first pizza!

My son just turned a year older last August. He requested for pizza, but my schedule did not permit us to go to his favorite pizza place. So I decided to buy some pizza crust and some toppings on the weekend after his birth day. I bought two kinds of cheese, some pineapple tidbits, a can of sliced mushrooms, a pouch of tomato sauce, and sliced ham. My son is not that hard to please, and he likes lots of mushrooms and cheese on his pizza.

He woke up early that Saturday and he kept on asking if we can start preparing the pizza “now.” I have to tell him to wait until after lunch so he and his sister can eat their lunch. I don’t want them eating too much snack food. To some pizza is a nice and fast meal, well I do too, sometimes. But I just have to let my kids know what a good meal is, no matter how humble it may be. After countless queries as to when “the pizza preparation and cooking” should start, I finally relented two hours after lunch. I feel so happy watching my kids specially my son happily helping me prepare his pizza. I even let him prepare one whole pizza, with some coaching.

sorry bout this photo, it's too dark. that's my son preparing the first pizza that he (his hands actually, hehee) baked

2 slices left!

The pizza was a bit hard at the outer edges (a bit toasty!?) but all in all the pizza was ok. It was a special pizza ‘coz my son prepared it on his own. His smile made the activity worthwhile. Their father ate two slices and asked for another but when he saw that my son wants more he backed off! Hehehee. Our son finished four slices of it!

twin egg yolks!

Every weekend, I always try to rise early to cook breakfast for the family. The help can do it. But I want my kids to feel more special, I want them to know that I like to serve them whenever I can 'coz I want them to feel how much I care for them. I want them to feel that they are special to us.

Sometimes I feel sorry whenever my kids ask if I have to go to work the next day or can I bring or fetch them to school. I get sad whenever I hear them say that, more so when I see sadness that they try to mask whenever I tell them that I have to go.

The kids wake up early on weekends, maybe our presence makes them more charged up. So last week I tried to make an omellete for breakfast. And after breaking the shell of the first egg I was surprised when I saw two egg yolks!

Wow! Two egg yolks in one shell! Look at that!

My son was extra curious. He asked me more than twice if the egg yolks really came from one shell! He said those yolks are kambal (twins). Even my youngest was extra curious she kept on repeating the thing along with her brother for at least two days.

lustrous...pearl bracelet

After such a long time (can’t recall when was the last) I was able to make another bead jewelry. Well, actually to be more accurate, the pearl and wire strap bracelet of my watch. I like the pearls I used.

sorry but the resolution is not that good, but the pearls REALLY are lustrous! :)

So lustrous (at least tome! hehee), so shiny! Most of the pearls have a pinkish tint, but the pearls look more white than pink. The photos does not give the pearls justice.

i really like those pearls...

Maybe it’s the light or the camera’s resolution. Whichever, I still feel happy whenever I gaze at the pearls. I really like them I may make a necklace with pearls like those…

bothered

We always try to maintain proper hygiene whenever and wherever we go. The same is true with me. Whenever I go to work I always take early morning baths, do the usual brushing of teeth, some mouth wash, then off to work I go.

This is why I am so incensed when some people aren’t bothered with their personal hygiene. They can afford to ride on air conditioned buses and seem to be regularly employed so I just can’t understand sometimes why they aren’t wearing well laundered, sun dried or (machine dried) pleasantly smelling clothes. Why they stink is beyond me.

Ok! I’m sorry, If some of you are offended.

I just can’t help it! I don’t know why but these past few days I’ve been having that fate—an olfactory challenged passenger chooses to seat beside me! Sometimes their smell sticks to your clothes or on you (cigarette smoke! Yipes!). I am piqued whenever a stinking yawn is let out. That is when I feel as if Manila’s sewers just opened beside me…*@#

good news!

A Saudi prince from the House of Saud in partnership with Ayala Land purportedly will erect three hotels in Ayala’s commercial center. The hotels will rise from the former site of Park Square that fronts Landmark Department Store.

the hole is surrounded by green fence (at the center of the photo)

It has been months now since workers started digging/preparing the site and from the looks of it they are not yet through with the digging. The depth of the hole somehow can give onlookers the idea of how tall will the buildings there be. I am quite excited about it, ‘coz I was still in high school when my attention was caught by magazine tidbits about this business force ( a real prince too!). I read that he rose and got to where he is through hardwork and persistence.

the prince, surrounded by bodyguards, in a photo taken when he participated in a traditional festival in Saudi Arabia

Prince Al-Walid bin Talal is a big influence not only in the Gulf but to businesses around the Globe. I am hoping that his decision to invest here in the country will help boost our economy and encourage other investors to set up here.

a mom's soft side

 

my joy with her classmates

My youngest child is somehow a bit more sensitive than my eldest. So her preferences are always considered. She’s very assertive at home, to us, and even around the neighborhood but she is quite the opposite at her school. Meldy told me that she still talks a lot with her classmates but is shy when asked to answer in front of the class or during school presentations. Like when her class was tasked to present something about nutritious vegetables and fruits during their Nutrition Month program. She was on the second line, sniff* She’s kind of tall for her age. She’s taller than most of her classmates in nursery so maybe that’s how she got to be in second line (sniff* sniff* –– stage mother here!).

 

with Alexa her close friend in school, during their Nutrition Month program

Anyho! I get mushy everytime I come home these days ‘coz she’s been telling me that she misses me whenever she wakes up and can’t find me beside her. That she sometimes cries ‘coz she wants me beside her and misses me a lot when I’m at work. Then she proudly tells me that she doesn’t cry at class anymore! She says these everytime I get home from work. And her lines makes me feel guilty each time I hear them. But times are hard, some moms just have to work.

 

friends

winding road

Whenever I am running late I always take the shuttle that passes through Daang-Hari. The shuttles winds along middle-income to upper middle income Cavite subdivisions,

one of the upper middle class subs, that the shuttle passes by

these upper middle income subs have high voltage electric wires on top of their fences

posh Alabang subdivisions, the ritzy Ayala-Alabang village itself, Ayala-Alabang Commerce Avenue, past the Fil-Invest Mall, then on to the South Super Highway, then the Skyway, and the shuttle may then enter Makati at various entry points.

One of the main entrances to the ritziest ville in Ayala-Alabang (AA)

some of the mansions at AA can be seen from the fence fronting Commerce Avenue

the high fence is the outer fence of the ritziest ville in AA, the high rises are of the Ayala Alabang business center

Here are some of the potshots I took while riding the shuttle this morning. Bikers ride along Daang-Hari ‘coz the wide open road is not yet traffic clogged.

one of the bikers at Daang-Hari, a lot of fenced wide tracts of land are being readied for real state projects

I noticed though that vehicular density is increasing each month, more so when the Pasong Buaya portion of the Daang-Hari road was finished. I was not able to take a shot of the Bureau of Corrections gate. It would have amused some to know that it is only a couple of kilometers away from the big subs! And not that far from the ritziest ville of Alabang! Lolz!

inverted tomato planter

I've had my share of gardening and I do love to tinker in our pocket garden. I've planted roses, eggplants, chilis, tomatoes, even eggplants. I am even a bit familiar with hydrophonics - where plants are grown with water mixed with the necessary nutrients for growth. So, I'm a bit surprised when I chanced upon this inverted tomato planter.

In this planter the plants grow downward. The hanging stems or vines need almost no attention as fruits ripen in the air (not on the ground) where they wont rot. Plants like basil, parsley, rosemary, and peppers can be planted on top. The top part can hold up to 80 lbs. of topsoil. The compact planter can fit in any space with ample sunlight, even narrow balconies. A hollow base filled with sand (not included) keeps it stable and upright. The plastic planting bed, supported by PVC pipes, has openings for four tomato plants (or any recommended plant recommended by the manufacturer) underneath, with pop-out perforations for four additional openings. The planter is worth $79.95 and can be ordered online at hammacher.

mmmmmasarrrappp!

"In Tagalog masarap means delicious."

On Fridays and Saturdays you will notice some stalls near the entrance (parallel to Ace Hardware) to SM Department Store’s Makati branch. Those stalls sell baked goods to complete meals. You may find tahong (sea mussel) chips, chicharon or crispy pork skin, cakes, pastries, pastas, Japanese meals, and natives dishes like ginataang tulingan.

these ensaymadas are from Moms, i love these ensaymadas. they're so fluffy and soft and freshly baked

sushi anyone?

ginataang tulingan

the best gift

It seems that as time passes even the simplest things makes us really happy. I am happy whenever I am with my kids and happier when our family is complete. My heart overflows with joy with the simplest gesture from my kids and husband.

I would love to keep the rich moments to my memory but I don’t want old age to muddle it. Somehow I want to post it here for posterity (or until it is allowed to have it’s place online). In my last birthday, I did not expect anything fancy from my family. We just hurdled the usual financial duties for the kids’ education – school fees and everything upon enrollment. So I told my husband I wouldn’t mind if I’ll have a small cake only on that day.

When I arrived home, I was happy that my kids stayed late so they can greet me. Their greetings were more than enough to fill my heart with joy and contentment. More so when my son sheepishly gave me his gift.

wrapped in pad paper heheee

It was so simple and yet he made it for me thinking that it would make me happy. And that thought alone made me very very happy! So very happy! I hugged my son soo tight that night, I hugged my kids at the same time so nobody gets jealous, ‘coz I love them equally!