1st of May
The month of May has always been special to me. It is but an extra ordinary month since I was a kid. First of May, besides being the Labor Day, is the feast of St. Joseph the Worker, our barangay’s patron saint. I have lots of happy “fiesta” memories. Several group of friends at our place would set up parlor games with prizes and there were a few times I took home cash prizes. =)
Besides the feast, May 2 is my Dad’s birthday. May 3 is one of my nephew’s birthday too. He’s someone my Mama and I took care of when he was a baby to his toddler years. Well, he has grown up and grown really tall. Come May 6 is my Mama’s birthday and of course, Mother’s Day is also celebrated during May. Back in Buhi, Camarines Sur (my Mama’s home town), May flower, Town Fiesta and SantaCruzan are also celebrated during this month. Having mentioned that, I have planned to take the kids with me and visit Buhi town at least before June.
Anyways, for the first time, I joined #FMSphotoaday challenge. And I am really gonna try to make it a point to post a photo each day according to the theme or prompt. This is the first time I have joined and I am hopeful too to at least be responsible in posting a photo a day and so as push my creativity a little more to come up with really nice photos.
I was not ready yesterday when I remember that it is the 1st of May so when I learned yesterday’s theme, I took a photo of what was right in front of me.
#FMSphotoaday 1st of May – I BOUGHT THIS!
I am now excited to the upcoming themes. I just wish not to forget a post!
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In the Kitchen: Merienda Galore
What is one best way to spend time with the family? During merienda!
Afternoon snacks besides night chats is one part of the day I enjoy spending with my kids. My kids don’t have high levels of appetite (especially my elder daughter) but they have all the thrills and giggles whenever I serve something for them. We call it “Takaw-Tingin” here in the Philippines. It is summer and kids are out for vacation and as we all know, kids nowadays are unstoppable. They make it necessary for us parents to prepare something new for them, be it food, games, toys or unlimited number of activities so as to keep their nerves and minds busy! That somehow makes parenting one best way to explore and continue to learn. Hey! I have to somehow dig the internet for creative ideas from snacks to kiddie activities. Here’s one I imitated from a Pinterest pin – a unique way to serve ice cream!
Maybe I can say that our country is one of the many places where you can go on food exploration and pig out! Since kids this summer is most of the time at home, we bond by eating together. Check out these afternoon merienda I served them one time. You will definitely crave too!
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My Tabletop Electric Oven
My tabletop electric oven was a gift. I have been eyeing a beautiful oven from the appliance center for a long time but saving to get it will take a lot longer. So, with a friend’s suggestion, and since I am not really planning on using it for business purposes (using it now just for my kids), I told Ronald (yes, he’s the financier for this oven) that I would go for this one.
I have been Pinterest inspired! As soon as I have read the manual for this tabletop oven, I started baking! I have had my share of baking failures but have a lot of successful ones too.
Most of my baked goodies were Chocolate and Banana flavored and Carrot too. I make them during weekends so it will be ready as school snack for my elder daughter, K. I would always let her bring more than she could eat so she can share some to her friends too. Or sometimes, I remind her to eat (if there are leftovers) as afternoon snack while she is travelling home bound.
Last Christmas season, I got the chance to frequently use my tabletop oven – served its purpose very well for some goodies which we made and gave as gifts. I am sure that this oven will last for quite long, besides it being durable (a testimonial of my baker friend, Iris of Project Happiness ), I have been extra careful using it. =)
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Popcorn!
I love popcorn as a child and now that I have 2 kids..I still make it a point for us to enjoy home made popcorn. There are times that we don’t have any in stock so we end up buying the flavored ones. The cheapest that I liked a lot is the one from Jack & Jill – caramel puffs! Here’s a bowl of home cooked popcorn – good thing that the Bonus brand I got from SM Hypermarket has 2 sachets of cheese flavored powder. The kids loved their afternoon snack.
I’m again joining:
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Sharon At Home
I do not really buy Sharon At home magazine but when I saw this particular issue that says “The farewell issue” – I grabbed a copy and paid it on impulse. As it shows in the cover, Sharon Cuneta is with her 2 lovely daughters and a charming little guy – her adopted son Miguel. Sharon referred Miguel to be the child who came from her heart. It is the first time couples Sharon and Kiko Pangilinan allowed Miguel to be photographed for publication. Sharon said that Miguel, who is now 2 years of age, is not just smart but also really sweet. He even started to look like them, as many people say. Something I must agree. There were even rumors that Miguel happens to be Kiko’s real son from another woman which Sharon denied in a talk show.
I can not say that I am an avid fan of Sharon Cuneta but I find her personality so appealing and admiring. She’s witty, charming and her laughter and happy disposition in life is so contagious. Even if I only own one issue of this magazine, I know this farewell issue is truly special to the staff and so as to Sharon herself. It even featured a Christmas prayer:
Jesus, the light of the world, as we celebrate your birth…may we begin to see the world in the light of understanding you give us. As you chose the lowly, the outcasts, and the poor to receive greatest news the world had ever known, so may we worship you in meekness of heart. May we also remember our brothers and sisters less fortunate than ourselves in this season of giving. Amen.
Aside from the stories of her previous reality show, talk show, being a celebrity endorser, celebrations, easy recipe ideas, chronicles and photos, the issue concentrated more on how Sharon manages to balance work, family and play. It also featured and pointed out great things about the reality that there is not anything bad about adoption nor being adopted. In this magazine she named famous and great people who were also adopted like her son Miguel. I truly admire how she can be wonderful in front of the camera as an actress and host and be as wonderful as a Mom to her kids. It is like being best in both her worlds. There were lots of photos where photographer Jun de Leon captured the Sharon Cuneta as the person we see on TV and the other Sharon as an ordinary person she is off cam.
Sharon Cuneta is just like every good Mom there is – her family, especially the kids, serves as the key inspiration for anything and everything she does. And as she puts it in her words – “You may have complaints every now and then, but the good things always outweigh the bad. God’s been so amazing!”. We may see Sharon Cuneta to have been so blessed and others may even envy her but she still has a lot of things she wish to have and experience..even have a bucket list for all we know!
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Toddler Photography
A Rottweiler, Amber is just almost a year old yet he’s so big.
It’s her bath time.
These first photos were taken with my assistance of course but the last one is all hers. I am referring to my almost 2yo daughter who has liked gadgets at her young age. She’s using a portable DVD player, a GameBoy, an Apple ipod and the latest which I think is what she liked most of all is our digital camera. She kept watching her own video in it for how she learned to turn it ON, I am not sure but most probably by observing. She also knows how to go back and forth to the view and shooting mode. Clever little girl she is! She in fact woke up from her afternoon nap one time and suddenly asked: “Where is?” I later on found out that she’s referring to the camera. I will definitely have a separate album of her shots for I have found a lot of them to be funny. =)
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Recent Thoughts