It's like going to the airport.The ambiance inside doesn't feel like you're in the ME.It's like little America although I haven't been to America yet.

Please note that I wasn't paid for this post.

Thank God I got Bengay.I really hope that it would give me the cure for my aches and pains, here, there and everywhere(back, arms, knees and legs).

~ image taken from www.bengay.com

I've been looking for cornmeal for ages, to no avail.I'm hoping that I will be able to bake corn muffins soon.Or I'll just persuade my husband to dine in Kenny Roger's one of these days.Craving for their muffins.

~image source-www.quackeroats.com

I also got a couple of shorts, swimming attire and shirts for Baby G.And his fave Peanut Butter Crunch.

~ image taken from www.capncrunch.com

Love the pictures, love the messages

I guess there's no need to put the source as it is already in the photographs.

Belly fat

I've been reading a lot about belly fat lately.Carrying fat around the belly is the worst place to be fat, according to recent studies.Its making you prone to heart disease and diabetes.

I started to have belly fat after giving birth to my son.Recent trip to the ER made me realised that I need to become serious about losing weight.

Ways to lose belly fat:

1.You will need to exercise -a full body training that includes both cardiovascular and exercise will deliver better, faster results, like a combination of weight training and aerobic exercise.Forget about cruches and sit-ups.

I'm off to a good start then.I've tried different kinds of work-outs before(Cindy Crawford's and Claudia Schiffer's) and what I liked the most is Jane Fonda's aerobic exercises.

I've been searching for weights lately,too bad I left my weights in the UK.I'm using bottles of lotion for the time being.

2.You need to eat the right food - you need to take fewer calories than you burn.Eat less carbohydrates.

3.You need to be consistent - eating right and exercising regularly needs to be a habit.Get out of bed earlier, turn off the TV and stop wasting time on Facebook.Ouch,this is definitely true.

~source-http://www.thefactsaboutfitness.com/news/waist.htm

Lord, I cannot do this on my own.Please help me and give me the enthusiasm to live a healthy life.Help me become consistent and to make exercising and eating right a way of life.Convict me when I become complacent.I want to be fit for life and fit for God.In Jesus' name I pray.

Toddler no more

In a few days time, my child is no longer going to be a toodler.How time flies.

I found this article today:

Toddlers, aged 18-36 months, are busy people. During this stage they will hit many developmental milestones:

-Walking and running
-Climbing
-Developing writing and coloring skills
-Dressing themselves
-Naming their own body parts
-Eating with little or no assistance
-Potty training
-Riding a tricycle or a bicycle with training wheels
-Playing games like ball or hide-and-seek
-Asking questions and being able to communicate emotions and opinions
-Developing an imagination

Good thing, my child was able to accomplished most of these, if not all.I can't believe I have a pre-schooler already.He's not going to school yet.I want to spend time with him as much as possible.And besides, we're still scouting for a good school for him.

~souce:http://www.focusonthefamily.com/parenting/babies_toddlers_preschoolers/toddlerhood.aspx

Bible Study

We had a BS last night.We were only 3.Too bad, some of our groupmates didn't make it.Nonetheless, we learned a lot and the night was filled with praise reports.Thank you Lord.

The discussion revolved around this verse:

For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight.In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will- to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves - Ephesians 1:4-6

Isn't it nice to be called sons and daughters of the King of Kings, Lord of Lords?How cool is that?

Pantry

If only I can have this

or this

I can do with this one for now

I love how the door is utilised in the 1st picture.I think I can easily duplicate that.
Pantry,pantry,pantry...someday I'll have a nice big one, in Jesus' name...

~Sources:www.hgtv.com/organizing/what-we-love-best-pantry-organizers (1st & 2nd pictures) & www.lunchinabox.net (3rd picture)