Tuesday, October 29, 2013

What's In My Cart: Hi-Top Supermart

I have already mentioned before that I rotate the grocery stores I frequent, with no recognized pattern.  It might seem complicated to some, but I love doing this because I discover new grocery items this way.  

One of the groceries I frequent is Hi-Top Supermarket.  What I like about Hi-Top is that it is just the right size for me to navigate easily.  It is not too big that grocery-shopping takes forever, but it is still big enough that everything I need is available.  The prices of most of the items here are low compared to others.  There is also a wide selection of imported items. 

There is also a small area for “specials;" items which are over-stocked or near expiry, and selling at a discounted price.  I always scour through this pile first before I start doing my grocery shopping.  I have managed to get good deals every now and then. 

It also has a good refund policy, which is so convenient on the rare occasions that I ask the husband to pass by to buy something, and he ends up buying the wrong brand or the wrong bottle size.  

Another factor that adds to the lure is also the presence of my favorite kakanin store tucked in a corner.  I love their suman sa latik and sapin-sapin.  One of the best in the metro!

Here are some of the grocery finds that that filled up my cart recently:

Purefoods Bacon Crumble.  (Please don't judge me!) Although we are not frequent consumers of bacon, there are dishes that just doesn't seem right without bacon in it.  Baked potato, minestrone, potato salad... it's a looong list, actually! heeheehee! It makes sense to buy them "crumbled" since I usually use the bacon as topping bits anyway.  I failed to get the price, but I think it sells for about less than P100.00, which is way cheaper than the smallest sized whole strips of bacons which sells for around P270.
 


Tuesday, October 22, 2013

Ways to Date your Spouse - On The Cheap!



I attended a parenting seminar by Maribel Dionesio some days ago. The seminar, given by my daughter’s school, was about how to team up with teens on rules and relationship.  Parents of teens, we all know, we need some help here.:) 

In any case, Maribel stressed that one important aspect on being a credible person in the eyes of our teens is to be a good parent in their eyes.  And one attribute which can make us good parents is continuously working on our relationship with our spouse.  

She strongly suggests having a once a week date with your spouse.  But we all know this is easier said than done.  Setting aside a time once a week to go out on a “date” with the husband can be a challenge once the children come.  Couples with small children especially know this to be true.  

This made me reflect on my own relationship with my husband. While we do not regularly go out on “traditional” dates.  We do, however, have our “daily date” which we both treasure.  Small pockets of uninterrupted time together, which was probably born in the early years of our marriage; surely, out of exasperation, after realizing what a major production it is to go out on a date – just the two of us.  We have incorporated this into our routine for the past decade quite conscientiously. We start our days with a breakfast date, and end it with a movie date.  

1. We both treasure our daily breakfast date.   We both consider it as an important way to start our day right.  As soon as the kids are in school, we treat the time together as our breakfast date.  On most days, I make an effort to prepare food that I know he will enjoy eating - and looking at. He is the type who appreciates food presentation, and so even if I don't do it as well as the professionals, I try to style the food before I serve it to him.

Here are some of the breakfast that I have served


He really enjoys it whenever I make the extra effort to style his plate… not that I think I am good at it.  But I know he appreciates the effort very much! Acts of service is one of his love language.
We enjoy starting the day with a quiet time to talk.  Remember, a date is all about spending time and being intimate by sharing thoughts, talking about our dreams, and having fun.

2. We enjoy capping the night by watching recordings our favorite tv shows.  After the kids have been tucked it (yes, even our teenager still asks to be tucked in each and every night), and night prayers have been said, we both look forward to watching an episode or two of our favorite tv series.  Occasionally, a glass of wine, a bottle of beer or a cup of hot choco make an appearance.  

Maybe it’s just me, but I prefer this relaxed style of dating.  Not only do we not worry about parking or getting stuck in traffic, this is also a much more economical way to date.

What about you? How do you date your spouse?


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Thursday, October 17, 2013

Intramuros via Segway



The walled city of Intramuros is the oldest district in the city of Manila, thus it has such a rich and storied history within its old walls.  Even knowing that, I’ve never really explored it, except for that one time in college where we were required to do a research paper on it.  A few weekends ago, J was invited by one of her very good friends to go on a tour of Intramuros… while riding on a segway.  How fun could that be!  

One my favorite structure in Intramuros is also one of the most beautiful churches in the country, the San Agustin Church.  I love this church so much that I chose to get married in it more than a decade ago.
The tour’s starting point is at the White Knight Hotel, within the vicinity of San Agustin Church.  The White Knight Hotel  is the company which organizes this tour, which is called “Intramuros Tour on Electric Chariot.
 

Monday, October 14, 2013

Makeup Training Session with Estee Lauder's Blair Patterson


I was given the opportunity to attend a make-up training session with Blair Patterson, Estee Lauder’s Global Makeup Artistry Director last week. He had flown in from New York to share how to replicate runway makeup for everyday people like us.

Being a full-time homemaker, I do not really put on makeup everyday, but I do enjoy the process of learning something new each time I attend beauty events like this.  It inspires me to make an effort to add to my makeup routine.

Thursday, October 3, 2013

Moms On The Floor


Now is a good time to get pregnant or to have young kids, there are so many choices available, from pregnancy clothes to organic baby onesies.  During my first pregnancy, close to 15 years ago, the options weren't as many, and activities for pregnant moms and/or moms with babies were practically non-existent; or if there were any, they were not mainstream.

Mommy Mundo is now on its fourth year of hosting Moms on the Floor, to make sure that pregnant moms have happy babies while having a happy pregnancy! My kids are overaged for this event, and even if it sounds like fun, I am definitely NOT going down that pregnancy road again!  (knocking on wood - multiple times here!) But if you are a pregnant mom, or a mom to a toddler, do go to this event which really spells FUN!.
 
Mommy Mundo's Moms on the Floor is expected to be another fun-filled event with exciting activities for all moms with babies and toddlers!  This event is FREE, but pre-registration is required; to register text 0908-8657245 the following details: your name and which portion you will join. 

10:00am- 12 noon For Moms with Babies
Baby Play by toddlers and Teachers Inc.
Infant Massage by Rome Kanapi

1:00pm-3:00pm For Pregnant Moms
Preparing for Birth with Rome Kanapi
Prenatal Yoga with Urban Ashram

3:00pm-5:00pm For Moms with Kids upto 6 years old
Kids Yoga with Michelle Aventajado
Zumba Kids with Roxy Araneta


Bring your exeercise mats on October 5 at the Loft at the Manansala Rockwell Makati City.


For more info visit www.mommymundo.com
Moms on the Floor event Facebook Page
https://www.facebook.com/events/385271304908305/.



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Tuesday, October 1, 2013

Phenomenal Tip: DIY Cookie Cups

On days when I have my head in the clouds and I feel like I can stop time, I like to indulge in DIY's.  I know other people might scoff at the idea of DIY-ing, but I derive pleasure in the process.  The very idea of making time to create something is therapeutic for me. 

My daughter celebrated her birthday a few months ago, and we both decided to bake treats so she could share the happiness with all of her friends.  Hence, the cookie cup project. 
I started this post in July, and did not even realize that I had this on draft until I scrolled down my list of posts and found this still unfinished.  Nonetheless, Christmas will soon be upon as, and now is a good time as any to share how I made it.  This could be easily be under the best handmade gifts list for Christmas 2013! The biggest smiles will greet you as soon as you hand over a box of these goodies to the special people in your life!

Cookie cups are basically choco chip cookies that are baked to resemble mini-bowls.