Mother's Day Presents

Mother's Day in Thailand is actually in August (in time for the Queen's birthday).  But we're not Thai, so we celebrate it just like everyone else back home.  Besides, I can't wait until August for my mom's day gift.  May is a lot quicker.  Heehee!

a

a

Richard and Aly surprised me with these cards when I woke up.

a

a

a

a

This is why I love being a mommy.  I have the best daughter ever!

a

a

Gifts from the hubby.

a

a

Yipee!

a

a

He took a look at my wishlist and chose the Cuisinart hand blender.

a

a

a

Thank you, sweetie!  I love it!

a

a

He threw in a new cookbook too!  I chose this myself at Kinokuniya.

a

a

He also bought me a white chocolate cake.  But now that I have a blender with a whisk attachment, I think I'm going to say goodbye to store-bought cakes soon.

a

a

The spoiling doesn't end there.  He didn't want me to cook so we ordered pizza instead.

a

a

He also got me a tub of ice cream because he knows I've been craving for more than a week already.

a

a

That's only because I was on a diet!  I've been deprived so mother's day was the perfect excuse for a cheat day.

a

a

Swensen's ice cream, I love you!

a

a

Oh yeah, I had more cake too!  Cheat day kung cheat day!

a

a

It truly was a great day!  Thank you, Richard and Aly for making me feel extra special.  The hubby missed the Pacquiao fight for our mother's day thing.  I feel bad about that, but he said it's ok.  And that's why I love him more! :)

Mother's Day Lunch

Yesterday was a great day!  I woke up to the wonderful smell of pancakes, which the hubby prepared.  Richard whips up some wicked pancakes, I tell ya!  My pancakes look and taste blah next to his.  Then, we went to church and had lunch at the Garage Burger and Grill at All Season's Place.

a

a

They had a sports bar-ish theme going on.

a

a

a

a

a

The knick knacks and decor kinda reminded me of TGIFridays.

a

a

Car seats.

a

a

"WARNING: The consumption of alcohol may leave you wondering what happened to you bra and panties."

a

a

Starter platter

a

a

Aly's cheeseburger

a

a

Richard and I shared the Juicy Lucy, a burger patty with a cheese filling.  It was a bit undercooked.  Tsk..tsk..

a

a

Thank you, Richard and Aly for the wonderful lunch!

a

a

My next post will be about my Mother's Day loot.  Yipee!  Stay tuned :)

Baby Ross' 1st Birthday

Baby Ross had a Mickey Mouse themed birthday party at Sizzler All Season's Place.

a

a

a

Ate Aly and the birthday boy.

a

a

a

Mommy Rose did an excellent job with the balloon centerpieces.

a

a

Aly and the cool birthday cake.

a

a

You can now call me the birthday banner queen because I made that Mickey banner myself :) 

a

a

a

Baby Ross with the proud mommy and daddy.

a

a

Another proud daddy.  Haha!

a

a

The Valdezes with the Resultays.  Thank you for inviting us!  We had a great time :)

Mother's Day Wishlist 2011

Dear Richard and Aly, I know you're planning to get me something for Mother's Day.  I said I wanted these:

a

a

Chanel pressed powder.  Image from Chanel.

a

a

and Chanel Rouge Coco lipstick.  Image from Chanel.

a

a

But I'm having second thoughts.  I'm sure you haven't bought my gift yet so may I suggest a new kitchen gadget instead.  I think it's a better gift because #1 it will last longer than make-up; #2 it will inspire me to cook more delicious meals for you at home.  So it's not really just for me, but for you and Aly na rin (nambola pa!).  Here's what I have in mind:

a

a

A pasta machine. Image via.

a

a

Or...

a

a

A Cuisinart Hand blender.  Image via.

a

a

Or...

a

a

A Wusthof Classic 6-inch chef's knife.  Image via.

a

a

Or any cookbook to add to my collection.  Preferably from Jamie, Nigella, Rocco, Gordon or Martha.  Hmmm...actually, mas maganda yata if you buy me a kitchen gadget AND a new cookbook.  Bagay dba?  Tig-isa pa kayo ni Aly :)  Hehe!

a

a

Thanks in advance.  I love you both!

KCG 2011: Salad Dressing from Scratch

Since Richard and I went on a diet, we've been having a lot of salad to go with our grilled meals.  The South Beach Diet (SBD) recommends balsamic vinaigrette dressing more than the cream-based ones so this is the one that I made from scratch. 

a

a

What you need (from left): pepper and salt to taste, balsamic vinegar, extra virgin olive oil (evoo) and a few sprigs of thyme.

a

a

I'm doing it the Jamie Oliver way by putting all the ingredients together in a bottle.

a

a

Use equal amounts of evoo and balsamic vinegar...a

a

...and shake, shake, shake!  You can actually just put all the ingredients in a bowl and whisk with a fork but using a bottle is more fun!  Plus, you can easily pop it in the ref if you have any leftovers then shake again before serving.

a

a

Balsamic vinaigrette!

a

a

Drizzled on a bed of greens.

a

a

We used the dressing on the grilled pork too and it was yummy! 

The pork, by the way, was marinated in a mustard+olive oil+thyme+rosemary rub before grilling and it made the kitchen smell yummy-good.

a

a

I know it's probably the easiest salad to dressing to make but what the hey!  It tastes great!  Plus, if you made it from scratch, nothing can beat that!

Royal Wedding Fever

Last Friday, Aly and I were glued to BBC watching the Royal Wedding.  We loved everything about it: Princes Harry and William who looked real dashing in their uniforms, the lovely hats that the guests wore, the carriages...and the bride!  She was beautiful!  So regal and stunning...princess talaga! 

a

a

The gorgeous bride in Alexander McQueen.

a

a

When Richard came home that night, he told me that Kate's gown reminded him of my wedding gown. 

a

a

Same lace bodice and neckline.  Heehee!

a

a

Richard: "Oo nga, sweetie, ikaw talaga yung unang naisip ko nung nakita ko yung gown nya."

a

Me: "Oo nga, no?  Pati yung hikaw namin magkahawig."

a

a

Kate's earrings

a

a

Similar drop earrings from my lola Nene.

a

a

That's not where the similarity ends.  Heehee!  We both have gorgeous younger sisters as maid of honor :)

a

a

Kate and Pippa.

a

a

With Angel.

a

a

Hindi na pala Kate ang tawag sa kanya; Catherine na pala dapat -- oops!  That's another similarity -- her real name starts with a C and her nickname starts with a K (Catherine/Kate).  Ako din ganun (Christine/Krisan).  But that's where the similarity ends.  Si Catherine kasi princess LANG.  Ako, reyna -- reyna ng tahanan.  Hahaha!!  Tsaka sya may tiara.  Ako wala.

a

a

Wait lang...

a

a

Meron din pala ko.  Mas maliit nga lang.  Haha!  Highlands Pimps and Hos Christmas Party in 2004.

a

a

Ilusyonada!  Ok, back to Earth na :)

a

a

All photos are from People Magazine.