Candle Making Class

Chatrium conducts monthly seminars for hotel guests and residents, particularly for stay-at-home mommies like me.  In the past, I have attended a flower arrangement seminar and a Thai cooking class.  Last Friday, I went to a candle making class.

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A good number of hotel staff was there to assist us, specially with heating the wax.  We were actually a little bit spoiled because all we had to do was sit there and wait while they do the dirty work for us.  Heehee!

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Materials for candle #1: A paper cup, ready-made wick and disposable chopsticks.  To prepare the wick, you should insert it between the chopsticks to make sure that it stands upright when you pour the hot wax.

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This is the wax.  It's a mixture of different components like paraffin, natural wax and other stuff.  I don't remember the ingredients and their exact proportions because the staff melted the wax mixture for us so it arrived on my table like this already.

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That's the staff member adding in the essential oil.  Told you they do the dirty work for us!  I left the class with clean hands.  Imagine that.  Heehee!  

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They used vanilla, by the way.  The scent in the room was too strong but I love how my shirt smelled like vanilla hours after the class.

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Stir the mixture gently after you pour in the essential oil.

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That's our teacher adding dye to my wax mixture.  I asked for purple, my favorite :)

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She used very little powdered dye.

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I thought it was going to be this kind of purple so I was kinda sad.

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But then she added a little bit of red so it became like this.  Hmmm...Not my perfect shade of purple pero pwede na rin.

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My first layer of purple wax.  If I had my way, I would make my candle purple all the way.  But everyone in class was doing three layers in different colors so nakigaya na rin ako.  Hehe!

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We used this metal spoon to pour the wax in the paper cup.

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Wait for the first layer to cool before pouring the next one.

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Make sure too that the wax for your 2nd layer is not too hot before pouring it.  Otherwise, the first layer will melt and the colors will mix.

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My 2nd layer: yellow.

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While waiting for my 2nd layer to cool, we made candle #2.  Same procedure, but this time in a glass.

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Same vanilla scent, but only one color this time.

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This is how the purple wax looks like when it has cooled.  It's not as bad as I thought it would be!

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Waiting...

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Still waiting...

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Finally!  I used the rest of the wax for my 3rd layer.  Don't fill the paper cup to the brim.  You need to leave a little bit of space on top so it will be easier to peel the paper cup off.

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And pour the wax slowly to avoid bubbles.  I poured the rest of the wax too quickly hence the bubbles.

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For the glass candle, you might notice that the center will sink a little when the wax cools.  You just need to add a little bit more hot wax to make it level.

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Almost ready!  The wick is off center, though.  Heehee!

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You have to wait for six hours pala before you can remove the paper cup.

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My two candle projects :)

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We were given a nice box for the glass candles.

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Ready to go!

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Six hours later, tadaaah!  My puto bumbong with star margarine inspired candle project.  Haha!

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The candle making class was fun!  I just wish we were more hands-on.  Or maybe just me; I might be the only one in class who doesn't mind getting her hands dirty.

The Rubber Band Trick

We first heard about the Rubber band Trick when we were watching Criminal Minds.  I'm not sure if all of you are familiar with the series, but there was a scene in one episode there where they were all eating in a Chinese restaurant and one of them, Agent Reid, was struggling with his chopsticks so another agent, JJ, helped him by putting a rubber band on them.  She twirled the rubber band around and around and voila!  Agent Reid was able to eat with the chopsticks like a pro.

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Our family loves Japanese.  Although we've already memorized how to ask for a spoon and fork in Thai (shon som, na ka), my 7-year old always wants to try eating with chopsticks.  Unfortunately, she doesn't know how so Richard and I thought the rubber band trick would be perfect for Aly.

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What exactly is the rubber band trick anyway?  I Googled it and I found this and this.  Basically, you need the paper sleeve that the chopsticks come in and a piece of rubber band.  You twirl the rubber band again and again, at the top of the chopsticks.  Then, you fold the paper sleeve again and again until it's small enough to create a small gap when you put it between the chopsticks right under the rubber band.  It's supposed to look like this:

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Rubber band on top and the folded paper sleeve below it.

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Watch how my Aly turns into a chopsticks pro.

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Getting a grip on things.

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Try to get the paper napkin with your chopsticks, babe.

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Look, mom!  I did it!

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Eating her tonkatsu with chopsticks (I had to cut the meat into small pieces first so she can easily pick then up)

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So easy to use chopsticks, mommy!

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Serious!

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It was a fun mommy-daughter lunch date!

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Aly loved the rubber band trick so much, I always bring a couple of rubber bands in my bag because my big girl wants to impress her dad with her newfound chopstick skills.

A Greener 2011

 My Rustan's eco bag.  I have three and I love, love, love them!

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Friends and family know that plastic bags are not allowed in Casa Valdez.  It's part of our efforts in going green.  They're welcome to use my eco bags, though.  It's my way of getting our guests involved in our green campaign.

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I love how shops here in Bangkok welcome the use of eco bags -- from the big supermarkets and department stores, all the way to the small shops of budding entrepreneurs.  Whenever I'm at the cashier and I tell them "no plastic please" and I show them my bag, they always say thank you.  Sadly, this is not always the case in the Philippines.  I remember last year when I was at Robinson's supermarket in Dasmarinas, Cavite, I bought a small bottle of vitamins for Aly.  The bottle can easily fit in my purse so I told the cashier not to use plastic but she said, "hindi po pwede ma'am, kasi baka sitahin kayo ng guard".  Isn't that what receipts are for?  Plus, the cashier was steps away from the guard so she can just shout out to him that I paid for the item already.  I was too tired to argue (lucky for her!) so I told her to use the smallest plastic bag possible.  But before leaving, I told her, "hindi kayo earth-friendly ha".  

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We have a long way to go back home.  The effort is there, like SM supermarket with their no bag days, but that's just once a week and I think it only applies to the supermarket, not the department store.  I understand that they are just wary of possible shoplifters but surely there are other ways to prevent this like CCTV's, secret shoppers...here in Bangkok they put a red stamp on price tags of paid purchases.  I guess that's their way of knowing (aside from the receipt) that the item has been paid for.  I wish they would take the no-plastic policy more seriously back home.  I read that the city of Muntinlupa has officially banned the use of plastic and styrofoam on dry goods and food items.  They're doing this to prevent major floods in the future.  So bravo Muntinlupa! I hope that this will inspire the other cities to follow suit.

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Anyway, back to Casa Valdez...  So we're taking bigger steps this year starting with our bath towels.  Our housekeeper used to change our towels daily, but now we have it changed two or three times a week.  Less laundry for the hotel means less use of water and detergent.  I'm also cutting down our own laundry at home from five times a week to four; I'm trying to figure out how to cut it down further.  It's our share in keeping our waters clean.

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Another thing is, we don't use the aircon in the afternoons anymore.  We're taking advantage of cooler weather so we only use the fan in the living room.  I know the fan also uses electricity but its consumption is a lot less than the aircon right?  We only turn the A/C on at night before we sleep.  I'm not sure though, how things will turn out in the summer.  It might be too hot that we will eventually need to turn the A/C on in the afternoons.  But summer's not in two months so two months of no aircon is quite something when you think about it.  It also helps that we have a new power scheme so no A/C in the afternoons will help lower our power consumption and eventually our utilities bill.

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Of course, there's also the usual turning off appliances that are not in use, turning off lights that are not in use -- got this from my dad and I love how  Aly would automatically turn off the light when she exits a room.

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The other day, the news said something about "weird weather" happening all over the world.  That's probably an SOS of sorts from Mother Nature and I think it's time for all of us to beef up our efforts in doing our share to save the Earth.

Good Health for 2011

In 2008, I had a bit of a scare with my ASCUS health issue.  After a year of check-ups and close monitoring, I was given the all-clear by my OB-GYN.  That was right before my birthday in 2009.  I was supposed to get another check-up last year before my birthday but I was out of the country.  I was too busy then that I eventually forgot to reschedule my appointment.  I know, my bad.

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This year, I promised the hubby that I will get that check-up.  It was one of the things that I worked on as soon as we got back from the holidays.  Last Saturday, my results came back.

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It was normal.  Thank God!

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I remember I mentioned this last time:

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My doctor told me from the start that the abnormal cells will eventually clear up on their own, but it all happened faster than I expected. I think it’s because of two things: Cervarix and mom’s prayers. Cervarix is an HPV vaccine that mom, Angel and I have been taking. It’s comes in three doses which are taken in a span of seven months. I already have the first two; the last one will be in October.

More than medicine and science, I also believe that prayers really help. A LOT! So thank you mom for your prayers. Prayers not just for me, but for our whole family as well. 

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I asked my OB-GYN if my Cervarix shots helped and she said those shots can only prevent not cure.  So it wasn't the medicine after all.  It was the power of prayer.  For this, I want to thank mom because I know that we are always in her prayers.  So thanks mom!  I love you!

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"Let nothing disturb you, nothing frighten you, all things are passing, God is unchanging. Patience gains all; nothing is lacking to those who have God: God alone is sufficient."  (St. Teresa of Avila) 

Japanese Dinner at Home

There are a lot of Japanese restaurants in Bangkok so whenever the craving hits me us, it's really easy to just eat out or pick up the phone, order Japanese and have it delivered at home.  The other night though, I was in a Martha Stewart mood so I cooked at home.

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Complete with Japanese-ish table setting.  My kitchen is totally not geared for a Japanese dinner hence, the mismatched plates.  Heehee!  Will make it prettier next time :)  I served real Japanese rice though!  I bought it from the grocery earlier that day.  It was my first time to cook gohan (Japanese rice) too.  It turned out ok.

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Yasai Itame (stir-fried vegetables) and Chicken Teriyaki.

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Here's how I did it:

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Yasai itame - I used carrots, cabbage, young corn and enoki mushrooms (instead of the usual bean sprouts).  It was my first time to cook with enoki mushrooms so I didn't know if I should blanch them or stir fry right away.  Just to be sure, I blanched them first for about 10 seconds.  I simply sauteed the veggies in canola oil with garlic and onions; seasoned with light soy sauce and drizzled a little sesame oil once cooked.  That's it.  Easy peasy.

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Chicken teriyaki - I kinda cheated with this because I used bottled sauce.  Heehee!  I used Kikkoman, though.  You can't go wrong with Kikkoman, right?  I just marinated boneless chicken thighs in Kikkoman Teriyaki sauce for at least an hour, grilled in my super oven until done, chopped into serving pieces and drizzled with a little more teriyaki sauce before serving.  That's it.  Simple as that!

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Japanese at home?  Pwede na!

Despedida for Fides

I love getting together with my AC friends!  Our parties are always fun because there's laughter (lots of it), gossip (hey, we're girls!), food (lots and lots of it) and dessert.  Yes, you read it right: dessert has its own category because there are times when, after a big dinner, we'd go to another place just for dessert.  I know, shame on us but that's how we girls roll.

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Our first social activity when we arrived in Manila last month was the farewell party for our good friend Fides and her daughter Bianca.  Party was held at Cafe Ano in Westgate Alabang.  As expected, there were lots of food.  Pat ordered all the Filipino dishes that Fides will miss when she moves to the States. 

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For starters: chicharong bulaklak.

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I don't remember the name of this dish, but it's small squid with garlic.

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Chicken skin with vinegar dip.

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Keeping herself busy while we wait for the rest of the group to arrive.

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I couldn't resist!  I had to have a slice of Brazo de Mercedes.  And this was before we had the main course!  Haha!

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Fides checking out the Filipino goodies that Pat and I bought for her.

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Surprise!  There was yema, ube halaya, pastillas, etc.

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Mangga't bagoong.  The bagoong was a winner!

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Pata Bawang: crispy pata topped with lots of fried garlic.

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The bamboo rice was divine!

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Bottomless margarita!

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Pinakbet.

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Kare-kare.

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Fried tilapia.

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Ensalada.  TDF!

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Aligue rice.  Ok, insert heart-attack here.  Heehee!

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Pork barbecue for the kids. 

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Fides and Pat.

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Jeff and Bianca.

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Richard, Aly and Penelope.

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This time with me.

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The girls with my necklaces :)

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Bianca and Aly.

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Fides with our Christmas gift.

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Bulaga!  Heehee!

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It was a photo of our Santacruzan themed Christmas party -- one of our best parties everrr!

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18 and sexy.

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Aly loves notebooks!  She used this one right away.  Thanks ate Bianca!

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Dessert: Mango Bravo from Conti's.

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Family favorite!

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Cutting of the cake -- bilisan mo Fids!

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Latecomer Katab.

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Bianc happy to see ninang Katab.

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I will miss you ninang!

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Another surprise for Fides.  Tumatawa pa kami nyan.

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A little something to show how much we love her.

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Ayan na, naiiyak na.

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And we all started crying too.

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One big hug for a great friend.

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BFF's.

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We were laughing one minute and crying the next!

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Ang mag-bee.

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One photo with Pat before going home.

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I don't which is more crazy: the heart attack inducing meal or the drama.  Nevertheless, it truly was a memorable night.  To Fids + Bianc, we wish you the best in your new home.  Manila will never be the same without you!  We love you!