Cup-pirasong Cake!

I have been baking a little too often this month. Just this week alone, I did 96 cupcakes in total.

A dozen of that have been devoured last Sunday.

Last Tuesday, 28 cupcakes went along with Yoyon to his child care for his pre-birthday celebration. His treat for the little people in his "school". (The rainbow icing was an inspiration from my kumareng April. I used a small pipe and cheap food colouring for my practice.)

Wednesday was the night I started baking carrot walnut and vanilla choc chip cupcakes. All stored in the fridge right now, waiting to be frosted and decorated for my little lion's party on Saturday.

Only used a cheap hand held mixer for all of these. So you guessed it right - my forearms need some loving massage right now. But I can't stop just yet. I have choco-mocha and almond orange flavours lined up fro Friday night (after office hours!!!).

I am truly enjoying this craft right now. I am beginning to think that I might have to bid adieu to my collection of scrapbooking materials and tools (just when I have finished painting my scrapping room - I can see DH going , "Tsk! Tsk! Tsk!"). But then again, baking and cake decorating is done in the kitchen. That means, I still get to keep (and maybe use again) my colourful scraproom.

Don't lose heart ...

I got this "Important Announcement" via email today from HillSong

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Dear Church,

In the past 24 hours it has been brought to our attention that Michael Guglielmucci’s illness is not what we have been led to believe.

Michael has confirmed that he is not suffering with a terminal illness and is seeking professional help in Adelaide with the support of his family.

This news has come as a great shock to everyone including, it seems, his own wife and family.

We are asking our church to pray for the Guglielmucci family during this difficult time.



God bless,

George Aghajanian
General Manager
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I am a bit saddened but his composition "Healer" will remain to be a favourite. I will not lose heart whenever I sing this song because I sing it for Him alone.

A wise man once explained to me, that I cannot set my eyes on the church or on the people/pastors/priests - or we are bound to get shakened/delusional/cynical once they falter. Rather I should fix my eyes on the Holy One - the One who is constant - who is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

(I am married to that man! Though imperfect, he is a significant part of all the good things I believe today!)

Fun Friday

For a very busy working mother like me, preparing a weekly menu can be stressful sometimes. So I would normally vote a Pizza night while Friday has become more of a "Fun Friday". That saves me from labouring too much in the kitchen at least two nights a week.

But as we try to hit our goals, I had to do some cost cutting. So Friday would sometimes be anything in the pantry that I can put together as one dish. It goes between omelet corned beef, stir fry chow mein with whatever veggie and fishball/meat, pizza pasta, ham/cheese/tomato toast.

Yesterday, DH and I were both craving for Peking Duck. So when mama txted me that she didn't cook anything for dinner, we both took the cue to take her to our favorite local Chinese restaurant.

Our boylilits had good fun watching how the whole duck is sliced and chopped, placed in crepe topped with slivers of onion and some hoisin sauce. Yum... Craving has been sated... Fun Friday indeed!

For my little cub

Because we skipped throwing him a birthday party last year, I promised myself that I will be slaving on the preparations this year. ((( Gulp! )))

But I'm keeping it simple still .

Here's a few of what I have accomplished so far.

1. A 6' x 3' tarpaulin as welcome banner.

2. Digital invite.

3. Reserved puppetry service from Murphy's Puppets.

4. Practicing on baking and decorating cupcakes.

My cub has a sweet tooth like his mummy. He loves cakes. He devours them. So I figured, I should serve a lot of sweet treats on his party!

Here's what I have perfected so far.. (Wow, perfected daw oh!) ...

1. Carrot walnut cake

2. Almond friands

3. Crinkles

My next project is the flourless chocolate cake.

Yummm... calories!!!

Playing Doctor

Last weekend we celebrated the birthday of Tin. (She moved to Sydney more than a year ago but I have known her since we were five years old. We went to the same kindergarten, even classmates when we graduated high school, and went to the same college in UST. But she finished med school while I did Computer Science.)

 

Being a doctor herself, ALL her guests were doctors except DH and me.

 

Anyway, we had this funny conversation over dinner.

 

Tom (to us): Oh my God, we got you two (IT people) surrounded by doctors!!!
Louie : That's cool! I play doctor to her (pointing to me) sometimes!

 

((( Everyone laughed!)))

 

Oo nga naman! Gusto niyo makita nurse suit ko? Hehehehe!

 

Goals, goals, goals!

Pardon the absence. We have been busy lately. But with the arrival of groovy Lola a couple of weeks ago, I'm going to have time to catch up on some breathing again.

Anyway, I just needed to blog this one for posterity reasons. This is an excerpt from my DH's email to me last 7th August.

He has been reading, (his term actually is more of "hooked into"), a lot of motivational books/e-books. He finished lately "8 Secrets of the Truly Rich" by Bo Sanchez and "Who Took My Money" by Robert Kiyosaki. Now he's halfway through "Think and Grow Rich" by Napoleon Hill and James McIntyre's "What I Wish".

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anyway, share ko lang things i want to feed my subconscious mind

i imagine our life to be like this…

- to be employed by others will no longer be a necessity

- we’ll have many income streams and never have to worry about our financial needs. total financial independence!!!

- we will buy our house, car, boat and any luxury we want with cold cash, no more debts whatsoever!!!

- we will travel at least once a year overseas, locally, limitless, whenever we want

- we will setup businesses in the phils and employ our relos to improve their lives

- we will buy/aide our love ones to acquire their house

- we’ll have all the time we want to spend with our kids

- we’ll be able to give at least 10% of our income to the church and start our own ministry of helping people

- we’ll make love in the middle of the ocean on our luxurious boat

- we’ll make love in the air on our private plane

- we’ll have spa/massages whenever we want

- we’ll build the house i used to always picture in my mind when i daydream when i was a kid (multi-level, with gym, basketball/tennis etc court, swimming pool/sauna, cinema... as in, underground garage… batman style, helipad)


think of these things, think as if we already have them, that we’re already living this kind of life…

i love you babes… i will share all these just with you.


kisses,
me
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I was thrilled except the last point about the big house doesn't seem to appeal to me. With our current situation, a five bedroom second level is just too much to maintain.

But overall, I had a good 10 seconds living in that dream. For me there's nothing wrong about dreaming for more as long as your purpose is aligned with HIS master plan.

Last Hurrah at being 30...

You know how they've got "baby moon" these days wherein the couples celebrate a romantic getaway before the delivery of their baby? I will call yesterday, my birthday moon.

I had a wonderful time closing down the last day of me being thirty yesterday. Why? My loving DH invested on pulling off a grand surprise!

Days leading to this weekend, he was telling me that he will take me somewhere for my birthday. For how long - he never really said. Then, he asked if I wanted to go to the Blue Mountains, and of course I said yes. (He knew I've been wanting to go hiking or simply enjoy a good view of the valley from the mountains).


He then said I had to take some change clothes with me. Got me asking what kind of clothes... "Are we going to sleep over somewhere?". "Are we going for some fine dining?". "Are we going for another adrenalin rush?"

I was trying to suss out to the best I can. But finally he said, that he's got nothing planned out in particular but we'll just decide when we get there. He was really trying to confuse me. But he made it clear that it is important that we leave early because he wanted to get there before breakfast so we could have a lot of time for other activities.

The night before, he was googling for restaurants, some spa/Japanese bath houses. And he got me packing some change clothes and my bikini. But no sleepwear.

Morning came and we hugged and kissed the 2 boys goodbye for the day. I never knew I would never get to spend the night with them.

--------------------------------

Yesterday, we created beautiful memories.

We enjoyed a full breakfast at The Conservation Hut by the cliff overlooking the Jamison Valley.


We hiked down the valley not really knowing how far and how long it will take. We didn't even change our shoes. We didn't take anything except our camera and mobile phones. We didn't even have a map with us. We just relied on signs and tracks that would eventually lead us to the bottom of this valley where we got to appreciate Wentworth Falls. The bushwalking took us a good 3 hours. Our legs are still sore upto now. But it was good fun!!!



And my DH hinted that we would surely have a good sleep after hours of walking. And that was because he booked at the Palais Royalein Katoomba (Not in Paris! Geeze, I was almost in Paris again, huh!) for an overnight stay. It was a private hotel that took name after the Palais Royal in Paris, France.


And at the back of the car, was a small suitcase he pulled out that contained clothes and shoes he packed himself with a little help from my Ate the previous night. Hmmm, the clothes and shoes almost didn't match (but I coped well) and he forgot some of my kikay toiletries. But he boasted that he didn't fail to bring my tootbrush and his favourite lingerie of mine. Hahahaha!

We enjoyed a sumptous dinner at the Solitary. Highly recommended! It was a bit pricey but the food was exceptional.


I was just speechless. I was in awe. The whole time we were both happy creating something we both know we will remember years upon years.


And today is the start of moving onto the right of 30. My boys - I missed them so much and I just wanted to tell them how their father made me feel NEWER again!

This is my high school music(al)!

Feeling high school again as we jammed with Ely Buendia of the band Eraserheads last Friday night. From "Alapaap", browsing through "Magasin", as we share a good kampay with "O Pare Ko!" until we hit "El Bimbo". And if you have no idea what I am talking about, "Huwag Mo Ng Itanong!". Hehehehe!

Here are a few pics with Ely from my favorite Alternative Rock band back in high school!

Gr8 Day 2gether!

We celebrated our 8th anniversary today. Before we cap the night *wink*, let me recall how it went.

It began with a wake up kiss and a warm whisper of "Happy Anniversary" from DH. Of course it was accompanied by a tight embrace. But that's common for us to be locked up in each other's arms all night long. Aaawwww!

Anyway, we had plan for this day to be filled with simple pleasures. So long as we are together happily - this day will be as grand as any luxurious celebration.

And so, while getting ready, he first took Wiji to school and left Yoyon with me. And then he came back and surprised me with a bouquet of peach roses. My fave colour of roses.

Then after dropping off Yoyon at the child care, we caught the bus to the city. Felt like being tourists when we got to the harbour (Circular Quay)!

Made a few poses around Sydney harbour to kill time before the main activity of the day. Hahaha! (Took advantage of other "turistas" for some photo opp!)

So what was planned for the day? - Try something different for that adrenalin rush! Prior to breakfast, we booked ourselves to this 45 minute jetboat ride.

And from being sooo dry, DH and I ended up overly saturated. Our clothes never recovered even until we got home tonight. My mini was even dripping while walking up the city streets afterwards.

So before we could even sit down to grab lunch, we had to look for decent shops (READ: SALE is the operative word!) for some unexpected shopping! And because of this, we ran out of time to try the dim sums at the newly opened franchise of Din Tai Fung. So we ended up having SuperBowl across Chinatown. Hehehe! Simple pleasures, remember?

Anyway, before catching the bus home, we had a few drinks at Bar333 and took the chance to pen down my thoughts onto the anniversary card I just bought then! Slack I am... NOT! I have long bought one but it I must have misplaced it. Couldn't find it last night. And it's very important for me not to let the day pass without giving him an anniversary card since he had already given me his very heartwarming card last night.

I know this posting have gone far too long and you must love or like us at least to reach this far. But like what I said to my DH in my card, I have loved you this far and I am not yet finished loving you even further more!

My Wish List

Our 8th church wedding anniversary is coming up. My DH has sort of made suggestions how we're going to spend the day. And I'm excited already!

There's no gift in particular I want to get this year. But I know I have (an unending) list of needs/wants. But whenever I am being asked - I just get mentally blocked.

So let me get these wishes started before they escape my (100 terabyte) memory again.

1. A new perfume. I tested a perfume at Myer a few weeks ago and liked it. But I forgot the name. 'Shame!

2. A necklace. I don't own one yet. My bling blings don't count. Sorry!

3. Room filled with roses and bears and chocolates just like in the movie Good Luck Chuck. I remember getting a room filled with air pumped balloons you did at 3 o'clock in the morning.

4. A booking at Spa Chakra. Only, it had to be with you!

5. A set of hot rollers! I'm done with my curling irons.

6. A KitchenAid mixer. See this.

7. Degustation at Forty-One or Tetsuya's. But I'll have a go at Prime first. Medium rare steak is just getting popular with me nowadays.

8. Cupcakes on Pitt St. (Cause I haven't tasted them yet!)

There you go. I'm pretty sure I will be attaching more to this list. Needs and wants vary over time, don't they?

A Life That Matters

by Michael Josephson

Ready or not, someday it will all come to an end.

There will be no more sunrises, no minutes, hours, or days.

All the things you collected, whether treasured or forgotten, will pass to someone else.

Your wealth, fame, and temporal power will shrivel to irrelevance.

It will not matter what you owed, or what you were owed.

Your grudges, resentments, frustrations, and jealousies will finally disappear.

So, too, your hopes, ambitions, plans, and to-do lists will expire.

The wins and losses that once seemed so important will fade away.

It won’t matter where you came from, or what side of the tracks you lived, at the end.

Even your gender and skin color will be irrelevant.

So what will matter?

How will the value of your days be measured?

What will matter is not what you bought, but what you built; not what you got, but what you gave.

What will matter is not your success, but how hard you tried.

What will matter is not what you learned but what you taught.

What will matter is every act of integrity, compassion, courage, or sacrifice that enriched, empowered, or encouraged others to emulate your example.

What will matter is not your competence, but you character.

What will matter is not how many people you knew, but how many will feel a lasting loss when you’re gone.

What will matter is not your memories, but the memories that live in those who loved you.

What will matter is how long you will be remembered by whom and for what.

Living a life that matters doesn’t happen by accident.

It’s not a matter of chance, but of choice.

Choose to live a life that matters.

Our Favourite Quotes

... from the Bible.

From DH:
Hebrews 10:23 - "Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful."

Philippians 1:6 - "...being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."

From Me:
Jeremiah 29:11 - "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

Isaiah 40:31- "But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."

Do you have an ultimate passage from the Bible that you always cling to, that motivates you to keep pressing forward amidst challenging situations?

Care to share?

Dance with me...

Cause I will never dance with anybody else BUT YOU!

Indiana Jones meets Lara Croft

This is what happens when Indiana Jones meets the original Tomb Raider.Dressed up as our all time fave archaelogists for our dear friend's 30th birthday surprise party last Friday night.

Special screening of Hollywood movies. Had to do it or dinner will never be served. Hahaha!

Complete with all our "arte"-facts!!!

But never forgetting parenting duties.

Nakakayamot !!!

Parents board flight, forget their child


These Filipino immigrants forgot their child at the Vancouver International airport as they caught a connecting flight going to Winnipeg.


Kayamot talaga! Maraming namamatay sa maling akala. Thankfully, the boy was in safe hands all the time his parents were up in the air.

Weekend Celebrations

	On the eve of DH's birthday, around nine o'clock in the evening he dragged me (gracefully) to the city to "experience" Lindt hot chocolate.
	We even saved queue time with the help of our friend Rey and Jules who just had dinner at Wagamama and were also going for a choco break with a group of friends! (Thanks Mommy Jules for taking the photo!)
	Another bonus was the presence of Carl Riseley - former Australian Idol finalist getting a cold drink. I tried to get a decent shot but the wait staff advised me not. Kill joy! I guess it's just photo op for the me and DH.
	To get over the fullness of the drink, we opted to walk a fair bit around Darling Harbour and found ourselves in Bungalow bar for some vodka and bourbon. It has been four years since we last stepped into this bar. This is how we capped his last night of being 30. What happened next - I leave to your great imagination!
	The morning after is Mother's Day and of course he is now officially, 31. This was my morning surprise. Breakfast in bed...
	... and a lot of (smothering) kisses from our two adorable boys. They are the reasons why I can proudly celebrate Mother's Day.
	Special mention to my DH who prepared my brekky. He was more inspired when Wiji, played "Happy Birthday" tune from his keyboard while he was in the kitchen.
	We got an impromptu lunch invitation from our good friend J & C. In the afternoon, we decided to bowl with a few friends and to let the kids experience "bowling". (I was thinking of having a bowling party for Wiji. But after last Sunday, I thought we'd just do that next year for his 7th.). Then heard the 7pm service at HillSong church. Oh, the message was perfect with the occasion (my occasion, that is!). It was entitled "Tears of a Mother".
	We had dinner at home... Practiced some "ballroom dancing" for an upcoming "costume" party. (Check this space for more details next weekend.) And you can guess that our fingers (from bowling) and toes (from dancing) were dead tired for the day.
	DH and I had a great time with our double celebration. They were simple and intimate but they were enjoyed most! As the saying goes, "Simple pleasures are life's treasures!". Happy Birthday dear hubby (DH)! You know I won't be celebrating motherhood without you!

Breaking News: Mother's day is nearing and so is hubby's birthday...

It's not fair! DH is stealing the thunder from me!!!

His birthday is coinciding with Mother's Day this year. I know he and the boys are upto something. But I particularly made it known that the ultimate gift I want this year is a BREAK!

Yes I need a break from everyone, and everything, and anyone, and anything! I can imagine myself ALONE (that's the operative word!) up in the mountains, gazing at God's beautiful creation (which I full well know could see straight away by just looking in the mirror... kapal! Don't close your browser yet! Nagjo-joke lang po!), feeling the breeze as it touches my soul, enjoying a few hours of serene solitude.

But what I got from DH is a big disapproval. Yes, he would love to give me a break (from my domestic duties) , provided I wouldn't be far from his reach and away from his sight.

I obliged with one condition that he will take me up to the mountains one day SOON. This time I can imagine myself still gazing down at the valleys, still feeling the breeze, but embracing a few hours of serenity while resting my head on my DH's shoulders.

Perfect BREAK... when, oh, when?

Newest Addiction

This is the latest craze within our household. The Easy Way Bubble Tea, particularly the Taro Milk Tea with (black) sago pearls. And it was all started by dear hubby.

Wiji loves this drink and calls it the Purple Tea. Yoyon loves the chewy pearls.

I just love it at anytime of the day. We don't even mind driving late at night to get at the nearest takeaway kiosk. Which is like four suburbs away - a good 20 minute drive from where we live. We are not that addicted, I'm telling you...

A couple of months back we even tried submitting our interest of franchising one within our very own Castle Towers Shopping Mall... We never got a reply. Bummer! And last weekend, while strolling the mall, we saw this signage that says "Easy Way Bubble Tea soon opening here."

Happy but at the same time got disappointed that another business minded creature got ahead of us. Anyway, better luck next time. The important thing is we won't have to go too far to quench the thirst.

Intimate Conversations with a Child

Me : You know Wiji, I love you very much.
Wiji : I love you too Mum.
Me : And you know, my love for you will never ever change!
Wiji : I know!
Me : Really? Why do you say so?
Wiji : Because we live in the same house.

(Ngek! Emote pa naman ako!)

Me : No. I mean, whether we live in the same house or not, my love for you will always be there … BECAUSE YOU ARE MY SON and I began to love you even before you came out of Mum’s tummy!

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I hope he gets the “idea”. I think it is important to let our children be reminded, that circumstances may vary, but our love for them, will remain unchanged.


And I pray that if/when I get cranky and irritable, if/when he falls short of my expectations and if/when I couldn’t help getting disappointed or frustrated, he will always remember that I still love him to bits!