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.

Valor Chocolates: Spain's Leading Chocolate Brand Now in the Philippines

I love eating chocolates! I usually sneak in a bite at night, right after I am done with tutor duties, while C and I are watching a recording of our favorite TV shows. I make sure to get the ones that are mini-sized, so I can limit the temptation.:) Bad, bad practice, I know - eating chocolates at night, because you know what they say: one moment on the lips, forever on the hips. Haha! But I feel like I deserve a little treat at the end of the day.:)

But there’s good news for everyone who count chocolates as one of their guilty indulgences! We don't have to feel all that bad about eating our chocolates becasue Spain’s market leader, Valor Chocolates, is now on our shores.  And not only did Valor Chocolates bring with them their distinctly flavoured chocolate bars, they are also introducing their new range of Valor sugar-free chocolate bars which are sweetened with stevia, a natural sweetener derived from a plant originating in South America. 

The Nail Room

A few hours at the spa is always a good way to de-stress. But even if I know that, I do not really find time for it.  I keep arguing with myself that my days are filled with a hundred things that I need to do for my family, so the pampering can wait.  But when some of the SoMoms were invited for an afternoon of pampering at The Nail Room, I immediately said yes.

Cai from Apples & Dumplings, Jackie of Go Jackie Go, Michelle of My Mom-Friday, ME, Jay of Nail Room And Nuat Thai- Libis.  Photo from My Mom-Friday. 

Phenomenal Tip: Fast Track Your Smoothies

I have been serving the kids a whole lot of smoothies as after-school snacks since the start of the year. My kids are always hungry every time they get off from school, and I used to give them carbo-rich foods like brown rice toppings or pasta. But now that the two girls are older, and consequently their dismissal times have also been pushed back and they now only have about an hour before training, so a light snack that is easily digested is ideal. Their usual merienda of pasta or rice is not suitable anymore as a full tummy that is busy digesting all those carbohydrates will leave them sluggish and feeling heavy.

Hence, a little adjustment had to be made to give them after school snacks that are filling and yet are also easily digestible. Smoothies are our new favorite after-school snack!

I make smoothies almost everyday, and sometimes even twice a day – one for the kids' pre-workout, and another one for after training recovery. It is easier to prepare rather than the time-consuming effort of preparing pasta sauces. And another upside to this is I also lessen the amount of gluten (from the pasta) that my kids take in.

The Most Garlicky Garlic Fried Rice

The recent cancellations of classes due to Typhoons Labuyo and Maring was a way to force my family to stay at home.  We always have a hundred things going on, that this mini-vacation turned out to be a good thing for the kids.  With swim training going on everyday, they sometimes do not get to do things they enjoy, like watching videos, drawing sketches, and just playing and hanging out with each other.  I did not like the extra days so much. It was the kids' scheduled exam week in school, and this can only mean that exams are going to be moved.


As it is, the long weekend of my dreams (lounging in bed all-day just reading a book or magazine) did not really materialize because I had to help my li'l man prepare for his exam. But, if there's anything good that came out of that weekend, it would have to be discovering how to make the most garlicky garlic fried rice!

It is funny how this Filipino classic of fried rice bursting with all the aroma of garlic had to come all the way from Berlin to get to me. We can all thank The Diplomatic Wife for the recipe!

Dumaguete: Swimming With The Whale Sharks in Oslob & Crystal Clear Water of Sumilon

 To real ALL posts about Dumaguete, click here.

This post on Dumaguete is soo late, but mommy duties keep on getting in the way of blogging that I did not realize that had this post on draft until recently. Still, it's not too late to finish this post, as the kids' semestral break will soon be upon us, and mommies have to plan on where to take the brood for that short vacation.

The tranquil water of Sumilon

Dumaguete attracts a considerable number of foreign tourists, perhaps because of its proximity to some of the country's best diving sites, the whale sharks swimming around Oslob, and the dolphin sightings in the nearby city of Bais.

When we visited this rustic town last summer for the 2013 Palarong Pambansa where J represented the NCR region for swimming, we made sure to visit some of their well-loved sites within the city. Dumaguete offers its visitors a gentle and laid-back ambience, with some exquisite architecture; especially in the confines of the Silliman University campus, which we visited when the NCR swimmers swam in the university's 25-m pool the day before the start of the swim events.

Make Your Meal Count: Philippine Tatler's Best Restaurants Charity Week

My family's weekend agenda has always included eating out; and for this coming weekend, we will make sure that we will be eating for a cause!



Philippine Tatler is having its annual Best Restaurants Charity Week wherein partner restaurants will donate a substantial part of their sales during CHARITY WEEK to the Down Syndrome Association of the Philippines.

This weekend, make sure to make your meal count!  Dine at any of the participating establishments:

1. 2nd's
2. 22 Prime, Discovery Suites
3. Aubergine
4. Azuthai
5. Cafe Mary Grace
6. The Cake Club
7. Casa Roces
8. Cav Wine Shop-Cafe
9. Champagne Room
10. Chateau 1771
11. Chef Jessie Rockwell Club
12. Cibo
13. Circles Event Cafe
14. Inagiku
15. Las Flores
16. Li Li
17. The Lobby (at The Peninsula Hotel)
18. Makati Shangri-La, Manila Lobby Lounge
19. Mamou
20. Masseto
21. The Oakroom
22. Old Manila
23. Opus Restaurant and Lounge
24. Paparazzi
25. People's Palace Thai
26. Sala
27. Sala Bistro
28. Senju
29. Shang Palace
30. Spectrum
31. Summer Palace
32. Terry's Bistro
33. The Tivoli
34. Toki Japanese Fusion and Fine Dining
35. Va Bene Pasta Deli

Visit the FB page for more details and updates.

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Mommy Mundo Clearance Clear Out Sale

I am the type of shopper who buys Christmas gifts the entire year. I want to get an early start and tick off my Christmas shopping list early.  I am usually on schedule, and the gifts are all ready to be wrapped by November; and ready to be shipped out the first week of December.  This way, I can take advantage of sale periods that are happening all-year round and I can shop with less guilt.

If you are a budget-savvy mom like me, then you should not miss the MOMMY MUNDO CLEARANCE CLEAROUT SALE! This year’s Clearance Sale is happening on August 16-18, 2013 at Rainbow Room, Fun Ranch Building, Frontera Verde, Pasig.

Get samples, stock outs, past season items, and discounts of up to 75% off from over 30 most loved brands for moms and kids.  And what's more, every P1,000 purchase using BPI Credit Cards will get a free gift from Mommy Mundo J

For more details, you may visit www.mommymundo.com

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Spatzle Euro Market Cafe

The East Wing of Shangri-la Mall has been getting busier in the last few weeks, with more dining and shopping options opening up. One of the recent additions to this wing, is the Spatzle Euro Market Cafe.

Spätzle (pronounced: shpet-sluh) is the German's version of the Italian pasta. Spätzle are a traditional German dumpling or noodle that is first boiled in water or broth then pan fried in butter and served as a side dish.

It is obvious from the restaurant's interiors, logo, and even the condiments holder that a lot of thought have been put into the design process.  The restaurant is located in a corner spot on the 5th level,  where the new east wing and the old wing meet. 

 I love the look of this table, where all the cutlery and other table essentials are kept.

Even the cutlery stand blends in with the design concept.

 

 A thoughtful addition of hand saniter spray for every table.

We were served a small bowl of chips while waiting for our orders to arrive.

We decided to order the Tarte Flambe Provence (P295) for appetizer.  It is  a thin dough topped with mixed salad greens, roasted mushrooms, cucumbers, feta cheese and cherry tomatoes.  I personally did not find it impressive, and not even the feta cheese could save it.

C ordered the Potato and Mushroom Chowder (P220). It is a chunky soup that blended small babay potatoes with seasonal mushrooms resulting in a bowl that is full of earthy flavors.

The Spatz House Salad (P180) combines mixed greens with cheese spatzle, green apples and grilled sausages in honey-orange dressing.

Pork Schnitzel on Spatzle(P330), crisp, punded pork loin on a bed of spatzle served with sauerkraut.

Spatz Fried Chicken with Paprika Gravy (P315) is breaded chicken served on top of a bed fries. I thought the breading was too thick, but my kids loved it.

Spatzle Gnocchi Vongole wasn't on the standard menu, but was highlighted on their special menu board. Vongole has that special place in my tummy, so I decided to give it a try.  While not bad, it definitely could improve some more.

Grilled Sausage Roesti is served with Sunny Side Eggs (P320) Roesti is a traditional Swiss dish of fried grated potatoes, a little like a hash browns.  This is the li'l man's order, which he didn't finish.  I thought he just didn't like the roesti, but turns out he didn't like the sausage, as well (which is saying a lot because this guy lives for sausages!).  

Homemade Italian Meatballs (P298) served on top of roesti with marinara sauce.  This is the Phenomenal Papa's order, and he said it was good.  The meatballs are huge and tasty.

They also have a kiddie menu, but my kids don't have kiddie appetites anymore.:)

We also tried their flavored water, which was nicely presented in a mason jar.  It had hints of dalandan, cucumber and mint.  I regularly serve flavored water at home, and you can view my DIY post on how to make your own flavored water here.

Spatzle just opened, and the kitchen is clearly overwhelmed with the number of diners. Although we were not impressed with the food during our visit, we are still willing come back at a later date to see if the kitchen is able to transition and adjust.

Spätzle Euro Market Café
5th floor, East Wing
Shangri-La Plaza Mall, Mandaluyong City.

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Saturdate Agenda { 1-on-1 With The Li'l Man and 10a Alabama Arts & Crafts Fair }

I am getting into this part of my life where my kids have started having their own activities, apart from each other. Gone are the days when I could just herd the pack into one playdate or kiddie party, and relax as I chat away with the other moms. Now, as I drop off one kid in a swim meet, I go rushing to bring the another one to a party. This is the way it is going to be especially now that I have two tweeners and one teenager. I know their social calendar is going to get more busy in the years to come.

But for now, it is enough that I still have the li'l man to keep me company. If you follow me in Instagram (IG handle: phenomenalmama), you must've seen the photo below already. I really have to cherish and take advantage of this time when he still willingly goes with me - and holds my hand! In a few years, I might not be so lucky anymore.