Monopoly Saturday

We spent the weekend at home doing family stuff like watching movies and playing Monopoly.  Richard gave the Monopoly set to Aly for Christmas and last Saturday was my first time to play.  Richard and Aly showed me the ropes, with Aly throwing in some "Monopoly tips" every now and then.  It was so much fun!  I really enjoyed playing.  Aly won, by the way.  It's a shame how this seven-year old was able to beat two full-grown adults.  Haha!

a

a

The Monopoly champ: Aly!  Woohoo!

a

a

Aly's set comes with a trophy.  Cute!

a

a

The champ with the runners-up.  

a

a

Sabi ko nga kay Richard, if the game were an indication of how we handle our finances in real life, then should I be scared?  Sya kasi yung unang na bankrupt.  I was expecting that I'll be the first player out but I survived longer than the hubby.  Nagpatalo lang daw sya.  Yeah, right!  Haha!  Joke lang, sweetie!  Peace out!

My Baked Macaroni

Been semi MIA because of Aly's term break because if she's not on the computer, we're busy with her playdates.  Anyhoo, to make up for my lack of posts, I'm going to share a cooking secret with you.  A warning though: it's not really groundbreaking but I've received quite a few requests for my baked mac in the past so I think I'm doing something right and it's worth sharing nevertheless.

a

a

My baked macaroni

a

a

Of course, it goes without saying that you should only use the best ingredients.  My mom would always say, "kung titipirin mo lang din ang ingredients, wag na ka magluto."  But I think what makes my baked mac a cut above the rest (naks!) is the topping.

a

a

Mozzarella cheese...perfectly gratinated.  Ok, is that really a term?  Basta I'm referring to the browned cheese on top.

a

a

I do that in two steps: first, I put my oven on bake setting to melt the cheese.    That's at 350 degrees F for around 15-12 minutes.  Then, once the cheese has melted, I put it on broiler setting.  That's around 10 minutes, but I watch it real closely because I don't want to burn the cheese.  When the cheese starts to brown in all the right places, I turn the oven off.

a

a

So my baked mac has three layers: the pasta + sauce mixture, bechamel sauce and mozzarella cheese.  I have to admit though that I've only "upgraded" to mozzarella cheese in the last two years or so.  But the one thing that's been constant in my baked mac is the bechamel sauce, which is just a simple sauce using butter, flour and milk.  Mozzarella is more expensive than the regular cheese that we use back home, but it makes all the difference!  And for me, it's not as salty as Kraft cheddar or Magnolia quickmelt.  Believe me, once you go mozzarella, you will never go back to regular cheese.  Besides, can regular cheese do this?

a

a

The stringed cheese effect.

a

a

Hope this tip helps.  Happy cooking!

Miracle in Bangkok

Heehee!  This does not have anything to do with religion.

a

a

Last week, I witnessed a miracle right here in our apartment.  Yes, in our very own apartment!

a

a

Aly cleaning her room.  Haha!

a

a

I can't believe it!

a

a

I know I said this many times before and I'm beginning to sound like a broken record but I can't help it!  My babe is growing up too fast! *Sniff!*

a

a

She didn't just clean her room ha.  She also organized her toys.  And she did it with no help from mommy or daddy!  Another proud moment for mommy!

a

a

And she didn't just organize them.  She did it the mommy way: putting the same items together and labeling the Ziploc bag (e.g Barbie shoes, Polly Pocket, etc).  Richard said kuhang kuha daw ni Aly yung organizing style ko.  I'm so proud of my babe!  Ok, I'm gonna cry now...

a

a

Thanks, babe for doing this!  Mommy loves ya!

Sunday Lunch Series: The Ninth Cafe

I noticed that I have a lot of photos that I have yet to share here on my blog (although some have already been posted on Facebook) so I want to start doing a Sunday Lunch Series.  Who knows, it might help someone out there who's planning to visit Bangkok.  And by someone, I mean a person who is not a friend or family member or not one of the ten people who regularly read my blog who are also friends and family.  Heehee!

a

a

Anyway, back to Sunday Lunch.  Since we hear mass at the Redeemer Church at 11am on Sundays, lunch at home was never an option.  Eating out is the only way to go.  It's a regular thing and I actually set aside a certain portion of our monthly budget for our Sunday lunches.  We usually go to our favorite restaurants, one of which is Chokchai Steakhouse, but we are also willing to try out new ones when we're feeling adventurous.  I'm going to share some of them here.

a

a

You can get great Thai food anywhere here in Bangkok.  Food stalls are everywhere and most of the malls have their own food court -- Paragon has a great one!  And you usually can't go wrong with those.  But I hate going to food courts on weekends because it's so hard to get a table and it's more crowded than usual.  Don't get me wrong; food courts are great and a lot cheaper too.  But when it's too crowded and the lines are very long, I get stressed and sungit.  I prefer to eat in restaurants where I don't have to line up and carry my own tray.  I want my food to be brought to my table so I can actually sit, relax and enjoy my meal (except for Food Loft, a sosyal food court where you order yourself but the waiters will deliver your food to your table).  Because really now, kung magpapakapagod lang din naman ako, then might as well eat at home, right?

a

a

So one of our favorite Thai restaurants is Ninth Cafe in Siam Paragon.  They serve Thai and International cuisine.  And they have great dessert too!

a

a

Sunday lunches are great for family bonding moments too!

a

a

a

a

a

Aly doing silly poses for mommy.

a

a

I actually discovered this place first and I wanted to share it with my loveys.

a

a

My sweetie always gives me the best smile.

a

a

The 9th Cafe in Siam Paragon.

a

a

Baby clams au gratin with garlic bread -- great appetizer!

a

a

Spaghetti meat sauce for Aly.

a

a

Red curry beef with rice for Richard.

a

a

Pork skewers with sticky rice for me.

a

a

Happy, happy!

a

a

Snowberry cake -- white cake with cream and fresh strawberries.

a

a

Lemon meringue pie -- I heart you!

a

a

The Ninth Cafe has branches in Siam Paragon and Langsuan.

Aly-isms: Mommies are Great in Everything

Me and my babe, getting ready for our beauty sleep.

a

a

My daughter idolizes me.  She thinks I'm great in everything.  Last week, she volunteered to make cardboard animals for their class presentation because she knows that mommy can draw very well.  She also thinks that I'm a great cook.  In her heart and mind, her mom can do anything and everything.  I love how she looks up to me that's why I always give my best in whatever she asks me to do.

a

a

But something happened last week that may have changed how my seven-year old sees her super mommy.

a

a

Last Sunday, on our way to church, Richard was teaching Aly how to whistle.  She couldn't do it so she looked at me for help.  But I told her, "Sorry babe.  Mommy doesn't know how to whistle.  That's the one thing I never learned."

a

a

Her reply: "But mommy, I thought you were good at everything!"

a

a

Haha!  Pressure!  I hope that whistling incident didn't leave her scarred for life.  Heehee!

KCG 2011: Red Velvet Cupcakes

I haven't forgotten my cooking goals.  I just had a hard time choosing which one to do first.  Anyway, I decided to start with the red velvet cupcakes for Valentine's day.  I did some research and recipe comparisons and found out that the perfect red velvet cupcake should have the following characteristics:

a

• Color should be a DRAMATIC RED;
• Does not taste like a chocolate cake, but not like yellow cake either.  Just subtle hints of cocoa, "like a little kiss of chocolate on the cheek";
• Moist, flavorful + rich

a

My red velvet cupcake with cream cheese frosting, sitting nicely on the heart-shaped plate that I got from my cousin-in-law Joanne.  Been saving it for Vday.  Thanks, Jo!

a

a

I can't believe I made this myself!

a

a

Perfect color.  I love it!

a

a

I still can't believe I made this!  Sorry, I can't get over it.

a

a

Bagay with Aly's shirt.

a

a

These red velvet cakes are love.  It had all the characteristics that I listed above: a dramatic red color, the right amount of chocolate, moist and soft...For me, it was perfect!  Pwedeng ilaban sa cupcakes na binibili ko sa Siam Square!

a

a

Here's the recipe.  Adapted from allrecipes.

a

a

Ingredients:

a

1 1/4 cups of flour

1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup butter, softened

1 cup sugar

2 eggs

1/2 cup sour cream

1/4 cup milk

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

red food color -- the recipe calls for half a 1 oz. bottle of food color, but I didn't follow it.  I just added food color little by little until I got the right shade.  I was afraid that the cake might taste weird if I put too much food color so just use your own judgment on this.

a

a

Directions:

a

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  Mix flour, cocoa powder, bakind soda and salt in medium bowl.  Set aside.

a

2. Beat butter and sugar in a large bowl until light and fluffy.  Beat in eggs, one at a time.  Mix in sour cream, milk, vanilla and food color.  Gradually beat in flour mixture until just blended.  Do not overbeat.  Spoon batter into paper lined muffin cups, filling each cup 2/3 full.

a

3. Bake 20-25 minutes or until toothpick inserted into the cupcake comes out clean.  Cool cupcakes on a wire rack.  Frost with vanilla cream cheese frosting. Makes 12-15 cupcakes.

a

a

For the cream cheese frosting, there are many recipes available online, so feel free to use your favorite one.

a

a

Happy baking!

Nag-panic Si Hubby

My latest beauty loot: sunblock and face creams from Clinique, Nars lipstick + a small kit of samples + lipstick from Clinique (free for x amount of purchase).

a
a

I got a little carried away at the beauty counter the other day and I may be having a bit of post purchase guilt on my way home so I sent the hubby a text message:

a

Me: Hi sweetie!  I got a little carried away with the face creams that I bought. I used credit card.  But don't worry, I'll link my other peso account to pay for this.  Love you!

a

Richard: It's ok sweetie!  Don't worry about it!  You don't have to do that.  Love you!  (I have the best husband evarr!)

a

Me: Sweetie pag nalaman mo kung magkano nagastos ko baka magbago isip mo.  Haha!  Love you!

a

Nag-ring ang telepono ng di oras.  Hindi na sya nag-text.  Tumawag na sya.  Uh, oh...I think I'm in trouble so I hesitated a bit but I HAD to answer the phone.

a

Me: *gulp* Hi sweetie!

a

Richard: Magkano ba nagastos mo?

a

a

Hahaha!  Nag-panic sya!  He probably thought I bought La Mer!  I showed him the other day the price of the La Mer creams that I saw in the magazine (Thb19,000).  Siguro akala nya I bought those.  I'm not that crazy no!  But when he found out how much I actually spent, he relaxed a bit.  It's not as big as he thought naman daw.  But he didn't let me off the hook that easily.  When I told him yesterday that I'll buy him something from Clinique (they have a men's line too), he told me: "You don't need to buy for me.  Pare-pareho lang yan.  Niloloko ka lang ng mga yan."  Hahaha!  Men.  They just don't get it!

Aly's New School Bag

Last December, Richard and I bought Aly a new school bag as a treat.  

a

a

Her old, school-issued bag.  Boring daw ito.

a

a

Her new school bag.  Cool na daw sya ngayon.  Heehee!

a

a

She's been asking for a new bag eversince her other classmates began bringing Disney princess bags to school.  But Richard and I always tell her that she doesn't need a new one.  Her old bag will do for now.  

a

a

We finally gave in last Christmas when we realized that our girl needs to have her on carry-on luggage as well.  She always brings a small kit whenever we travel.  It includes a book, notebook, coloring pens, pencils and a dolly.  Sa umpisa, good girl pa sya.  She would carry her bag by herself, but eventually, she will get tired and hand it over to me or her daddy.  Kawawa naman kami.  We have our own bags to carry too.  Hindi na kami magkanda-ugaga sa pagbitbit.  Hence, Aly's carry-on luggage/school bag.

a

a

High-tech na pala ang mga school bags ngayon!  So many features, so many technical terms...pero in fairness, the sales guy at SM Sta. Rosa knew his stuff very well.  I think that's very rare in the Philippines.  I was impressed!

a

a

Aly's school bag came with a matching lunch box.  She was also excited about this.  Ganado syang mag-baon ng cookies because of this.

a

a

We're using an old bag tag for now.  Note to self: buy new ones on our next trip home.

a

a

Bag comes with a detachable pencil case, but she doesn't use this.  She keeps spare pencils here, though.

a

a

We love the pink + purple color combo.

a

a

Bagay din the hand sanitizer that her lola Aple gave her.  I attached it to her lunch box.  When she first brought this to school, her classmates loved the smell!  They would always come to her to ask for hand gel.  Sikat!  Heehee!

a

a

The bag has more features like a rain cover (so cool!), compartments inside and at the sides, a strap inside (parang maleta talaga), a contraption at the bottom that won't make the bag topple over...school bags today are so different from the bags during my time.  They make going to school more fun I think.

a

a

This bag wasn't cheap but it made Aly really happy so it was all worth it. She also said that it was our first time to buy her a school bag.  Bigla naman kaming na-guilty.  Haha!  Kulang na lang katabi nya yung bag sa pagtulog.  Promise!  When she woke up, she immediately showed her new bag to her lolo Bernie and lola Aple.  Complete with demo and exactly like the demo that the sales guy showed us in SM.  So cute!  We also brought the bag with us when we had lunch with my inlaws.  She wanted to show her lola Lilia and mamita Tess her new bag as well.

a

a

Very handy at the airport too!

a

a

Aly sat on it and it supported her weight just fine.  That's the contraption over there.

a

a

Sulit na!

a

a

So worth it :)

a

a

P.S Aly and I were both kilig when we first brought the bag to school.  We received a lot of compliments that morning.  Her BFF's mom even asked us where we bought it because the daddy will be going to Manila on a business trip.  Heehee!

Nag-panic si Mommy

I was having a quiet, lazy morning when my phone rang.  It was Aly's school.  She said something about the swimming pool and chemicals and Aly coughing...it was a blur and frankly, it was not easy to understand with her English-Thai accent and all.  But I understood that Aly was sick so the nurse had to bring her to BNH.  Worry sets in but I managed to thank her, hung up the phone and called Richard.  Hubby said he'll go to BNH as well, but I told him that it might not be necessary.  I can handle this myself.  I'll just call him when I get there.

a

a

All I can think about was my poor Aly.  She was probably looking for mommy.  Gotta hurry.

a

a

So off I went.  No ligo (but naligo naman ako kagabi bago matulog), no make-up, no kilay (yikes!)...slipped on leggings, a shirt and oversized shades for a touch of glam...bahala na!  My babe needs me.

a

a

I was at the lobby waiting for a taxi (ang tagal pa nga dumating gosh!) when I called the school again so they can tell the nurse to wait for me at the hospital.  I was on my way.  

a

a

Halfway to BNH when I realized oh, shoot!  Dalawa pala ang BNH dito: one at Convent Road (where we usually go) and one that's right across Aly's school!  But it was too late, I was halfway there.  Nevertheless, I called the school to ask which BNH and my hunch was right.  Aly was at the one that's like walking distance lang from our apartment.  Sumakit bigla ang ulo ko.  We can't turn back.  We were stuck in traffic.  The nearest U-turn is like super near BNH Convent.  I'll probably reach it in ten minutes -- at best.  Sana pala naligo na ko.  Ganun din pala.  Hay!

a

a

Then again, I thought about my poor Aly.  She was probably looking for mommy by now.  Hope she's ok.

a

a

Thb80 later, I eventually made it to BNH across Aly's school.  Para lang akong namasyal sa taxi.  Sayang ang time at ang pamasahe!  When I got there and nadatnan kong eksena ay: Aly with her two classmates, giggling, talking and having fun while coloring (they were given activity sheets by the nurse).  Hindi sila mukhang may sakit at parang walang nangyari.  Aly was actually surprised to see me there.

a

a

Ay naku!  Mukhang ako yata ang kelangan ng check-up!  Sumakit ang ulo ko.  Na-high blood ako sa mga pangyayari.

a

a

Oh well, I'm just glad my babe is ok.  Turns out, they were cleaning the pool and they used chlorine -- lots of it siguro.  It was during breaktime so Aly and her classmates were out playing when they inhaled the chlorine and started coughing.  The pediatrician checked all four kids and they're all ok.  Thank God for that!

a

a

I always thought that I can be cool and calm in these situations but you'll never really know until it actually happens.  I never thought that I would panic, but then I did.  Ganun yata ang effect ng walang kilay.  Hindi ako prepared.  Haha!  Oh, well...

a

a

I have some issues with the school though.  Humanda sila.  I will write them a letter.

Magic Tree House

Last Saturday, on our way to the mall, Aly and I were talking about William Shakespeare and Queen Elizabeth I.  Yes, my seven-year old knows about Shakespeare.  Buti na lang we studied Shakespeare in high school!  Or else, wala akong maisasagot sa anak ko.  Haha!  Imagine that, she's only in grade two and she knows the stuff that I only learned about when I was in high school?!  Geez!

a

a

Aly getting all cozy with her new book.

a

a

She didn't learn about this in school, by the way.  She got this from the books that she's been reading.  At present, Aly is addicted to Magic Tree House books.  She can't stop reading them!  Which is really good.  She bought three new books last Saturday and she finished reading all three by Sunday!  Galing!

a

a

Aly first discovered them in her school library; borrowing at least three books every week.  Then, she also started collecting her own.  I remember how excited she was when they had a book fair in school.  She spent all of her allowance on Magic Tree House books.  Since then, she would occasionally surprise me and Richard with bits and bobs of info that she has gathered from her books.  Like last Saturday, she told me, "Mom, did you know that Queen Elizabeth made a law that said girls are not allowed to join the play. So Annie (the character from Magic Tree House) had to pretend that she was a boy."  I was pleasantly surprised because she's right!  Thank goodness talaga for my high school English classes! 

a

a

These Magic Tree House books rock!  Highly recommended and 100% domestic goddess approved :)

Banane # 2

A few weeks after I got my hot pink Banane last year, they came out with a new collection in neutral colors.  Gigil!  It took me a while to decide if I should get another one because Richard's not really a big fan.  He likes the Longchamp Le Pliage better because he thinks it's more durable than the photo-printed Banane.  He wasn't clear though, about buying me another Longchamp.  Hmmm...need to clarify that before Valentine's Day.  Heehee!

a

a

Anyway, I kinda went behind my husband's back by sending Banana Taipei an email asking them about the availability of the new collection.  But luck was on the hubby's side because they said that they are on full production and are unable to accept any orders until after Chinese New Year.  Sad!

a

a

Two days later, I woke up with a brilliant idea -- ding! ding! ding! -- what if I make them kulit?  I'm only going to order one bag anyway.  Surely, they can squeeze me in right?  So I sent them another email -- no more going behind the husband's back this time because I told him that I plan to get another Banane, but he made me promise that this will be the last one.  They didn't accept my order right away because they had to check their stocks first.  My first color choice wasn't available, but that didn't stop me.  Oh no, sir!  Nothing stops the Krissy-train when on full shopping mode!  I was choosing between two colors then and fortunately, option #2 was in stock.  Yay!  Luck was finally on my side.

a

a

Fast forward to two weeks later, I got a little surprise in the mail:

a

a

Ok, it's not exactly a surprise because I've been tracking it online the moment they sent me the code.  Heehee!

a

a

a

a

My new baby: French Honey Camel Banane.

a

a

Now I have two "Birkins".  Haha!

a

a

P.S It really pays to be makulit sometimes lalo na if you want something really bad.  It happened to me many times before back home where the sales person will say they don't have it in stock, but sometimes they're just too lazy to check.  If you insist (with matching sad, paawa face), they will actually check and "discover" that they have it in stock pala.  Now this need not apply on shopping alone.  You can use this kulit tactic to anything in life -- goals, dreams, etc.  When you encounter some bumps and obstacles along the way, or when people say you can't do it or you can't have it, don't let it stop you.  Insist and persist!  It can make a difference :)