What I Did Over the Weekend

It took me three days to make (including an entire afternoon's worth of searching and haggling in Chatuchak for materials), but it's all worth it because this is for my mom.

a

a

A big-ass bib neckpiece :)

a

a

Inspired by the one that I bought from Manila during my last trip which, by the way, looks tiny now compared to the one I made.

a

a

It's still not perfect, but I think I did a pretty good job for a first-timer if I may say so myself :)  

a

a

These babies are completely handmade and labor intensive.  Now I understand why these don't come cheap.  Richard has been encouraging me to look for stuff to do so I won't get bored because let's face it: I can't go to the mall everyday.  Looks like this is it.  Heehee!  I told my bestfriend Pat that I will try to make more so I can bring home a few pieces when I come home.  Let's see how it goes.

Homemade Granola

Since I'm trying to eat more healthy and lose weight at the same time, I try to avoid my usual guilty pleasures like chips, chocolates and practically everything else that can either make me fat curvier or give me diabetes.  Those who really know me know that I can't live without sweets.  Luckily, there's a healthier way to snack.  Presenting, my homemade granola :)

a

a

Snacking while window shopping online.  Heehee!

a

a

It's not just any granola; it's homemade granola.  They say that the ones that you buy off the shelf are not really healthy because of the preservatives, sugar and other stuff that they use so I make my own at home.  Here's the recipe:

a

a

2 cups rolled oats

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

1 tsp. cinnamon

1/4 cup honey

1/4 cup olive oil

1 tsp. vanilla

1/2 cup raisins

1 cup almonds

a

a

Warm up honey and olive oil in microwave oven.

a

Mix everything together and bake in a lined pan at 300C until golden brown.

a

Store in an airtight container.

a

a

You may also add other kinds of nuts and dried fruits if you want.  I promise you, this recipe is super easy to make.  You just toss everything together, bake and enjoy!

Stationery Love

I was at Tesco last week and they were having a sale at the wasteland section (stuff that you don't really need but they're too hard to resist that you buy them anyway) so I went home with these:

a

a

Notebooks, note cards (from Thb50 to Thb9 per box!) and mini notepads (Thb5 each).

a

a

These hardbound notebooks have the prettiest prints ever!  And they're very cheap (Thb49 only).    I use them for my recipes :)

a

a

I shared my loot with Aly who shares my love for notebooks and stationery.  We can't get enough of this stuff!  Richard doesn't mind, though because we buy only the cute, inexpensive stuff :)  Heehee!  

a

a

Our not-so-secret stash of stationery.

a

a

Cheap stationery is love!

Family Haircut Day

We spend our weekends doing family stuff together like going to the mall, eating out and watching dvd.  We also try to go out of the house as much as possible for a little bit of exercise.  Last weekend though, was a bit different -- we spent Saturday afternoon at the salon to get haircuts :)  

a

a

I tried to book an appointment at my suking salon, but they were fully booked over the weekend.  Buti na lang the Green Leaf Spa has an ongoing promo every Wednesday and Saturday so we got our haircut at 50% off.  Yay!

a

a

Excited to get a haircut!

a

a

Waiting area at the Green Leaf Spa.

a

a

See how happy she is?  Say goodbye to your long hair, babe!

a

a

Daddy watching over his princess.

a

a

Big girl Aly.

a

a

Richard's turn.

a

a

I'm glad he was patient enough to go through this with his girls.  Heehee! 

a

a

She loved the whole salon experience.

a

a

Smiling for the paparazzi mom. 

a

a

I think our little girl is growing up too fast.

a

a

The brand new Aly -- with shorter hair and bangs :)

a

a

Mommy's turn!

a

a

Gwapo!  I think he looks better with shorter hair :)

a

a

She loves doing this!

a

a

I'm getting my hair colored first because my roots are showing.

a

a

And I'm going to say goodbye to my long hair too because I'm going for a shoulder-length cut.

a

a

It was Aly's turn to be paparazzi.

a

a

Patiently waiting for us.  Thanks, sweetie!

a

a

Still waiting...

a

a

Color: check!  Haircut naman.

a

a

The paparazzi husband :)

a

a

The new and improved Valdez family!

a

a

I think we look five years younger with our new hair :)  Heehee! 

Central World is Back!

Still not a 100% though, because only part of the mall is open to the public (the farthest end opposite from Zen).  We were also sad to find out that Pepper Lunch isn't open yet so we're still looking forward to that.  However, with Kinokuniya and Zara open, it's worth the trip.

a

a

On our way to CW!

a

a

We had our Sunday lunch there and went on a food trip of sorts at the Central Food Hall.  Another sad discovery, our favorite burger place, Triple O's, isn't there anymore.  Buti na lang I brought my siblings there when they visited in 2009.  Sayang nga lang we didn't take a lot of photos!  Anyhoo, so many new stuff in Central World -- at the Food Hall at least.  They now have Sunrise Tacos.

a

a

I had grilled chicken soft taco.

a

a

Cheese quesadilla for Aly.

a

a

Harang!  A bit expensive at Thb215 for a cheese quesadilla, but Aly was happy so ok na rin.

a

a

Another new place, Fries Me To The Moon.  I got cheese sticks with beef pomodoro sauce.  Harang ulit at Thb109 for 3 sticks.  The sauce wasn't too good either.  Oh well...

a

a

They also have Pandora.  Yay!  Trying to fight the urge to buy something from them.  The cupcakes are so nakakagigil! 

a

a

Richard's sandwich.  He was supposed to order pasta, but it took them too long so he cancelled it and got this instead. 

a

a

Ok, so the Central Food Hall experience was a bit disappointing, but we figured they're probably still on dry-run so sige na nga.

a

a

Ooh!  Crepes and Co. is here too!

a

a

Vanilla caramel crepe.  

a

a

We are no longer disappointed.  Heehee!

a

a

Shopping at the Gap.  Happy na talaga kami.  Haha!

a

a

Glad that our favorite mall is back!

Aly's International Day Project

For this year's International Day, Aly's class was divided into four groups named after Asian countries like Japan, China, Korea and the Philippines!  My big girl was, of course, the group leader.  One of their projects was to make a poster for the country assigned to them.  Aly was thrilled to have our country included in the groups!  So we did our best to come up with a poster that will make our country stand out among the others.

a

a

Pilipinas, represent!

a

a

The topic assigned to Aly was about Philippine culture, so talked about Christmas and fiestas.  Photos of Simbang Gabi, caroling, puto bumbong and lechon were included as well.

a

a

I was in charge of the layout, Aly did the cutting and coloring.  She also typed the report herself!

a

a

Proud to be Filipino!

a

a

There's our poster, proudly displayed in Aly's classroom!

a

a

With Poom.

a

a

With Daniel.

a

a

Aly with her girlfriends Lisa and Minnie.

a

a

2nd grade homeroom all dressed up for International Day!

a

a

With Annie. I love this girl! :)

a

a

With Best.

a

a

With their homeroom teacher, Ms. Stacey.

a

a

The girls.

a

a

And the boys.

a

a

They also had a fashion show in the afternoon.

a

a

Shy Aly?

a

a

International Day was fun!  It was so nice to see all the kids dressed in their national costume.