My ever loving hubby handed his gifts two days before my birthday. I was surprised and happy … I got not only one but two! What a spoiled wife am I?  Thanks Dadh.

Now, I have to do my assignment… to look for wholesale clothes. What for? Secret! I’ll just keep you posted after I finalized some things. Just wish me luck.

Pata Tim is one of Alvin’s favorites… he loves fattening foods! Now you know why I gained 5Kl in our three years of marriage.

I adapted my recipe from a Pinoy blogger and from a TV Show; as usual I altered again the procedure, I just used the recommended ingredients. I’m really bad! Well, I have to come up with my own. I intentionally did not include the amount that I used for other ingredients since I adjust everything depending on my taste and likings.

Here are the ingredients that I used:

- Garlic

- Onion

- Thumb sized piece of ginger

- 1 Star Anise

- 1 Bay Leaf- Peppercorns

- Salt

- Soy Sauce

- Sugar

- Carrot, sliced thinly

- Pechay

This is what I do… experiment on some of our favorite foods. Since Alvin is always busy, I should find productive ways on how to entertain myself. Hay, investment banker jobs are very demanding… because of his job, he now works extra hours.

Back to my Pata Tim, this is the tamad (lazy) version … The recipes I found on the internet are a bit complicated; simmering till the pork leg is tender, roasting and then steaming. For me, I followed the procedure from a TV show: In a casserole, sauté the garlic and onion. Add the pork leg and let it brown. Pour enough water to cover the meat and bring to a boil. Add the rest of ingredients except for the pechay and carrots. Lower the heat, cover the casserole and simmer until the meat is tender; meat is falling off the bones. Remove the meat. Thicken the sauce by adding dissolved cornstarch. Add the pechay and carrots.    

I was tagged by Pat in my facebook account but I decided to just post this entry in my blog… Here’s my list:

1. I am a retired engineer. Since Alvin and I got married, I quit my job and decided to be a stay at home wife.
2. I love buying colognes and use them as air fresheners.
3. I always have a short hair ever since.
4. I don’t know how to wink and whistle.
5. I like to watch cooking shows and buy cookbooks but I never follow the procedures. I just get the idea.
6. I wish to have a rest house… either in the farm or a beachfront (similar with Outer Banks properties).
7. I cannot sleep at night when I remember some works that need to be done.
8. I like to ‘murder’ (clean till it hurts!) my toe nails.
9. I hate chatting in the internet.
10. I like chocolates and cakes but I am trying to cut my intake since I easily get tonsillitis.
11. When I was a kid, I liked banana cake though I was not fond of eating banana.
12. I’m afraid of blood, needles and hospitals… Now I wonder how I managed to survive when Alvin was hospitalized a couple of times.
13. I always sleep in a sideways position and I cannot sleep without a blanket.
14. I’ll be turning 30 soon.
15. I am allergic to dust.
16. I like gnawing chicken bones (so PG).
17. I like green leafy vegetables; I find them delicious.
18. I look silly when I am wearing athletic attire; I am not really athletic no matter how hard I try.
19. I always get ‘tapilok’ almost everyday
20. I want to be a pastry chef
21. I am very clumsy handling gadgets… I am not maingat.
22. My fingers and legs look the same as my dad.
23. I miss my family back home.
24. I am a certified BF.
25. Alvin and I were long time friends when we decided to be in a relationship and get married eventually.

We are now in our new home… our Valentine’s Day was very meaningful tiring day. I didn’t expect that we have so many stuffs! Clothes, shoes, gadgets and electronics, stuffed toys and other knick knacks. I packed 16 big boxes with two luggages in tow! It was my fault… I wasn’t able to organize our things before we moved out since I got sick. I had a very bad cough and colds due to dusts… Thank God, I’m on my way to recovery.

Our new unit is very cozy… it is quite small compared to our previous houses but it’s now our favorite. I love the kitchen even if it doesn’t have a microwave oven. The toilet is also very nice… we like the rain shower head (sarap maligo ). Over all, the house is still in mint condition… Our landlord is an Australian who lives in a penthouse at the opposite building. He’s too young and very accomodating. I think he’s in his early thirties and yet his properties are awesome! 

We’re almost finished unpacking our things… and have decided to send some of our stuffs in Manila. We really need to practice travelling light; try to let go of unnecessary stuffs and stop shopping/hoarding! 

That’s our special VDay Celebration!

I am so busy… I have so many things to do. Up to now, our pictures during our last trip have not been uploaded yet. I even want to include some of them in my scrapbooking album but I really have no time. My mom and my in-laws are checking our gallery every now and then… to check for any updates. Sorry for the back log.

As I have said, we will be moving out this Saturday… As of now, I’m just halfway finished. I told Alvin that by Thursday, we will not be eating at home since I’ll be packing our utensils and cutleries by then. I even want to ask him if we could just sleep on the couch on Friday, since I don’t want to bring any used beddings to our new home.

I’ve already packed five boxes… Can you imagine, one big box was already occupied by bed linens! Another box is for our shoes and almost two boxes for our books. Actually, I packed the shoes right away because if not, he’ll have the chance to count my shoes.  And for sure, he’ll send some of them again in Manila.

By the way, is there any tradition/s when moving into a new house? I read before that one should bring rice and salt first… for continued abundance of food, money and all good things into the new home. Hmm… If ever, this will be my first time to do this… after moving in to almost four houses here in SG.

Thanks Joanne for the online friendship.

The Irish Blessings’ Friendship Proverb

May there always be work for your hands to do,

may your purse always hold a coin or two.

May the sun always shine on your window pane,

may a rainbow be certain to follow each rain.

May the hand of a friend always be near you,

may God fill your heart with gladness to cheer you.

Passing this to the bloggers who never fails to visit my blog: Ate Lil, Emz, Anna, G and Rocks. Hope to meet you all someday.

Yesterday I was in the mood to cook… I cooked the whole day! I baked apple streusel cupcakes, cooked spaghetti and prepared taco salad. It’s not yet my birthday but the spaghetti was requested by Alvin.

Alvin loves eating spaghetti for dinner… he likes it a bit sweet, yup Pinoy style but not too sweet. I usually add some herbs and spices to make it more appealing. For today’s lunch, the left over spaghetti was his baon… tipid!

The taco salad was for me… sounds healthy but no! It’s not for diet conscious people. I got the idea of Taco Salad from a TV Show. My taco salad was made from scratch… except for the tacos. Now, I already know how to make a homemade salsa. I remember when I was still studying; my cousins and I love the Tacos from Pancake House.  But I really had a difficult time eating tacos since I had braces then… it was too messy. But still, it was one of my favorites.

The apple streusel was supposedly Alvin’s baon for his merienda… but I forgot to include it in his packed lunch. Maybe tomorrow…I just hope that he will like it. As for me, I love the apple streusel cupcake. I already had four, I only baked five! But still, I think I have to alter some procedures especially for the streusel topping… and I think I need to add more apples and lessen the sugar. Now, I’m starting to love apples and cinnamon! The cake was very soft and moist too. Yummy!

Now, I don’t think I can pursue my diet echus. In the meantime, I have to do my assignment… to check the commercial real estate listings and look for a new place for us. I’ll be very busy again.   

After church last Sunday, Alvin said, “Let’s shop” . Huh! Great idea but… the budget/savings. Instead of splurging, we just went to Kinokuniya. They are also having a 20% discount sale for books. 

Going to a book store is one of our past time; Alvin loves to go through all the photography books in the store and I love reading cook books. Take note: reading and just flipping the pages! I also like buying colored pens and notebooks. I like their notebooks and pens from Japan especially the Sanrio Collections. I don’t know but until now, I can’t get enough of those things… even promotional pens, I keep them. I always take home complimentary pens from hotels, resorts, hospital and other organizations.

Weird? How about you, what’s your weird passion?

Since I’ll be a year older, I want to invest into something… perhaps a small business rather than putting our money in the bank or worse; trading our money in an investment company or buy preneed plans. There are a lot of scams on preneed plans in the Philippines right now… I feel sad for those people who seriously invest their hard earned money and end up getting nothing.

Now, I am having doubts if I should buy a life insurance for myself… There are some companies that offer no exam life insurance. All you have to do is pay and right there and then, you are already covered. Is this a good option? Or is this the reason why many companies declare bankruptcy? Hmmm…

Can we still consider this as an investment, what do you think?

22 Days to go before my birthday… As usual, my ever loving husband is so busy (?) thinking of a gift. Actually, I don’t have any particular thing in my mind…but there are some stuffs that I like but I don’t intend to buy (not for now ). I just like them but I don’t want to use our savings to buy them . Kuripot! Honestly, I’m happy with my girly stuffs at home… but still, I want to make my own material wish list.

• French Purse. I like this one… Can I trade my Alexandra multicolore for this?

• Bag. I think it’s cute. What do you think?

• Vacation… or even a one night stay in one of the luxury hotel rooms in the city.

• Love Bracelet.

Hmmm… What else???  Maybe just a simple dinner at home will do. Seriously, I feel grateful for everything that I do have now… not just materially. My true wish: good health, more blessings and happiness for me and Alvin. 

I’m so lola.