Monthly Archives: January 2009

Weekend Soiree #53: A game of comment interaction

The game is easy! I will ask a question. The first person who comments will answer my question, and will leave a question for the next person to answer. This next person will answer that question, and leave a question for the next next person to answer. I am sure you get it!

To make things more fun, the questions have to reflect the chosen theme. For example, if the theme is MOVIES, all questions should relate to that topic. What was the first movie you watched on a date? What movies have you walked out on? As much as possible, let’s not repeat the questions for added fun! You are also welcome to play more than once.

Let’s make our sweet tooth cheer with our 53rd weekend soiree.

The theme: SWEETS

The question: Choose one to eat as dessert for a whole year: blueberry cheesecake, leche flan or cherry pie?

Click here for past themes.

A couple of apple slices a day…

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It doesn’t take more than 5 minutes to peel an apple, cut it into quarters, then eighths, then into thin chips. That’s what I’ve been doing the past mornings. I’d then pack the chips in a snack box and bring it to work.

The apples in the pic aren’t as thin as I’d like them to be, but close enough! I enjoy nibbling on them especially when the munchies come on. It’s healthier nibbling on fresh fruit “chips” than nachos right?

On the pregnancy front, they help keep the nausea away. Pregnant or not pregnant, this makes for an easy and healthy snack at work! So go peel those apples, slice them into quarters, then eighths, then into thin chips. They’re juicy, delicious and best of all, healthy!

Cujo 5 of 52: Lila

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Heto nanaman si Cujo, kinukulit kayo ulit! Kagat-kagat niya ang laruan ng aking pinsan. Parang upuan yata ito sa isang playset ng Barbie. O kama ng Bratz? Kung ano man ang lilang ito, mukhang sarap na sarap si Cujo sa kangunguya rito!

Ito ang aking lahok sa Litratong Pinoy, na may temang “Lila.”

This Cujo pic a week is my little tribute to this fuzzy wuzzy family friend. 52 weeks in a year brings you 52 Cujo pics! Here are the past Cujo snaps:

Thank you and some shoutouts!

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Thank you so much for all the warm words and positivity! They warm my heart (and Timmy’s too!)!

Thank you to the blogging Moms who’ve so kindly shared advice on taking care of myself and the baby. Special shoutouts to the Plurkers.

*****

To my friends who are TTC (trying to conceive), there is hope! When H and I stopped planning several years ago and just “planned to not plan,” it was a great break for my body from medication and emotional stress. People kept telling me the baby would come “in God’s time.” I believe that now. I don’t think anyone’s 100% ready for a baby, but we sure are more ready for Timmy’s arrival than we were years ago. Miracles do happen.

*****

I have a bunch of food posts on the backburner but believe it or not, I can’t stand the pictures! It’s weird, I know, but the sight of food makes me want to hurl. The food posts will have to wait! I’ll publish them soon.

*****

I’m at work right now, fighting nausea and the urge to lie down. This reminds me of what my grandma said when I told her I was pregnant:

Grandma: “… and don’t make sudden moves! Carry yourself well.”
Me: “Yes, Maymee.”
Grandma: “And Toni?”
Me: “Yes?”
Grandma: “If you can leave work, leave work.”

I’m sure she didn’t mean leave work for the day since I wasn’t at work when I told her… Heehee. Pregnancy and the careerwoman — just another thing I’ll learn to adjust to!

*****

Cravings! I craved for Bistek Tagalog a lot last week. Thanks to my Dad who drove all the way to Batangas to get the Batangas Bistek I craved for, heehee. Awww, cheers to the love of fathers (and grandfathers!). Other than Bistek, I haven’t been craving for anything in particular. I do know that I hate tuna, fried chicken, the aroma of garlic and cheese pizza.

*****

Thank you again for all the prayers and the warm wishes. I’ll have the regular food updates up and running soon. And yes, pregnancy updates too! I happily continue to take my wifely steps, but even more eagerly begin my momly steps.

We’re having a baby!

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Last year, I felt Christmas was going to be different. I had the spirit! Then I lost it because I got sick. Little did I know that I was already pregnant then! It was my body adjusting to a new experience. So my gut feel was right all along, last Christmas WAS different.

Early this month, we finally took a pregnancy test. It took me 5 positive pregnancy tests to convince me that I really was pregnant. I couldn’t believe it. H & I couldn’t believe it. And so off we went to our OB, then got an ultrasound, and…

Oh yeah, we’re having a baby! I’m two months pregnant and have never been happier. Despite the all-day nausea, fatigue, heightened sense of smell, weird cravings, sleepiness, dizzy spells, I am enjoying every minute of my pregnancy.

Say hello to our little Timmy.

Weekend Soiree #52: A game of comment interaction

12 Replies

To make things more fun, the questions have to reflect the chosen theme. For example, if the theme is MONEY, all questions should relate to that topic. What was your first job? Do you save money in a piggy bank? As much as possible, let’s not repeat the questions for added fun! You are also welcome to play more than once.

Let’s celebrate our sense of smell with our fifty-second weekend soiree.

The theme: SMELL THIS! (Scents and Aromas)

The question: What scent brings back memories of your childhood?

Click here for past themes.

Cujo 4 of 52: Kahel

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Kahel ang ilaw sa silid. Nakahanda na ang tulugan. Malaking pagong na laruan? Tsek. Presa na unan? Tsek. Laruan din ba ang aso na ito? Mukhang stuffed toy ano? Siya si Cujo, at siya’y inaantok na. Handa na ang mga katabi niya sa pagpapahinga.

Handa nang matulog si Cujo. Laro tayo ulit bukas ha?

Ito ang aking lahok sa Litratong Pinoy, na may temang “Kahel.”

This Cujo pic a week is my little tribute to this fuzzy wuzzy family friend. 52 weeks in a year brings you 52 Cujo pics! Here are the past Cujo snaps:

The Beckoning of Lovely

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Here’s something to make you smile today.

That just teared me up. Ah, it’s the hump of the week and I hope you’re all doing beautifully.

I’m going through a little something right now. I ask for your positive thoughts, prayers, good vibes, shoutouts to the universe… I too want to beckon something lovely and share lovely things. For now, I’m calling out to you guys and the universe for happy thoughts and starry sparkles.

Thanks.

Weekend Soiree #51: A game of comment interaction

19 Replies

To make things more fun, the questions have to reflect the chosen theme. For example, if the theme is PICTURES, all questions should relate to that topic. Do you have a signature pose when you have your picture taken? Do you enjoy photography? As much as possible, let’s not repeat the questions for added fun! You are also welcome to play more than once.

Let’s give our eyes a visual feast for our 51st weekend soiree.

The theme: READING

The question: Which do you read more often — magazines or books?

Click here for past themes.

Bento here I come!

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While I didn’t win the Anthony Bourdain-signed cookbook from Kitchencow‘s contest, I did win a special prize! My raw fish entry won me a set of bento accessories. W00t w00t!

Thank you Kaoko! I’m so excited to prepare my very first bento with my prize.

Ode to wilted onion rings

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I love the sizzling sounds onion rings make when they hit the hot pan. I love the aroma it gives while sauteing. Best of all, I love its uncomplicated sweetness. The simple, homey flavor of wilted, almost-caramelized onions is one of my favorite gustatory delights.

Caramelizing onions is easy. Get your oiled pan nice and hot, slide in the onions, keep stirring them from time to time till they’re golden brown. It takes at least ten minutes.

As delicious as caramelized onions are, I prefer my onion rings golden on the edges but still white in the middle. What? I said I liked them a little golden but still juicy and a little chewy-crunchy in the middle. Semi-caramelized? I guess so. Wilted and a little brown on the edges. Sort of like a dying leaf. But that doesn’t sound too appetizing.

After semi-caramelizing my onions, I take out about five rings and set them aside. These are to be eaten without any sauce, without any rice, just them and them alone. The fab five. My five almost-golden rings. I savor these five rings dramatically. Oh yes I do.

The rest of the wilted onions then are mixed with my viand of choice. This evening, it was canned sardines. While I’ve sworn off canned food for health reasons, I still cannot let go of canned sardines. And pork and beans. I love pork and beans. But onions don’t go well with it. Wait, we’re talking about sardines here. Focus!

Pour the sardines over rice and BOOM! Comfort food! Best eaten while wearing an oversized shirt and pajamas.

While sardines are very flavorful, the stars of this dish for me are the onion rings. The wilted, lightly tanned onion rings. They give the dish a sweetness that isn’t cloying but simply, heartily filling.

You want uncomplicated sweetness? Semi-caramelize some onion rings. The only complication could be your breath if you eat too much, but then you already knew that.

Sa gitna ng asul

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Dapit-hapon na. Ngunit asul na asul pa rin ang langit at ayaw magpatalo ng araw.

Parang may gusto pang ihirit si Liwanag. Parang gusto pang maghatid ng regalo. Pakiramdam ko nga’y may lalabas na anghel sa gitna ng kanyang mga sinag.

Ano sa tingin niyo? May anghel kaya na parating?

Ito ang aking lahok sa Litratong Pinoy. Ang tema ngayong linggo ay “Asul”. Kayo ba’y may lahok din? Sali na!

Raw fish IS interesting

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“Raw fish?,” I asked my grandfather.

It was weird. He called it sashimi. Raw tuna. The pink block definitely looked raw, which just made me even more puzzled. Why in the world does he want me to taste raw fish? Was I a bad girl?

I was thirteen years old. I could not understand why my grandfather delighted in that weird lump. It looked slimey and gave me the shivers.

Then Mama took us to Mikimoto, a Japanese restaurant along West Ave. There I was faced again with tuna sashimi. Great. This time it was sliced in small rectangles, unlike the huge block my grandfather had back home.

Tuna Sashimi

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Cujo 3 of 52: Flower dog in the sun

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My sister said Cujo looks like one of the flowers from Disney’s Alice in Wonderland. Yes he does! Can you guess which one?

“You can learn a lot of things from the flowers, for especially in the month of June. There’s a wealth of happiness and romance, all in the golden afternoon.”

This Cujo pic a week is my little tribute to this fuzzy wuzzy family friend. 52 weeks in a year brings you 52 Cujo pics! Here are the past Cujo snaps:

The husband blogs

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Picture this! H and I are talking about 2009 plans, and he mentions blogging. Blogging?, I ask, wondering if I heard right. Yup, he confirms, and excitedly shares his ideas.

Without further ado, I’d like to introduce H’s blog: Pictiu this!

H has always enjoyed taking photos and so thought of putting a photo blog together. He uses his cam phone for his blog. It’s great to see him excited about another hobby. He’s already looking forward to joining Litratong Pinoy!

I hope you can visit and drop him a note! It would be greatly encouraging. See you there!