My Blog Has Moved

There are new things coming up for this blog. And in preparation for the exciting times ahead, the blog will be moving to a new home!  While I will still be writing about our phenomenal life, it will now have a new name. 

From now on, I will be doing all of my posting at the phenomenal mama

I hope you could all bookmark the new site and follow me there!


I will still be keeping this blog open so you can read all of my old posts.  But you won't miss a thing with the new blog as it will have all of the old posts, as well. 

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Phenomenal Tip: Eco-bags and Grocery Shopping

There are new things coming up for this blog. And in preparation for the exciting times ahead, the blog will be moving to a new home!  While I will still be writing about our phenomenal life, it will now have a new name. 

From now on, I will be doing all of my posting at the phenomenal mama

I hope you could all bookmark the new site and follow me there!

I will still be keeping this blog open so you can read all of my old posts.  But you won't miss a thing with the new blog as it will have all of the old posts, as well. 

* * * * *

The city where I live in has implemented the Plastic Bag Reduction Ordinance since September of 2012.  All business establishments are instructed to encourage the use reusable bags instead of plastic bags.  As stipulated, the city shall be imposing a  fee of P2 to consumers who insist on using plastic bags. 

It took me some time to get used to doing my grocery shopping using eco-bags.  There were days then when I had to ask the bagger to put everything in a box for me because I forgot my eco-bags at home. In the early days of using eco-bags, one of the problems I encountered was how the bagger would just dump everything I bought in the 2 large reusable bags that I brought along, without any regard for grouping items together.  Thus, the toiletries would be mixed with the pantry items, cleaning supplies and vegetables.  This makes packing away at home a major headache also, since everything is topsy-turvy.  I just couldn't stand the disorderly way of bagging that I have since always placed 5 reusable bags in all of the cars so I am never caught empty handed, just in case grocery shopping is an errand I have to do for the day.

 

My MO as soon as I step in the grocery is to place five eco-bags inside my cart: 1.  fruits and vegetables; 2.  dry goods (pasta, bread, dairy, and other pantry items); 3.  toiletries and personal effects; 4.  cleaning essentials (laundry detergent, etc); 5.  frozen meats.  As I start to shop, I place the items in the corresponding eco-bag.

When the time comes for me to pay at the counter, I simply just load the 5 bags onto the counter and inform the cashier and bagger to return all the items to the bag where they came from.   This new system has saved me from putting each and every single item onto the counter.  Whereas before, I would go back and forth between my cart and the counter multiple times to ferry each grocery item, I now only have to do that in the same number of times as I have reusable bags.  Not only have I put order in the bagging of my groceries, I have also saved my back! :)

 

I have a dedicated bag for frozen meat, which is washed after every use. Just to make sure that the meat drippings and food bacteria from raw meat do not contaminate other surfaces.  If we are not careful, these reusable bags could be a cause for bacteria to transfer from the grocery cart to our kitchen and pantry.

And because I have this new system, grocery shopping is now tolerable... slightly therapeutic, even.:)  Sharing a photo which I posted earlier in my Instagram account.   Belated Happy Mother's Day to all the moms!

Excuse the dressy outfit, I just came from a blogger event.  Such is the life of a mom!

  















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Wishful Thinking: {Wardrobe} Swim Mom Uniform

Sports has always been a part of my kids lives, especially for my eldest, J.  Although the level of intensity was not so heavy back then when she was younger.  We initially started with soccer camp during summer, and then moved to once a week soccer lessons, and this increased to twice a week of soccer training when she played for her school team.  This was long before the Azkals were formed and the Younghusbands entered the local football scene.  While playing for the school soccer team, she decided she also wanted to swim, so she mixed swimming training on alternate days when she doesn't train for soccer.  

Those days are long gone, as she has already made up her mind that swimming is THE sport for her.  She has gone a long way since she started 3 years ago, competing at the D-League (developmental) level, moving up to class A category, and finally, qualifying for the Batang Pinoy National Championship this December. 

She has always made me proud of her simple achievements in the pool, each hard-earned medal made more significant because she was able to successfully combine academic excellence while being a student leader and a competitive swimmer.  Although she has a million more laps to swim as far as swimming internationally is concerned, I am hoping she gets there... eventually. 

... Otherwise, how can I channel my inner Victoria Beckham while cheering for her during competitions? Hahaha!

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Being a swim-parent means being in charge of logistics, food provisions, motivation, etc.  I am always there with my kids every training, 6 days a week. Oftentimes I am multi-tasking as I wait by the pool deck, trying to meet the needs of each of my three kids.  And because of that, I thought to myself that I deserve a new wardrobe... even if it's just wishful thinking. :) 

I love Breton shirts, and pairing them with Converse all-stars low-cut is a great way to being a chic sporty mom.

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Don't fancy red? Blue and green is a great sporty fashion combi, too.

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And this fashion template shows us all that pink doesn't have to be always prim and proper.

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Gray and white looks crisp and clean.  Perfect for those all-day swim meets.  Just ditch the hoop earrings.

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And if you want to stand out in the crowd, making it easier for your kids to spot you in the hundreds of spectators, wear something bright like this yellow tank.

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What about you?  What is your daily uniform like?


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Kitchen Project: DIY Cream of Anything Soup Mix

Most days, it's a lonely lunch time for me.  I do not enjoy cooking for one, and I'd be just as content eating a sandwich instead.  I am only eager to cook if it's for the entire family, so the big cooking production always happen come dinner time. There are days, like when it's rainy, when I want a cup of soup to go with that plate of food.   But I am not willing to go slave in the kitchen just for a cup of soup.  Thankfully, I have now found a quick fix solution for anytime the soup craving sets in.

It is so easy to make, and so tasty that I do feel like patting myself on the back.:)  It is a DIY dry mix that you just add with water every time you need cream soup (think Campbells cream of mushroom and the like). 

Incidentally, when I first came across this on the net, I had just made a fresh batch of my home-made celery salt.  So instead of suing the bouillon specified on the original recipe, I just substituted with 2 tablespoonful of my homemade celery salt.  The DIY celery salt is another kitchen project that has turned into a routine already whenever there are celery leaves available.   I have used it to make baked eggs, minestrone and a whole lot more .


DIY Cream of Anything Soup Mix
Recipe found via Pinterest, inspired by pinner: One Orange Giraffe

1 cup non-fat powdered milk

3/4 cup cornstarch

1/4 cup bouillon/seasoning granules (if you have cubes you have to smash them up, or you can also substitute this, like I did, with 2 tablespoons of celery salt)
2 tablespoons onion powder

1 teaspoon dried basil

1 teaspoon dried thyme
1 teaspoon pepper

To make mix:  Just dump in everything in a bowl, and mix them up properly.  Store in a tightly sealed container, and it will keep for several months.  I keep mine inside the refrigerator since the celery salt is homemade so I just want to extend shelf life.

To cook: combine 1/3-cup mix and 1-1/4 cups cool water in a small saucepan. Do not use hot water as it will cause the cornstarch to lump up.  Stir it well and bring it to a boil over medium heat. Boil and stir for a full minute. Remove from heat. It is now ready to use in any recipe calling for a can of Cream of Mushroom or Celery or Chicken Soup.

You can use the mix as is, or you can use it as a base for making cream of mushroom, just add fresh mushroom), or whatever you want to make a cream of.  I have also used it to flavor the white sauce of my lasagna and baked pastas.

I just love it that the Phenomenal Papa thinks the world of me whenever I serve this for breakfast.  He doesn't know the story behind is that I really ran out of breakfast ideas, and all I have in the kitchen are days old ciabatta.  The crusty bread is a perfect mix for this cream soup.I just make this mix as is, and top with freshly picked thyme, reheat the ciabatta in the oven... breakfast is served in less than 5 minutes!:)

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Of Birthdays and Beauty Marks

Getting very near that "supposedly" wonderful age of forty (yikes!) must do wonders for my self-esteem, for I have finally learned to come to terms that my body will never be the same as it was before I had kids.   

Yeah, I am that kind of woman who has dozens of "issues." You have heard me whine about my unpreparedness to be called someone else's tita.  You've also seen how I was cornered to admit that I was (serial) lying about my age.  You've also been a witness on how I (desperately) try to camouflage a less than perfect beach body. There are times when I'd get really conscious about the extra layer of skin and fat that has permanently wrapped itself around my belly; made more irritating by the fact that it seems to laugh at me as I put on that tight fitting pair of low-slung jeans... there it shows itself - giggling uncontrollaby at my attempt to pull my pants up all the way . :)  You know what I mean.:)

After more than a decade of the Phenomenal Papa's assurances that when he looks at them he just sees beauty and sacrifice, I am finally beginning to believe him... yes, gullible me. The marks are quite ugly to look at and they make my stomach look like a mess, but my husband looks at them as "beautiful battle scars." The marks that showed I lovingly carried each one of his three precious children into the world.

As I inch myself closer and closer to that age of living fabulously, I have come to terms that the stretch marks, the c-section scar, the wider hips, and the mom-flabs that have taken over my entire body, they do make me look more beautiful - even if it's just in my husband's eyes.:)

Yes!  this time of the year always work like a magic charm; blessings are always counted twice, and setbacks are intentionally overlooked.  Just so grateful to be a part of my family.  I look at my husband and see a loving man whose strong arms have, at all times, protected me; whose generous heart has always prioritized me; whose forgiving spirit has, time and again, deliberately ignored my shortcomings. 

I see the kids and I am thankful that they are healthy and into sports, that they are doing well academically, that they have a close relationship with God.  But, I am also thankful for having them, all three of them,  when I need to wear a swimsuit... yes, most especially, when I need to wear a swim suit!!!  Otherwise, what good excuse can I have for that belly.  tee-hee-hee!

And as always, this verse just uplifts and inspires:

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.

-Jeremiah 29:11

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Wishful Thinking: {Wardrobe} Gray Tops and White Pants

After an episode of ramblings in red, my clothing palette preference has now shifted back to neutrals.  I just bought a couple of tees and button downs in gray that I have yet to break in.  Here are a couple of looks that says: clean, casual and chic... my inspirations on how to wear my gray tops.

Here's Gwyneth showing us all how she wears her gray tee

These two could easily be my uniform as a busy mom

This is my peg for lunch dates with the hubby

How to channel the fashionable tourist

And here's how you wear it with Hermes...

Loving the pairing with boat shoes

maybe this is how my daughter would wear it if she borrows my shirts

 

As for me, it is always better if it's loose and slightly tucked-in... 

all the better to hide the mommy (fl)abs.  tee-hee-hee!

image credits: loft.com,  habituallychic.blogspot.com,  jcrew.com, 29.media.tumblr.com, joannagoddard.blogspot.com, southmoltonststyle.com,  witanddelight.tumblr.com, classy-in-the-city.tumblr.com, zara.com

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Wishful Thinking: {Wardrobe} Red Skirt

My thoughts have been incessantly interrupted with billows of red, shifting swirls of crimson, episodic weaves of scarlet... I must have a red skirt. And it must be soon! Not just one, but plenty enough to wear for each day of the week!

Prim and proper for Sunday church and lunch with the family...


Very European chic noh? To be donning a full skirt and riding a bicycle...


If my legs were this long and lean, I'd be wearing this, too...


This is my favorite... a rolled up classic l/s button down with a slim skirt.


A nautical spin on the red skirt

 

Lovely outfit for lunch with friends


And it doesn't always have to be white and red; sometimes, you can be bold and throw in tangerine, too...


... or black, if that's what the mood catches you


A nice ensemble can still be nicer - if you have George Clooney beside you.:)


Join me wear a red skirt?

image credit:  thefashiontrolley.tumblr.com, sundayinbed.tumblr.com, vogue-le-mode.tumblr.com,  thesartorialist.blogspot.com,  us.asos.com, moodboard.typepad.com, fossil.com,weheartit.com, dailymail.co.uk 

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Carrot Cupcakes + Goji Berries

Carrot cupcakes are the most requested cupcake flavor in my house for birthdays.  And surely, it was on top of B's birthday wish list for her recent birthday party, along with dark chocolate cupcakes.

 I have a lot of carrot cake recipes... some made tropical with grated coconut and pineapples, others made sweeter with the addition of raisins and choco chips, still others are studded with walnuts.  But for this cupcake variety, I made it unadulterated... this one is all about the carrots - finely grated carrots.  It is simplicity at its best.  

The only thing I added were goji berries, a staple in my pantry for making Chinese tonic soups.  My thoughtful and generous mother-in-law, who frequently sends over Chinese herbs and condiments, is a believer in the nutritional benefits of this small and red superfood.  

 

In recent years, the goji berry has gained popularity in Western health food stores.  But this nutritionally-rich and naturally sweet fruit has long been used in Chinese cuisine to make congee, tonic soups and herbal teas.

Fresh, sweet carrots and bright, pretty goji berries make for a wonderful combination... a delicious, moist, fluffy cupcake combined with a superfood ingredient.

 

Allow the dried goji berries to sit in warm water just a couple of minutes to soften, until they are nice and plump. 

 

Look at how the bright goji berries pop-out wonderfully in the batter.

Carrot Cupcake Recipe

adapted from Smitten Kitchen

2 cups all purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
2 cups sugar
1 1/4 cups canola oil
4 large eggs
3 cups grated peeled carrots
1/2 cup dried goji berries (optional)

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. Line cupcake molds with papers.  I sued 3 ozs paper liners.
3. Hydrate goji berries in warm water for 10-15 mintues, or until soft and plump.
4. Whisk flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg in medium bowl to blend. Whisk sugar and oil in large bowl until well blended. Whisk in eggs 1 at a time. Add flour mixture and stir until blended. Stir in carrots and goji berries, if using them. Divide batter among cupcake molds, filling 3/4 of each.
5. Bake cupcakes 18-20 minutes, or until a tester inserted into the center of one comes out clean. Let cool in pans for five minutes or so, then transfer cakes to a cooling rack. Let cool completely before icing.

Cream Cheese  Frosting

Two (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
1 stick unsalted butter, room temperature

1 tsp vanilla
2 cups confectioners’ sugar

1. In a stand mixer beat all the ingredients on medium until fluffy. Chill the frosting for 10 to 20 minutes, until it has set up enough to spread smoothly.
2. Divide equally into three small bowls and add food color, adding different amount of the food color if you want to make an ombre effect.  

The different soft shades of gradient pink make for a lovely display...

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Singapore 2011: Chinatown

Singapore's Chinatown is like all the other Chinatown throughout the rest of the world... narrow, busy streets lined with little shops selling everything from trinkets to Chinese herbal medicine.

 

However with Singapore being a multi-racial and multi-cultural society, Singapore's Chinatown has its own unique features.  For instance, the country's oldest Hindu temple, Sri Mariamman,  can ironically be found right in the heart of Chinatown's confines.

But what makes Chinatown a must-visit in my book is the chance to observe the quaint street architecture the place offers.  Colorful shophouses along Pagoda street are a visual treat and make for some beautiful photographs.

 

The windows on the second and thrid floor of the shophouses are painted in vibrant colors that enhance their architectural details.  There is no singular style to describe the structures, they are a combination of different elelments, but what pull and unite them all together are the vibrancy of their colors.

 

Tourists generally flock to Chinatown to imbibe a sense of culture, but for Filipino-Chinese families like mine who grew up visiting Manila's Chinatown, it was for a more practical reason like to stock up on pantry items and to buy pasalubongs for friends and relatives.  One of those obligatory pasalubongs is the bakk-wa or mapa, a Chinese traditional dried meat in the form of thin sheets; usually made of pork or beef, but nowadays has expanded to include shrimp and chicken.  There are a lot of stalls around Singapore selling bakkwa/mapa, but for the purpose of taking the kids on a walking tour to Singapore's Chinatown, we decided to take them to where the action is... a stall where they can see the bakkwa/mapa fresh off the grill.

The most famous bakkwa brand in all of Southeast Asia is Bee Chen Hiang, it has outlets all over the continent, and has 28 in Singapore alone.  But when our cab driver heard we wanted to buy this Chinese delicacy, he quickly pointed out to what for him is a superior local brand, Lim Chee Guan.  According to him, Lim Chee Guan is a local favorite, with 3-4 hour queues, especially around the Chinese New Year period.  Our cab driver claims that is more tender and flavorful than the competition.  And he quickly adds, "but that is just my opinion, you taste it first before you buy."

We bought several kilos of beef, pork, chicken and shrimp jerkies as pasalubong, and I also bought jars of crispy pork floss, which is the perfect addition to a light breakfast of plain congee.

  

I remembered to replenish my stock of Chinese pantry items to my depleting stock at home.  Although most everything can be found in Manila, the premium quality of the items in Singapore is worth having to carry the extra load around.  Most of you cannot relate, but I have to gush about the superior quality of the bean curd sheets and the Japanese mushrooms that can be found here.   

I also did some shopping at the Chinese drugstore beside Lim Chee Guan called the Thye Shan Medical Hall.  I guess this is one sure sign that I am certainly growing old!  Imagine finding something of interest - at a Chinese drugstore, of all places! hahaha!

Here are the rest of our photos:

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