Philippine Nutrition Month 2012

Oh my gulay! It is the last day of July today. At bago pa ma-out of season ang topic na 'to, I'm writing about it today.

Government and private health institutions and most especially schools, public and private alike, celebrate this July the Philippine Nutrition Month with the theme, "Pagkain ng gulay ugaliin, araw-araw itong ihain."

It was on Saturday when Baguio Higher Ground Christian School (BHGCS), where Nikki attends, held a program for the said campaign. The school had a common program for all students in the morning. As expected, there was singing, dancing and poem recital, of course, in accordance with the theme.

After the program on the school grounds, each class went back to their respective classrooms to do their own thing that the class adviser had prepared. There were parlor games ,and the main event in each classroom was the preparation of a dish using not only vegetables but also fruits. 

Posted on Nikki's classroom's chalk board were her class' colored drawings of fruits and vegetables.

I knew this was Nikki's because of the handwriting. I know, my family is not so much into the artistic side. But I'm proud of Nikki's handwriting. Nice!

Nikki: Mommy, ito ang drawing ko oh.

Two Times At Three

Hola mis amigas! 

Okay, that's how Calli's almost non-stop, daily rendezvous with Dora these days has affected me. Apparently, she's tired herself of Barney. That's understandable. She's three years old now, you know. She's spent almost two good years of fun singing and dancing with the big ol' purple dino. 

You must know by now that it was Calli's birthday on July 27. Like I said in my previous post, I never planned of having a party because Elmer and I had already planned of us just dining out with his Mama Shirley, Aunt Sol and her daughters, Aunt Erma and her sons and a couple of others today. But it occured to me, Calli's birthday was July 27 and not July 29. Heck, I gotta have something that day, I thought. At the last minute, I planned of holding a simple dinner just for friends and kids. 

On the day itself, I already had a list of all the things I need to accomplish before dinner. With that, I realized that I was not really good under pressure (or maybe this is what almost eight years of call center environment did to me). Something very sad happened to me. Very, very sad. I don't know what you would like to call it. I call it huge S.T.U.P.I.D.I.T.Y. Who would withdraw money from an ATM, take the card and leave the money and receipt behind? I know! Stupid, right? Good thing it was just P1,000. But hey, that's a good amount of money to lose and could make me go home to Elmer and cry like a baby when lost. 

Okay, tanggap ko na...na natanga ako nung araw na 'yun. Kaya naman, I got over that na. 

Going back to Calli's birthday bago pa lumayo nang lumayo ang usapang 'to. I marinated two kilos of pork belly, bought one bilao of pancit bihon and a small birthday cake for dinner.

I didn't have the chance to take any photo that day so I'm still waiting for some photos from Carl which I will add here soon. 

It was a simple dinner but I could tell Calli enjoyed so much - the kids playing around the house, the pancit, especially the candle-blowing. I'm happy when my daughters are happy. A mother's total bliss!

From Terrible To Terrific

Let me just put this out of the way before I continue. I'm not apologizing for my last post. That was the b*tch, err, loser, in me talking.

Okay, moving on. Yes, I've moved on, so let's!

I'm pretty sure most of you have heard of the infamous child's development stage called Terrible Twos. As the name suggests, it starts when a toddler is about two years old. And I googled around what age it ends. I didn't find an answer. Although my googling on this wasn't as thorough as when I was guessing a blind item in Fashion Pulis, I think there's no definite age when Terrible Twos would actually end. I definitely like to believe that it ends as the toddler turns exactly three. If that's true then my house could get a little more peaceful starting today as Calli turns three.

The day she was born

I So Want To Kill You Right Now

This one's for you, a$$hole!

Dear Scheduler,

You keep changing my schedule whenever there's a need to tweak the team's schedule. When I confronted you and asked why among all people, it's always mine that gets changed. It's not the first time. For the past months, it's always been mine. You responded with "Kasi ikaw 'yung pinaka-feasible sa inyo eh". At first, I almost laughed with your response, even joked about it with friends. This morning, I was thinking about it. And I thought, what the f*ck! Do you think I don't have a life that's why you can just pick me as the one whose schedule can be changed just like that?

F*ck you!

A Surprisingly Luscious Leche Flan

Mona sold me one tray of fresh eggs last week. I thought, what would I do with a tray of eggs? Elmer told me to just put some in the fridge and stock the rest in the cupboard. Okay, they won't be staying in there long enough to rot anyway.

But still, I was itching to do something with them. I thought, leche flan! I love leche flan. Like super love. Carl would call it cream caramel. Leche flan, cream caramel. Isu met lang! ^_^

So on Tuesday, after taking a walk around Cudirao with my girls, leche flan it was! I know this is not the first time you'll ever see a recipe for a leche flan. 'La lang. Gusto ko lang i-share nang may ma-blog naman ako. Haha!

Kaya heto na!

Ingredients:

• 5 eggs yolks
• Half (or a little more than half) of the small can of condensed milk (See photo below)
• Half (or a little more than half ) of the big can of evaporated milk (See photo below)
• 3 tablespoonfuls of sugar

*There's supposed to be 1 teaspoon vanilla extract on the list but it was not available at that time.

Condensed milk, evaporated milk, eggs and the llaneras

One Fine Day In Cudirao Hills

It was one fine day yesterday, my rest day. I let Nikki skip school because she was having fever due to her URTI. Because we're new to this part of Loakan, Calli and I decided that we have a little walk in the morning around Cudirao Hills. Nikki was feeling alright that time so she joined us. Girl power!

Plus, these two ticking bombs leaving the house would allow their daddy to have some quiet space to sleep even for a very short time. Kawawa naman kasi puyat-puyat the night before.

Her ready-for-a-walk pose

Mga naka-pambahay lang

My First Hodori Experience

Remember I mentioned how our new house was so empty? We've started filling it with furniture.

Last week (Oh yes, this is a very late post. Hamsowsowri!), during Elmer's only rest day, he and I went to Tiongsan Mabini to check out their dining sets. And we got one. We finally bought a dining table and chairs. Yay!!!

There's nothing spectacular about the one that we've bought. Nikki was even complaining "bakit walang bilog na umiikot sa gitna" (Lazy Susan), to which her Daddy replied, "Pang-tamad lang 'yun!". Then I explained, "Kasi pang-malaking mga tables 'yun. At pang-mayaman."

Okay, this is not about our dining set. Near Tiongsan Mabini was Hodori, a popular Korean and Japanese Restaurant here in Baguio. Elmer had been bugging me that I try dining there. He already did couple of times before with I forgot who. We headed right there and there was m first ever experience at Hodori Restaurant.

First we were served with this. Please don't ask me what it's called.

Jar of water with two bags of I-don't-know soaked in it.

At first I was, "Anong nasa loob?"

Love Thy Neighbors

You must already know by now that my family has already moved to a new house. That means, we have new neighbors. Well, they're not really strangers to us. They're long-time friends. For the longest time, I've never been neighbors with my friends. And now that I am, the feeling is just so warm and comforting. What's a better way to welcome new neighbors than offering them helping hands and good food? I guess, nothing.

These people know well how to love their (new) neighbors. During our first week here, we were showered with foods (which I have not reciprocated yet).

Although it was not really intended for us as her new neighbor, she got us to taste her spaghetti. I have to say it was really delish!

Karen and her spaghetti

The spaghetti. Yum!

Almost Candid

Carl is my friend Mona's Brit husband that my kids call Uncle Carl (or is it just me who insist that they call him Uncle Carl while the other kids call him Kuya Carl). Especially Calli, they are so fond of him. Calli is so much delighted by her Uncle Carl's Mr. Bean-like dancing. So funny! Very Mr. Bean...without the hair. ^_^

It's so sweet of him to take (and edit) some candid photos of Calli during one chatty evening at their house.

Here they are.

Thank you, Uncle Carl!

Ciao! ♥

 

If All The Raindrops Were Lemon Drops and Gum Drops

It's been raining cats and dogs every afternoon. Tag-ulan na talaga! I'm okay with rains, but please, no typhoons. First, they're disastrous. Good thing, my family does not live in an area here in Baguio na luma-landslide or binabaha. I pity those who do. Those who suffer from landslide or flooding. Oh well, some of them naman kasi matitigas ang ulo. They ignore warnings from the government. Sorry, I digressed a bit. Going back. Second, ang hirap kaya pumasok sa work! Pagdating sa work, "Basang Basa Sa Ulan" by Aegis ang theme song mo for the day. Sure 'yan.

Okay, I'm not talking about typhoons and calamities any further. Since we moved in our new house, Calli has again found all her Barney CDs and started playing them. Oh yes, she now knows how to push what buttons on our DVD player and the Video button on our TV. We didn't know that before because in the old house, we had placed our DVD player on top of our TV. Now, it's on the shelf underneath the TV that she can reach. Gawd! She's only 2 years old. How could she learn that fast? Now, the problem that brings is that we need another TV for the rest of us. Inangkin na niya ang TV e.

She was watching Barney one time and I'm sure I've already heard this song before (Ikaw ba naman ang may anak na walang kasawaan kay Barney) but that one time was the first time I paid attention to the lyrics. Bagay na bagay ngayong tag-ulan. Just the first part of the song lyrics only, kasi the following part is pang-winter. And the last part, ay pwedeng pwede din naman. Nakaka-LSS! ^_^

Here's the song.

My Project 365+1: June Update

This has been waaay past my intended schedule to post my monthly update for My Project 365+1. It's better late than never, they say. Wanna see what I had for May? Click here for a little recap. 

So here it is. Thirty new photos from June. 

My Project 365+1: June

My Project 365+1 In Progress

My Project 365+1 as of June 30

It's now 182/366! And counting...

Check out the kwento behind each of these photos at My Project 365+1.

Ciao! ♥

  

One Phat Crib

After a year and one month of living in a small apartment in Liwanag Loakan, my family has found a better place to live here in Cudirao Loakan. Thanks to my friend Mona and her husband Carl for helping us find this apartment. Actually, their apartment is just right next to ours. We're now neighbors, and I. Love. It!

I love our new house. Aside from its location, the neighborhood gives me a feeling of security. The lot has a very huge, fenced and gated space, that's really hard to find nowadays here in Baguio, making it really safe for the kids to play around. And I tell you, there are a lot of kids around here. Nikki and Calli have so many playmates here. Matutupad na ang promise ni Daddy sa kanya na bilhan siya ng bike.

We would have moved here last month but for some reason, that didn't happen until this month. It was worth the wait. My landlady is so bait, and from the looks of how she's treating us, I can tell she's a very reasonable and considerate person. If nothing major happens, I can see my family staying here for a long time or until we finally acquire "that" house.

This house is nothing like a mansion or anything grandiose. It's just a, maybe for many, small apartment but just enough or a little more than enough space for my family and our things to be living in. If you have lived in our old house then you would appreciate this new one superbly like I do now. The only thing with this house is, it doesn't have any furniture at all. No beds, no chairs, no dining table. Elmer and I feel like starting all over again. But Elmer told me not to worry and assured me that everything's gonna be fine. I trust him. And that's exactly what I need - some comforting words.

Let me show you around, a'right? ^_^

When It Rains, It Pours

How are you guys? It's been days since my last post. I've been so busy. Oh so busy. I think I have yet to share to you that last week, I had to bring Calli to Elmer's mom in Pangasinan because no one would stay with her in the house while Elmer and I are at work and Nikki is at school. So there. Calli is with her Mama Shirley in Pangasinan and not living with us right now. Ang sad ng house. 

Speaking of house, my family has finally moved into the new house that we were supposed to have moved into a month ago. Yes, fi-na-lly! It was a good timing na din that I had to bring Calli to Pangasinan on Saturday because we were able to move here in our new house on Tuesday. Kasi naman for sure, mahihirapan kami maglipat-bahay with Calli with us nang walang yaya. Extreme pagod ang labas namin ni Elmer, especially ko, in case.

Speaking of yaya naman, I found a new yaya for Calli. (Thank you, Lord!) And I can't thank my workmate enough who found this yaya for me. (Thank you Melanie Sido. You're the best!) Well, truth is, it was her niece's yaya who looked for a new yaya for Mel who was looking for a new yaya for me. My new yaya's name is Pinky De Leon. (Yeah, I know. Very celebrity ang name niya, right?) She started working for me yesterday although Calli's still not here. Calli's coming back on Sunday. Yipee!

Okay going back to Pinky, I have a very good feeling about her. It's such a small world. She's Elmer's kababayan from San Manuel, Pangasinan. When Elmer and she finally met in the afternoon, they started chatting and tracing common people they know. That added to my feeling good and comfortable about her. Not to mention, she also is a mother, a single mother that is, to her 6-year-old daughter who she left with her parents in Pangasinan. Now, I have gained again a bit of peace of mind and a little time to rest. I have been so tired and stressed this past week. I can't tell you how tired my body and mind had been because of having no yaya and to bring my daughter somewhere so she can be taken care of while her parents are at work, moving into a new house and of course, forever work.

Speaking of work, Elmer has resigned from his current job. It was his last day as Equipment Engineer yesterday. But wait, there's more! He resigned because he's got himself a better job. Better job means higher pay, more perks, and irresistible benefits. Woot, woot! He thought he could take at least a week break from work before starting his new job but (un)fortunately, he's started training today as Field Service Engineer also in Texas Instruments.

I can't stop sighing as I write all these. Sighs of relief. I feel a little relieved now although still sad because Calli's not yet with us. Elmer and I give her Mama a ring every now and then to hear Calli's voice. She has gotten more daldal na talaga. Just like last night.

Daddy: Sino mga kalaro mo diyan?

Calli: Takbo ako nang takbo. Hindi ako nadadapa Daddeeeh!

Daddy: Saan ka tumatakbo? Sa kalsada?

Calli: Sa SM! 

Sushal! Tatakbo lang, kelangan sa SM pa talaga? ^_^ 

Daddy passed the phone to me.

Me: Hello Mahal! Kumusta ka na? Kelan ka aakyat dito?

Calli: Dito muna ako kay Mama. Papatabain pa daw muna niya ako Mommeeeh.

Me: Wawa naman kami dito. Wala kaming Calli. I miss you Calli. I love you Calli.

Calli: I love you (Pauses a bit), Daddeeeh! (Then leaves the line)

Waaah! Mommy ako! :(

It is so nice and makes me miss her more hearing her voice on the phone. Parang ang laki laki na niya when she talks on the phone. Very daldal! She's turning 3 years old on July 27. 

God really is sooo good. I can't thank Him enough and the supportive people around me. Alam niyo na kung sinu-sino kayo. Alabyu guys!

That's it pancit!

Ciao! ♥