Acey Turns 9

How time flies. My little daughter just turned 9 years old. I planned on cooking special lunch for the family this Sunday to celebrate Acey's birthday but Acey have been bugging his Dad to have a birthday celebration in their classroom. I am not in favor of the idea, the only time I really spend on my kids birthday is during their first & seventh birthday, after and between that, it's always been a simple family dinner of some sort. When you work abroad, you try to compensate for the lost time with your kids by giving anything and everything they wish, mostly in material form. That's exactly what hubby tends to do with our children. He easily gives in to their wishes and most of the time I am the kontrabida (LOL). Oh well, I just try to understand and I realized, Acey, being a diligent student and a loving daughter, deserves her request.

Acey discussing with her Dad her upcoming birthday

A day before her birthday, I handed to her class adviser the birthday invitations to be distributed to her classmates so the parents would know of the free meal c/o of the birthday girl. 

the birthday invitation

I ordered 40 jollibee chicken joy and spaghetti for her classmates and teachers plus zesto juice. I also bought goldilocks cake and everyone was given a slice of that cake. The kids excitedly sung happy birthday for Acey and they enjoyed the sparkling candles I bought online last December. 

Acey's classmates sung her the birthday song

The smile on Acey's face...PRICELESS!!!

Mom's 65th Birthday

February 02 was supposedly my mom's 65th birthday. She passed away 5 months ago. The pain we felt losing her hasn't lightened or changed a bit. It was too difficult to handle because it happened too fast, we were all in shocked. It hit us BIG TIME. God knows how much I try to suppress my emotions everytime I miss my beloved mom. God knows too how much I try to look at the brighter side of things. I know there's a reason for everything.

As her birthday draws near, I waited  for my brother to give me a go signal to order  catered food and even made a list of visitors to invite. However, I felt my brother is not fond of the idea. He just wanted a simple celebration, invite the sister of my mom and her cousin who were really close to our mom.

I thought of the birthday food that my mom would usually cook whenever member of the family is having a birthday. She will cook them whether you like it or not. Unfortunately, I did not learn her technique/s in cooking roastbeef. Good thing, my hubby and my sister were supportive of my idea and sent me the ingredients and directions in cooking a delicious and well tendered roast beef.

Our househelper is great at cooking pancit guisado and springrolls so I let her do that. I cooked the sipo egg effortlessly. But we fumbled a bit when it comes to roastbeef. Our househelper threw away the water used to boil the sirloin, that was needed in making the sauce or the gravy. There was no point of arguing and it was almost dinner time. I just thought of other way to make the gravy. I boiled 3 cups of water and threw in beef boullion, when it was already boiling, I added the sliced mushrooms to make it a little tender, afterwards, I added the cream of mushroom and voila! Perfected Roastbeef was served on the table right on time!!!

Main Course: Sipo egg, Roastbeef, Pancit Guisado, Spring Rolls

for dessert: brownies and Ube Cake from Red Ribbon

From the morning I clocked out of the office (GY shift), I attended the mass dedicated for mom, bought flowers, went home and checked what else is needed. I then went to supermarket to buy sirloin, got back to the house and slept for 2 hours. When I woke up, I went to La Pieta memorial to visit mom, then went straight to the mall to buy cake.

I was dead tired after the short celebration but I don't mind at all. I'm sure mom was happy with what I did for her birthday. She's happy at the thought I learned to master her food specialties. I know I can't thank her enough, no words can express how much I miss and love her.
 

Me & Mom, Jan. 2011 during my brother and his wife wedding anniversary celebration

A Yummy Win!

It's the last day of January and I am delighted to announce that I won a Yummy Magazine January issue from Candisssh blog. She emailed me and I replied with my contact details including my complete address just in case she will ship the magazine.

This blog talks more about family, friends, FOOD and sometimes beauty products. I am fond of cooking for my family so Yummy magazine is something I want to collect this year. I am excited to learn new recipes!

I hope the year 2012 will be a lucky year for me and win more blog contests. I guess, this is the start!

Family Sunday Snack

I was so in the mood last Sunday to cook merienda for the family.  I still have 500 gram pack of Fettucini noodles, spaghetti and pizza sauce and queso de bola from previous holiday season so I decided to buy ham slices, ground lean pork, quickmelt cheese and baguette from last Saturday's grocery shopping.


I started cooking at 3pm and ended at 4pm. The kids love the pizza baguette, each consumed around 3 to 4 baguette plus pasta. We were so full that afternoon and we forgot to eat dinner. The kids just had cereals with lots of milk in it an hour before bedtime.

sorry for the poor resolution, i just used my samsung mobile, hope it still looks yummy!

What is your Family's favorite Sunday merienda?

Party!!! Party!!!

I know it's too late to share anything about the previous holiday season, still, I want to write about how our department celebrated our Christmas Party.

In December 2010,  we had our Christmas Party in Century Hotel, Angeles City. We agreed to wear black although few of our fellow Analysts wore a different color outfit. But that is totally fine, their presence is what really matters. The food was okay but not that spectacular. We had games and so much FUN!!!

On the contrary, the party food we had in our December 2011 Christmas party became the highlight of the night care of K Cafe, who happens to be the owner of the famous Shanghai Restaurant in Balibago, Angeles City. Oh so yummy! is all we can utter during dinner...savoring every bite!

I just realized that I've been hosting our department's Christmas party for three consecutive years now. Hosting is exhausting but you will never feel such when everyone truly enjoys the moment! I don't mind doing it again and again.

QA Christmas Party 2010

 

QA Christmas Party 2011

Healthy Activity

My brother bought this stationary bike few days after Christmas so we have something to use to burn the calories deposited in our bodies for eating halaya ube, BBQs, pastas and a lot of holiday food.

It was only this week that I started using it because my father have been bugging me to exercise. Can you imagine the joy in his eyes everytime he sees me exercising using this bike? If this stationary bike will help me lose weight, I'll consider my 2012 a healthy and better year, otherwise, it's fine. For now, I'm happy using it for 10-15 minutes, losing 200-300 calories.

And oh! my father is asking (actually instructing) my Bro that a threadmill should be his next purchase...waaahhhhh!!!