How many times do I need to say " I'll update my blog".

Soo busy for the past months i don't know until when this project done. I need to be deeply involve in the finishing stage of my apartment. I asked my worker to paint the house super light blue in the bed room. cream beige in the kitchen cabinet. yellowish light cream in the living and dining. dark chocolate for the base board and terrace and lastly waterproof mud o' pie for the firewall. I'll post some picture when it's ready but right now too messy.

The other reason why I cant blog I am a victim of a swindler!!!!!! god help us. The contractor was recommended by one of my worker to do the sliding windows for 40,000 pesos. Right after we signed the contract I paid him 25,000 so he can able to buy materials but after so many weeks I received only false promises until the storm Pedring came. The water went through inside the room because the window still wide open so what happened the wooden wall swollen and not in good shape so I need to get a new contractor for the window and the carpenter need to fix the wall again . Oh!!! really hate those people!

I asked the assistance of the barangay municipal to get my money back from that contractor and give him lesson. So please guys! a beware of this kind of people make sure he's legitimate contractor check if he has a shop and record in his barangay so my experience wont happen to you.

Swiss Roll (Jelly Roll) with Butter Icing

My first day in baking and pastry class was a blast. Chef Cora assigned every group to bring ingredients for Swiss roll. And here it goes.

Day 1
Swiss Roll / Jelly Roll (Chiffon Cake)
Tray 9x13 Swiss Roll 10x3 round
Cake
1 ½ c cake flour
½ c sugar
1 Tbsp baking powder
6 pcs eggyolk
1/3 c oil
½ c water
½ Tsp vanilla

1) Procedure:
Sift and combined all the dry ingredients in a bowl
Beat the egg yolk and mix the entire liquid ingredient. While mixing with the hand whisk put little by little of dry mixture in the liquid mixture until make it smooth.

Pre heated the oven in 350F. Prepare the greased pan.


*7 pcs egg white * use electric mixer beat egg white until fluffy and foamy combine
*¼ c sugar sugar little by little. Mix the cream of tartar on the beaten egg white.
*½ tsp cream of tartar

2) Procedure:

Cut and fold procedure. Mix the egg white mixture using spatula put some flour smooth mixture little by little doing the cut and fold procedure.

Bake the mixture for 25 mins for 9x13 or 45 mins in 9x3 until done.



Butter Icing

1 c sugar
1 c evaporated milk

Mix until sugar dissolves.

1 bar butter – cream butter then adds the milk mixture.

Late Bloomer and Late Post

So excited... god is really good! officially enrolled now in Baking and Pastry class. I'll post my first recipe... promise!!! Thank you lord for all the blessings!

Korean Hype Me

So the Koreanovela fever is now attacking me... I'm done watching Baker King, My GF is a Gumiho(fox) and Playful Kiss with my 8 yrs old daughter K. She's the one who really hooked up with these cute God's creature. I just wondering why the Korean can make a telenovelas that really get your attention and touched your heart and why do I find our own telenovenas boring. I love our actors but maybe it is in the story. The longer and complicated the stories, they more look boring and dull. But make it shorter the stories, the audience literally stop breathing in every scene; they really hold their breath and affected.
Right now, I am looking forward for more Korean Telenovelas marathon with K!!! Aja!

Aha! a sweet me?

hubby complained that I'm not longer a malambing to him. Still feel guilty as charged I dont know how to make up with him. Honestly, we are really liked a newlywed tho got married last 2006 and been together for almost 11 years now but still.... hay! M work away from the family most of the time plus the fact that I worked abroad also... the should be intimacy of being hubby and wifey are really less even though we tried to keep in touch and constantly updating ourselves no amount of talks the physical presences of each other d ata totoo ang "absence makes the heart founder". But dont get me wrong I LOVE MY M! he's my world and air. Maybe just need to pay attention more to him.
So to get a fresh start we celebrate Father' day at Golden Leaf Spa and truly enjoyed every seconds of soothing massage and the amenities such as Sauna and Steam bath, Jacuzzi and the snacks. We do planned to dine at Hapchan we like the noodles and dumplings but since we left the Spa sooo late (11pm) we end up at Vivian Tapsihan at Bulalohan along Tuazon Ave. We ordered Tapsilog, Sizzling Sisig and plain rice. No extra special in their food it's a so-so food masarap pa luto ni nanay Norma ( M's grandmother who owned a resto in Olongapo City.)We got up the next day around 10am! as in the massage gave us a good night sleep then.
I prepared M fried egg, hotdog and instant pancit canton for breakfast since we're late for pandesal. The owner even commented to M as "sir, tanghali na po wla ng nagbebenta ng pandesal".
M's tampo truly amazed me all the time. Naaalala ko na hey! I have a life and partner to enjoy for d puro stress and work lang.
M,
I know masama na loob mo but just to understand your wife. Still adjusting for so many things. I wanted to learn more from K, to our new project, to myself as an official bum and to you. From a high earner and independent person to nothing but a simple plain housewife. I thought it is simple as the word "plain" housewife but now the poor me sink in in my mind. Im a strong person I know in time I overcome my building up insecurities and fears and you'll see the old fighter in me. I love you so much! I truly do.

Bouncing Back

After the depressing miscarriage last February...Im back with confidence. I started my 6 doors apartment project last May 4. The first few weeks was really a financial draining phased. It's good that I tracking down all my expenses down to last centavo so I would be able to see the cost of my project and if it is still in my budget. I got 12 men to work for me I personally supervise the project tho, doesn't have educational background regarding construction only the knowledge and skills I learned from my previous job. Good to know that still I am a sales and marketing person... got a good deal in all construction materials I literally walked from Mayamot to Antipolo area just to canvass and check the durability of each materials. I love the new experience that keeps me busy like a bee for now..

Hectic Me

Been busy for the past 2 months complying with apartment's construction permit and success!!! we are now in the first phase of construction. I dreamed to have a 6 doors apartment ever since I got a job in nowhere land. Finally, god give me this blessings and I am so thankful!! I hope this is the brand new start for me here in Philippines.

I know it would help M a lot. We expecting now a monthly income aside from his salary. After this my next project is my mom's house to renovate. I need to give K her own world or room since she's turning 9 yrs old this October. I know I can do all these project... so help me God.

The Sad me :(

I resigned from work in 2 days noticed.. I experienced blood spotting so I was scared and decided to go home immediately. The management fully support my decision though, it will kinda hard for them to replace me within 2 days so I trained one of my employee to temporarily replace me while the management looking for some more deserving employee. Bid good bye was the hard part I shed a lot of tears especially when the management personally came to the office to congratulate me in mt pregnancy and 2nd to convinced me to come back after giving birth. I was so touch that management really appreciate my job. Conrad my site manager who really cant release me that time and suggested to apply for emergency indefinite leave instead of resignation. Millie Pavia, the Indian Finance Supervisor emailed me a good quote... Thank you so much !

Guys, working with all of you give me sense of being more responsible, practice and open for learning and changes to enhance my craft in Construction field. Thank you for being my 2nd family in the other side of the world.

The sad me didn't stop there... my spotting still continue until I was in the Dubai International Airport. When I finally arrived NAIA terminal 1 the spotting was like I have a monthly period and then my luggage was left in Dubai. I stayed for more than an hour to verify my lost luggage and leave some info so DNATA  can send it at home. I was relieved to see M,K and nanay worriedly waiting for me... When they saw my pants soaked with blood they immediately rushed me in the Hospital. I lost the baby... I cried! i felt guilty! I cried! K and M cried! I felt more guilty! I cried! that night was the longest night I ever had...The OB gyne told me the baby was weak. I felt guilty!

Dear Baby Sandy;

Having you in my tummy in 9 weeks makes mommy realize how important Ate K and Daddy M and YOU in my life. I really felt guilty for losing you. I love you so much that I choose you over my career becos I know I'll be more happier to be with the family. But I know there's a reason why God didn't permitted you to come out. Forgive me baby if mommy's care was not enough to carry you throughout the whole thing. I know you are now my ANGEL SANDY please help mommy to recover with my guilt and always there to guide ate K.
I love you so much that I will cherish our 9 weeks together.

Right now, I struggling with myself.. what I really wanted aside from being a mom and wife. Hope before I lose my sanity I find something to keep my worth.

Love,

The sad me

Salty meal

For the first time It wasn't bland but real salty!!!!!! chicken with tomato sauce, salty chow mein noodles, blanched brocolli, raisins cookies, banana and banana juice. I ate it though salty becos I need to eat.

Still getting some spot please pray for me and baby sandy...

Feeling Blue? Try some Tim Hortons Donuts

This is my first craving... Tim Hortons donut and sooo delish!! The chocolates that coated in the donut really tasted milk choco not cocoa. The crew bought me 2 boxes for 10 dlrs reallly worth it! I can't drink coffe so I partner it with bottled water.
Feel down today.... mood swing?.. hays....

Meal meal

The meal is pretty good today tho still bland... Beef pie, beef and brocolli stir fry, cucumber and carrot stick and grapes. The food aren't great taste as usual.. still missing philippines local foods. Maybe it because of my hormonal changes that affect my appetite. Kind of low/sad today I had some blood spot this morning and kinda scared for baby sandy and myself.

Please whoever read this please pray for me and baby sandy or Papa god please help me with my pregnancy please bless us. I never ask for anything but only for my baby to be safe and healthy. Amen.

My Mexican Chilli con Carne

Basicallty my meal today: Rice topped with mexican chilli con carne, chicken nuggets, chicken and veggie stew, chicken with white sauce. I finished my whole chilli con carne, 3 nuggets, and tasted the chicken stew.. that's it! the verdict everything was bland!!!!!!!!! I ate the apple pie sugar crust becos the mango sponge doesn't taste mango or just to make even close. hayzzzz... I want a real food!! miss you sinigang, kilawin, dinuguan and torta! 

Guilty Pleasure

Yeah! this is my guilty pleasure instead of pigging out at TGIF I bought Oakley Shades... Love it!!  

Bland diet

I ate this meal yesterday... beef and veggies stir fry, calamari, spanish torta and chicken finger ( cant remember the name of this chicken but looks like chicken finger).

Unhealthy Snack But Heavenly Good!!

Vanilla ice cream with snicker chocolate... i know it's bad for me right now.... I am guilty!!!!!!!!!! promise,  this is the last ice cream. I grabbed this while walking at the boardwalk I bought some Ralph Lauren shirts, Zara long sleeve blouse and Abercormbie and American Eagle slippers in PX store.
My lunch was plain today.. chicken bbq and biryani rice with Rani pineapple juice on the side.

Rain Rani

This is my fave drink Rani juice becos of the fruit pulp or bits inside. It's only available in Dutch PX. hayy... 3 dollars per can but really worth it.

Pumpkin... I heart you!

Guess I what I found in the dining facility... PUMPKIN!! love it! here's my meal for today: Grilled beef with herb sauce, pumpkin and potato gratin, steamed veggies and chicken stir fry. Well, the verdict? I finished my meal... baby sandy loves it for sure. I try not to eat rice and replace it with potato becos it doesn't taste rice it has a after taste that irked me. The pumpkin and potato gratin was a bomb it tasted like ginataang kalabasa minus meat, string beans and prawn but at least...oooohhh! I love it.

Spinach my love!

Here you go again my daily meal from our dining facility. Roasted chicken, beef and mushroom stew, steamed prawn and veggies, few cabbage and lastly buttered spinach. I ate the whole spinach, few steamed veggies and beef but I when I started to munch the chicken I feel really full. 

This morning, my breakfast was Chicken soup (Sopas), sunny side up egg, baked beans and hot milk with choco powder.

Since this is my 2nd pregnancy, it wasnt surprised me at all that my tummy is getting bigger in the first (2nd) month I feel that my belly is now popping out... Love it! or just being so excited about the whole thing.

My Affair with Beets

Here what I ate this lunch.. I did not finished it.. stir fry cabbage,chicken and mushroom pie, fresh brocolli and beets. My 2nd encountered with beets. This time it wasn't bad my taste bud can take it as other veggies.
Healthy foods comes commitment... hope my commitment to keep healthy will rewarded my baby sandy. Yippee!!!

Hi Beets!

This is my meal for today... beef and beans stew taste like mechado that has a beans added. Grilled beef, steamed rice that have a sign that every scoop has a 260 cal. (d naman nananakot d ba!), steamed cauliflower and BEETS and onion salad! yah, first time to eat beets, been here for 3 and half years and yet dont have the courage to try this.. afraid ako bka bigla akong mag throw up d kasi ako adventurous when it comes to foods. My first time with beets... taste like potato?! I thought its like jelly since it looks like one. Not bad for the first timer.. I ate 3 slices.

After the main course I munching now orange fruit. But while getting these foods eh I drinking ( literally) my not so hot cream chicken soup.

The New Me

Well, since I am preggy I would like to take note all the things and foods I'll be dealing for the rest of 9 months. Actually this is my 2nd pregnancy but the last one was a 8 yrs ago and I didnt recalled how it was. I aiming to eat only good for me and my baby.. fo a starter, I'm trying to stop coffee and tea and replace it with juices (so help me god) and fruits. I am really good when it comes to fruits but juices bleh! I am addicted to caffeine. It so hard to bid good bye to Tim Hortons French Vanilla coffee, Green Beans Choco Spicy Chai Tai and Coffee Mocha and say a good hello to milk (yuck!). I hate MILK! but i have to drink it for my baby... I wish I can tolerate the taste and smell becos even I am not pregnant just the smell of a milk it makes me sick... really want to throw up! hope I can get a high in calcium juice or whatever to replace the milk. 
I did some researched where can I be able to get more folic acid and according to what I read I can get this thru:
Pinto Beans - (available here! yey!)
Spinach -  (available here! yey again)
Beef Liver :-(  not available
Lima Beans - If I'm not mistaken this is the white beans ( also available here! yey again)
Kidney Beans - It is the red one ( also available here! yey again)
Parsley - :( not available
Beets - I hate this but no choice for now.. (available every lunch for salad)
Brocolli - I love it! ( available here! yehey!!!!)
Romaine Lettuce - serving of this is not too frequent but still available  maybe by schedule
Bok Choy - serving of this is not too frequent but still available  maybe by schedule
Cantaloupe/Rock Melon - green melon ( available here anytime of the day yehey!)
Orange and Strawberries - Sweet! (always available)
Cabbage - favorite! (always been available)
Low fat yogurt - available every morning.. wish I can get up early so I can grab some of those
Zucchini - cucumber is much tastier and appealing compared to this one.. but no choice!
Whole Wheat bread - welcome breakfast ( Im not a breakfast eater)
Tomato- no issue of this I can eat it.
and my Sis in law told me Okra (Lady Finger) is also a good source of Folic Acid.

This is it for now... let's go chow!!!!

I am!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So happy :) and proud to be a mom again!!!

The Who?!...Me?!

For the past few weeks after my short lived vacation, I forgot to set up my mind for work seriously! Every time I went home 1 week before my flight I talked to myself giving some sort of motivation why I need to go back abroad and what are the plans. But this time no motivation was made. Just went to NAIA airport show my VISA and passport and Viola, here I am now in the land of nowhere.

The truth is now.. I don’t know if I still love my job. My career is has no direction as of this time. The only thing I know I enjoyed my 22 days vacation and I wanted to go back. But I wanted to go back with secured financial status.

Maybe I wanted to go back because first to support M to his job. He needs a supportive present physically wife and K to give her more motivation in school.  Or I just miss the home foot spa bonding with Nanay and K. We love it!  

OR maybe, I need to stop whining to myself and get off my ass in this black, soft swivel chair and work outside! Do I tell you that it is soooo freaking cold here… gosh! The windshields of our vehicles are now literally covered by ice.

Random Thoughts

Mixed feelings in these past few days. Emptied mind. Floating. in short WALA AKONG NAIISIP!! I need an inspiration to move!!!!!!!!!!

K's homemade Fita/Naan Bread with Chicken Fajitas

She loves to eat.... but the food she grows up with. She's not too picky but very hesitant to taste foods that's new to her eyes... blame it nanay who also liked her.  But good thing with her she loves to cook and having fun doing some experiment and let M and me taste and eat all the food she cooked... anyhow. I introduced to her the Fita bread.  She prepared the ingredients such as:

1/4 flour (Maya) and put additional flour if needed

1 can of evap milk

Pinch of salt

2 eggs

The procedure is she combined everything in a bowl. She mixed it using a wood spatula until it was thicken and looks like a dough. She divided or cut the dough into a small part or enough size of sharwarma bread. Then she pre heated our electric grill in 250 while flatten the dough. Viola, only minutes to cook at the electric grill and she have a fita bread. She ate it without any dip unlike me and her Dad we ate it with Chicken Fajitas that also K prepared.

For Chicken Fajitas… we bought ready mix in supermarket. As per pack instruction we marinated the chicken breast with the ready mix for 1-2 hours and K grilled it. My participation for this meal was the veggies cutting since she's not allowed to use knife or any sharp object in our kitchen. I prepared small chopped tomatoes, white onion and red/green bell pepper and of course the grated cheese. For our sauce I mixed the mayonnaise with banana catsup, pepper and rock salt to taste. And the outcome? a very healthy and delish dinner. By the way, K's dinner was white rice, salted egg with tomatoes and luncheon meat only me and M who ate the Chicken Fajitas.

A Blast 22 Days Vacation in P.I. Part 2

Next stopped was diving in Mabini, Batangas with M’s college friends and their respective families, a small reunion that packed of fun filled 2 days  wives chatting and catching up. Our K brats’ children enjoyed the snorkeling and swimming. The buffet was so delish and cheap. We only charged 3,000 pesos for 2 days and 1 night. And most important in this event was the reunion of our boys. We know how much they wanted to unleash their being them just liked who they are in the Academy before.  They don’t even bother themselves to ask the wife if we wanted to join them in diving… well, maybe they knew we only turn down the invitation harhar! We rather stay out of the sun and just sit and sip batangas barako puro coffee under the huge tree while checking the kids snorkeling.

The rest of my vacation was simply at home savoring the mommy’s duty.  Making sure all the needs of my M and K are well prepared. The important meals (breakfast and dinner) are being in good taste. No fancy fine dining dinner outside instead always prepared them a hearty and clean plate meal. Love being a mom even though it lasted only 22 days.

Hay… now back to reality.

A Blast 22 Days Vacation in P.I. Part 1

I got home after Christmas day due to unavailable flight to P.I. But though, I missed the actual Christmas day it never down my spirit. I spent my Christmas in Dubai Airport shopping and making plans how do I spend my 22 days. How do I squeeze out my short vacation with families and friends?

My Christmas though I am alone was a memorable. As I fall in line for my boarding pass the Filipina Ground Stewardess greeted me and with her sweetest smile. She added points to my silver Skyward card. As I received my boarding pass, it has an invitation to Emirates Lounge and spends the night over there for my convenient. My Skyward Mileage   points are still insufficient to upgrade my bookings from Economy to Business Class. I waited for almost 16 hours for my flight (paying $260.00 for a Dubai Visa for quick tour is not reasonable I think) “I shop till I drop” in Dubai Airport my whole $1,000 had only $4.00 change. I bought M Hugo Boss Silver perfume, my SIL’s Tommy perfume and Nike Sporting clothes and to K, my mom, MIL and nieces are gold accessories. My feet and back was really hurt when I sat and lied down to catches some sleep before my flight. I waited to call my zone number in boarding area finally, when I handed my boarding pass to Ground Stewardess she change it to BUSINESS CLASS!! Wow! Isn’t a good deal and Christmas gift!!  All the pain was paid off when I sat and stretch my feet. I love overflowing champagne and my eyes were literally drooled to different cheeses, breads and even chocolates. The serving of food was way different from Economy Class lots of varieties and how do they serve it. They serve it with class I may say. It took me an hour to finish my whole meal from the appetizer to dessert. My experienced was really a good Christmas gift. Love you Emirates Airlines and Skyward Mileage Card and of course to my dearest savior Jesus Christ and Mother Mary I know you are the mastermind of this unforgettable and fantastic experienced.

My blast vacation started there in Emirates Airlines followed by nonstop road trip with families and friends. I just rested for 1 day and we travelled to Baguio City to attend foster sister’s wedding in Camp John Hay. I got this opportunity to bring my family side with me. I had a reservation Apartelle Suite in Supreme Hotel. We spend our first day in Burnham Park and eat lunch at Solibao Resto. My mom loves the food and the ambiance. (A little Trivia, Solibao Resto was the first dinner date with M in Baguio City).  M, K and I attended the wedding while my sisters, nieces and Mom went to Grotto and other park. Our 2^nd day we went to PMA, Mines View and Cathedral.

My next road trip was in Olongapo City, M’s hometown we spent the New Year holiday with my in laws. In between family gatherings I find time to meet M’s friends and invited us to have tour in Zoobic Safari for free. I had a grand time with M and K feeding animals, watching the animal parade and cultural show.

Bye 2010... Hello 2011

I know no one read this blog and doesn't care if I didn't update for a month... Well, to delight myself I blog my thoughts so I have something to read on and a reminder for myself to all mis and great adventured.

2010 - is a good year for me career wise. But failed to my family life, it's now 3 years working abroad it means 3 years absent for a being a mom and wife. Though, M understand why i know in his silent thoughts he protested. Dont get me wrong, M can provide everything but I am not contented I wanted something for my own. K as a daughter really excelled she's doesnt let me feel the guilt intentionally. Just thankful for the wonders of science and they invented the VIOP phone and Instant Messaging it really makes my burden and guilt lighter. 
I started my diet thing and proudly to say I lost 10 pounds and gained 20 pounds when I got home last christmas hehehehe! no regrets for the additional pounds it only remind me how happy I am with the family.

For 2011 I hope for more family blessings and time. More kiss and hugs from my family. More loving moments to me and M.