Hope this new thing would help me achieve my ideal weight! (gain 15kilos!)
Good morning!
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
chef mode
I noticed when I get home early, I kinda find myself wanting to cook... maybe I should force myself to always leave office early...I might be unleashing my :chef" potential...:P
toasted(fried talaga dapat) fish (not sure about what kind these are)
sauteed bittermelon (not bitter anymore!)
chicken afritada
Hope this new thing would help me achieve my ideal weight! (gain 15kilos!)
Good morning!
Hope this new thing would help me achieve my ideal weight! (gain 15kilos!)
Good morning!
Sunday, February 6, 2011
washed and renewed
In just about an hour and a half, I spent x% of my salary!
...on car maintenance!
she had her bath,
she had her break pads changed,
she had her spark plugs changed,
she had herself tuned-up,
she had her oil changed.
Overall, it was a nice way to start the morning (except for the money I had to shell-out..haha)
Afterall, she deserves to have some pampering now and then (well, should be regularly!) because our safety lies in her. She should get all that she need to elongate her lifespan. So eventhough, my wallet hurt so bad today, I'm happy I gave some time to have her checked.
And while waiting, I began to ponder, our life is just like the car and our God is the generous owner who never fails to shower it with all that it needs and much more.
Sometimes we all get so dirty and broken, we lose sight of the wonderful things God has given to us. We tend to focus so much on how our lives have torn into pieces, inflicting insecurities and uncertainties to ourselves. And yet, here comes our God, just when we thought we hit rock bottom, washing us, wiping the dirt that has prevented us to see a clear vision of what is in store for us. He renews us by changing old parts of our lives into something new. He sends us His instruments that helps us change our perspectives in life and understand what is really essential to us.
And with that, we are able to head to the direction which He leads us - to His Kingdom.
...on car maintenance!
she had her bath,
she had her break pads changed,
she had her spark plugs changed,
she had herself tuned-up,
she had her oil changed.
Overall, it was a nice way to start the morning (except for the money I had to shell-out..haha)
Afterall, she deserves to have some pampering now and then (well, should be regularly!) because our safety lies in her. She should get all that she need to elongate her lifespan. So eventhough, my wallet hurt so bad today, I'm happy I gave some time to have her checked.
And while waiting, I began to ponder, our life is just like the car and our God is the generous owner who never fails to shower it with all that it needs and much more.
Sometimes we all get so dirty and broken, we lose sight of the wonderful things God has given to us. We tend to focus so much on how our lives have torn into pieces, inflicting insecurities and uncertainties to ourselves. And yet, here comes our God, just when we thought we hit rock bottom, washing us, wiping the dirt that has prevented us to see a clear vision of what is in store for us. He renews us by changing old parts of our lives into something new. He sends us His instruments that helps us change our perspectives in life and understand what is really essential to us.
And with that, we are able to head to the direction which He leads us - to His Kingdom.
Saturday, January 22, 2011
...loving it so far
Here are my latest creations: ( should have made a calendar for this)
Anyway, I just love the spontaneity of having the "urge" to cook. ( didn't really thought this could happen this soon..err..this late? ;P)
I've got good reviews from my family as well (they might be just pulling my leg, but hey it works!)
my favorite sinigang na baboy!
hope my new found love (should i say like first?) for cooking would help me achieve my "gain 15kilos" goal for this year!
Anyway, I just love the spontaneity of having the "urge" to cook. ( didn't really thought this could happen this soon..err..this late? ;P)
I've got good reviews from my family as well (they might be just pulling my leg, but hey it works!)
Grilled Salmon in Buttered Lemon
ham + cheese wrapped in chicken, dipped in bread crumbs
SINIGANG!
hope my new found love (should i say like first?) for cooking would help me achieve my "gain 15kilos" goal for this year!
Sunday, January 2, 2011
first time...again
I never really had the passion for food especially for cooking, as you can see in my very petite built.
My tongue didn't have the pleasure of tasting "good food" especially those with mayonnaise. I also practically grew up eating "dry" food - deprived myself of any "sawsawan" you can think of. I can't tell what the ingredients are for a particular dish. With all thes, you know how poor I have been when it comes to cooking.
Aside from frying eggs and cooking rice, I didn't have a real encounter with kitchen stuffs until I started living alone in Japan. Due to high cost of living, I opted to cook my meals instead of frequently buying from konbini, (convenient stores) fastfood chains or restaurants. Due to limited knowledge about what to cook, i got help from fellow officemates and of course, Mr. Google. But even with these help, my dishes are only for my taste! Adobo, sinigang, mixed veggies, menudo, curry, were my most frequent dishes. Compared to others, my creations barely passed their tastebuds.
I remember one time, when our sensei requested to have a taste of our dishes. I prepared sauteed vegetables with ground pork. When she tasted it, she described it as fushigi na aji (mysterious taste!!!). I guess that's just her way of giving constructive criticism. ;P
We also had a Saturday night pigout session with ex-officemates before. We were grouped in pairs, each Saturday, one pair is to prepare food for everybody. And when it was our turn, I remember everything was prepared by my partner, Mai, while I do the mixing, frying, etc.
When I got back from Japan, I did not cook anymore. My simple corned beef didn't pass my family's taste buds, so I left all the cooking to my siblings and my mom. Fast forward to 2010 yearend. I got inspired by how easy the dish prepared by my boss during the birthday celebration of her husband, our President. So out of the blue, I decided, I'll prepare that for Christmas!
And so here are my creations for the holiday season:
baked cream dory
chicken breast wrapped in bacon
*my mom placed potatoes to improved the taste - was very salty at first!
carbonara sauce
* followed instruction of my beautiful sister :D
sauteed mixed vegetables
I hope this new found excitement for cooking won't fade. It's about time to get a little bit domesticated. Am already halfway through my life! Might as well try to make this a hobby. :) I believe this is a another reason why the universe conspired to give me a work near my place. I could do more than my usual stuff.
New year. New beginning. :D
My tongue didn't have the pleasure of tasting "good food" especially those with mayonnaise. I also practically grew up eating "dry" food - deprived myself of any "sawsawan" you can think of. I can't tell what the ingredients are for a particular dish. With all thes, you know how poor I have been when it comes to cooking.
Aside from frying eggs and cooking rice, I didn't have a real encounter with kitchen stuffs until I started living alone in Japan. Due to high cost of living, I opted to cook my meals instead of frequently buying from konbini, (convenient stores) fastfood chains or restaurants. Due to limited knowledge about what to cook, i got help from fellow officemates and of course, Mr. Google. But even with these help, my dishes are only for my taste! Adobo, sinigang, mixed veggies, menudo, curry, were my most frequent dishes. Compared to others, my creations barely passed their tastebuds.
I remember one time, when our sensei requested to have a taste of our dishes. I prepared sauteed vegetables with ground pork. When she tasted it, she described it as fushigi na aji (mysterious taste!!!). I guess that's just her way of giving constructive criticism. ;P
We also had a Saturday night pigout session with ex-officemates before. We were grouped in pairs, each Saturday, one pair is to prepare food for everybody. And when it was our turn, I remember everything was prepared by my partner, Mai, while I do the mixing, frying, etc.
When I got back from Japan, I did not cook anymore. My simple corned beef didn't pass my family's taste buds, so I left all the cooking to my siblings and my mom. Fast forward to 2010 yearend. I got inspired by how easy the dish prepared by my boss during the birthday celebration of her husband, our President. So out of the blue, I decided, I'll prepare that for Christmas!
And so here are my creations for the holiday season:
baked cream dory
chicken breast wrapped in bacon
*my mom placed potatoes to improved the taste - was very salty at first!
carbonara sauce
* followed instruction of my beautiful sister :D
sauteed mixed vegetables
I hope this new found excitement for cooking won't fade. It's about time to get a little bit domesticated. Am already halfway through my life! Might as well try to make this a hobby. :) I believe this is a another reason why the universe conspired to give me a work near my place. I could do more than my usual stuff.
New year. New beginning. :D
Saturday, January 1, 2011
no way but up
Alas!
The new year has come.
I'm ready to embrace what's instore for me! Bring it on.
Thank you for the year that was - somewhat of a roller coaster ride but definitely worth it! Dove down deep and faster than I imagined but rose up feeling the warm breeze. :)
2011 might be another roller coaster ride, but who cares? Might as well enjoy the ride!
Monday, December 20, 2010
A Different Christmas
I have been used to spending Christmas with enough money to buy presents for my family, relatives, friends and godchildren. I always start making my list early and by the time December comes, I am almost done shopping for those in my loooooong list. And I happily wrap each one of them. (my favorite part!)
I try to give something useful. If possible, I wanted my gifts with a personal touch.
But today, Christmas is a bit different.
I didn't have enough budget for my gifts.
I lack the time to buy them.
I feel a little bit incomplete. It really does happen when what you are used to doing, is suddenly stopped or changed.
But what does Christmas really mean?
Will it be complete when you are able to give presents in your list of important people in your life?
Will it be complete when you are able to attend all the parties lined up before Christmas eve?
Will it be complete when you are able to greet everybody on your Facebook/Twitter accounts?
Will it be complete when you are able to attend all of the days for Simbang Gabi and all other days of obligation for the Advent/Christmas season?
Will it be complete when you are able to give yourself a Christmas gift?
This year, I'm going back to the heart of Christmas. ( got the line from a song).
Jesus Christ.
I wanted this season to be all about Him.
And through Him - I wish for peace of mind, forgiveness and restoration.
Today was the last day of the Feast for this year. And because of the talk given, it pushed me to write what I realized. (what a long introduction, huh?)
This year, Christmas is different because I was stripped off all the material things I wanted.
This year, Christmas is different because I rediscovered Jesus.
And as I look back, I am overwhelmed by HIS presence! Indeed, I have a BIG GOD!
And I've got nothing but thanksgiving for HIM.
2010 started with seemingly insurmountable storms.
My three-year relationship ended.
I resigned from my four-year work.
I got my savings depleted.
And yeah, some might have had bigger problems than those, but they really shook me.
Suddenly,I felt uncertain. I was so lost and desperate. I felt alone. (haha! that sound so low!)
I never thought I would, but I hit rock bottom.
I struggled for a few months, hoping for the gloomy days to be over.
And just as I was about to give up, the grace of God came pouring down.
He might have been knocking at my heart all along, but I was too busy nursing my broken heart and pride.
And so today, I want to thank HIM for all that He has done for me - especially for this year.
He gave so much, I coudn't ask for more. He re-opened my eyes. Amidst the chaos in my heart, He slowly brought healing and comfort. And even if I started with a stormy year, I am ending it with a bang!
And so, this Christmas, I want to thank HIS instruments,
my family, who have silently shared my pains and tried hard to cheer me up,
Sharie (and Victor), truly, friendship knows no boundaries! I can't thank you enough for putting up with me,
my ever loyal gimikeros friends - i always knew you'd all be there,
my high school girl friends - thanks for lending your ears,
Jira, Chelle, Keicie, Zam, Mai, Melissa, Arcie, Donna, Cyrus & Germaine, Roben, I appreciate you all so much, true friends indeed!
Pao, thank you for the memories and the lessons,
my LOJ Family, for the spiritual nourishment, I won't be feeling better if not for the powerful talks and soulful worship songs
my (upper) CG, especially to Bro Aris & Sis Leen, the sharings made me realize a lot,
my new CG group, T.G.I.W!, thanks for all the sharings, you all are blessings to me,
my new officemates, God answered my prayers through you.
to my many other friends, thank you :D
This Christmas, I may not have the means to give something of worth but know that I love you with the love of the Lord, and I thank God for letting me have precious relationships with you all.
This might be too cheezy already, but as I've said, I just want to thank the Lord for all He has done - and you're part of it.
I pray that God will continuously shower you all with abundant blessings in all areas of your life!
5 days more...MERRY CHRISTMAS!!! :D
Thursday, September 2, 2010
no left turn!
Last Monday, I dropped off a friend at SM Makati. Not wanting to be caught at the No Loading/Unloading zone along EDSA, I turned right before Dusit. Then I turned left at the first intersection, turned left again at Pasay road.and then viola! a Makati traffic enforcer waved at me signaling me to stop.
I stopped puzzled and asked the traffic enforcer what my violation was. He said I violated traffic signs. "Huh? where? when?" I questioned. He explained that there are "No Left Turn" signs both sides of the street where I came from. I argued in disbelief! We always passed that way before and this was the first time I got caught. I didn't see any sign! How big are they? Are they even visible? Two signs posted at each side and I didn't even notice one? Huff.
To cut the story short, I gave up my license even if the police was giving signs that it's ok to pay there ( read: pang-merienda!) to avoid the hassle of getting my license at their office the following day. I was so irritated that I resisted the temptation of giving them what they want. Besides, I don't have barya. (lol!)
I just attended a recollection that day, so on my way back home, I pondered on what happened.I just heard from a speaker that there she went through the hassle of getting another driver license because she misplaced her old one. When she got back, her household helper found the missing card. So she got two already. She explained that there is a reason why it happened to her. And she found out that she just needs to pray for the people working at LTO who might be suffering from something. Maybe it is the same for me, maybe there is a reason or a lot of reasons why this happened.
So here are my thoughts on what happened:
a.) I easily get irritated. I still fail to clear my mind and think of the best possible solution whenever I'm caught unprepared for situations like this.
b.) It's so hard to be a Christian! (haha! agree?) I easily forgot calling unto Him whenever I've got mini issues.I really need to work on this.
c.) Everything changes! (as if this is the first time I've realized that!) Haha. In a wider perspective, not everything we think is true will always be true. Sometimes, there are circumstances that force the current situation to change. And of course, they come with reasons - either positive or negative. And we just have to deal with it. (There are always exceptions though - sometimes there are things you can influence to change. You just need to distinguish which is which.)
d.) Always be observant. See, feel, hear the changes around you so you can act accordingly. We tend to neglect things that are familiar to us already.
Hmm.. the end.
P.S. I got my license back! Yey!
I stopped puzzled and asked the traffic enforcer what my violation was. He said I violated traffic signs. "Huh? where? when?" I questioned. He explained that there are "No Left Turn" signs both sides of the street where I came from. I argued in disbelief! We always passed that way before and this was the first time I got caught. I didn't see any sign! How big are they? Are they even visible? Two signs posted at each side and I didn't even notice one? Huff.
To cut the story short, I gave up my license even if the police was giving signs that it's ok to pay there ( read: pang-merienda!) to avoid the hassle of getting my license at their office the following day. I was so irritated that I resisted the temptation of giving them what they want. Besides, I don't have barya. (lol!)
I just attended a recollection that day, so on my way back home, I pondered on what happened.I just heard from a speaker that there she went through the hassle of getting another driver license because she misplaced her old one. When she got back, her household helper found the missing card. So she got two already. She explained that there is a reason why it happened to her. And she found out that she just needs to pray for the people working at LTO who might be suffering from something. Maybe it is the same for me, maybe there is a reason or a lot of reasons why this happened.
So here are my thoughts on what happened:
a.) I easily get irritated. I still fail to clear my mind and think of the best possible solution whenever I'm caught unprepared for situations like this.
b.) It's so hard to be a Christian! (haha! agree?) I easily forgot calling unto Him whenever I've got mini issues.I really need to work on this.
c.) Everything changes! (as if this is the first time I've realized that!) Haha. In a wider perspective, not everything we think is true will always be true. Sometimes, there are circumstances that force the current situation to change. And of course, they come with reasons - either positive or negative. And we just have to deal with it. (There are always exceptions though - sometimes there are things you can influence to change. You just need to distinguish which is which.)
d.) Always be observant. See, feel, hear the changes around you so you can act accordingly. We tend to neglect things that are familiar to us already.
Hmm.. the end.
P.S. I got my license back! Yey!
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