Lazy Weekends

One of Tonyo's hobbies during weekends... "Mommy, mag video tayo." We never get songs right because he is usually focused on being funny.

Leron Leron Sinta from Hanna Fernando-Pacua on Vimeo.

Mochi Madness

It started with this recipe I found in a magazine:

Go ahead, try it :-) 

It looked simple enough and not that expensive. After my ChocNut Cheesecake adventure with Tonyo a few weeks back, I was eager to try another dessert. It was easy enough to find the ingredients (Glutinous rice powder, same stuff for espasol and palitaw ; water ; sugar ; ice cream) I chose plain strawberry (Even if I was tempted to use salted caramel! I have to make room for error and not waste the ice cream. This was my first try after all!)

The recipe can probably make 10-12 good mochi -- Practice Well!

It's pretty basic. Mix the rice, water, sugar. Cook using the microwave (cooking time depends on the microwave, you just have to get the correct consistency). Cool the dough. Cut into 0.5 mm thick circles 3-4 inches in diameter (I used a round ice cream container cap). Scoop ice cream. Close and mold.

Lol. As you can see, I was okay until up to step 4 in the photo. I had trouble closing the mochi balls so they turned up like fat siomai balls, haha. The ice cream was getting too runny, and I couldn't get the dough to close! So much for the perfect mochi!

Ah, but after freezing them again and not minding their siopao like appearance -- the mochi had perfect consistency and taste :) I will definitely try this again.

Reminders:
1. Have a container of cornstarch handy when kneading and rolling the dough. It gets sticky after every roll and you might waste a lot of dough.
2. Make sure your ice cream is really really stiff and frozen. This will help you scoop it into the dough and it is easier to close without the ice cream getting runny
3. Do not put too much ice cream
4. It would probably help to be in an air-conditioned kitchen!

We may have had flat mochi. But I had a happy Tonyo , who did some of the dough rolling.

Door to Door Shopping

Whenever I want to save money, I steer clear of malls.

There are instances that the stores come to me in the form of (1) online shopping , (2) Yaya's Avon catalogue. But yesterday was something different! Aling Sonya, Yaya's suki for shorts, actually dropped by the house with her market cart.

 

How's that for premium customer service? I was able to get 3 pambahay shorts and 1 set pyjamas for myself, and 3 pambahay shorts for Tonyo. All for Php260.00 :-)

Just more Tonyo-isms

1. He dropped his baby bottle and says, "Mommy, parang London Bridge!"  (erm, falling down nga naman)

2. Sees Sam in uniform, I think first time since he started talking, "Daddy, bakit ka naman parang soldier?"

3. "Mommy, ligo na tayo, panghi na ako e"

4. "Si Mommy, girlfriend. Si Nunyo, Friend-baby ni Mommy. Si Daddy, friend-boy!"

5. "Mommy, pahinga ka na o, pagod ka na eh." And tries to close my eyes... aww.

Insta-Love :-)

Well, hello there.

I've been crushing on the Fuji Instax Cameras since I first saw them in Singapore last year. They weren't cheap , around Php 5,000 each. Not to mention its life cycle cost of film (Php 500/ 10 shots -- that's a whopping Php 50.00 per credit card size instant gratification) + AA batteries.

When I saw it selling on Groupon at around 4,000 -- I was instantly tempted. However, based on my experience in the group buying site, I ALWAYS find something cheaper after I buy a Groupon offer. So I decided to do my research...

I found http://cutegadgets.sulit.com.ph/ , operated by Rozy. And I was hooked :-) Indeed, my Instax Mini 8 was Php3,750. And to top it off, she had packages with film included. It was a good deal , and the lowest deal I could find on the Internet.

"Our camera with 2 packs of film and original pouch is already on promo price The at 4200php. brown leather case is 650php separately. I am sorry but we don't have any other promos aside from the ones published, however I can give you a 150php discount without the pouch since you won't be needing it if you have a leather case so total for your order:

 

Camera with pouch and 20 films= 4200
Leather case =650
Shipping =50
Php 4900 - 150 discount= Php 4750 "

I paid through BPI and was promised overnight delivery. We had a bit of an issue with the delivery, it took about 2 days rather than the promised overnight - but that's no biggie for me (hey I was a seller once, too - so I forgive these little things :-)

I got the package on a Monday, a few hours before I had to leave for Davao. In my excitement, I actually put the film in wrong end first! Thankfully, I was able to take it out again. (Quite a scare!)

Oh what fun :-) Here's my first photo , taken in my hotel room in Davao, with some light compensation. The Instax Mini 8 has an automatic lighting guide that guides you on which setting to pick. What's a bit challenging is the viewfinder, it takes quite a while getting used to because there has to be a certain angle before you see your subject. A bit worrisome when you are asking someone to take your photo !

Might be a bit too bright. But I like the vintage feel :-)

I look forward to days with my Instax. It's a good sentimental tool , which allows you to plan out pictures (or risk wasting expensive film!) , and prevent them from rotting in a dark corner of your hard drive. This newfound analogue love has made me consider going back to my Canon film SLR (when I find it) , and has me crushing on Lomo - a Diana Mini. Sigh.



At Blu Gre Cafe , Davao City with my friend Carla -- the photo is now on her desk at work!

A tiny album of memories. I brought my Instax to my cousin's going away party. I used a business card holder as an album. Good gift idea!





A Conversation I Want Preserved

I have been a bad mom by not documenting everything that Tonyo is doing! I used to be sooo good at it :-(

Anyway, last night's conversation was a good one. Just an update, Tonyo is turning two this September and we are just AMAZED at his ability to retain stuff. He knows na his letters , can count 1-10, knows all his favorite cartoons, operates the iPad better than my mom, etc etc.

So last night I was telling him that I watched Cars 2 and found out that the blue toy car that we have was really a main character... Tonyo walks to his toy box and looks for it..

Tonyo: Mommy, waya (wala) dito!

(looks some more)

Tonyo: Ayun!

(turns it over, turns on the switch that makes it play sounds and move -- nothing happens)

Tonyo: Ay, bakit waya?

(By this time, Mommy is in awe already. He shakes it a little bit... turns off and on again. Then it finally works)

Tonyo: Ayuuuun!

(Baby squeals and plays)

At barely two ,, he wonders already why toys don't work, he wonders already why I didn't bring iPad home, he asks me "Bakit daddy waya?" like a strict person, asks me to sit down and "layo tayo mommy" , asks me to get him his books or toys, asks me to identify numbers / letters/ animals , tests my patience and sense of humor by pretending not to know stuff. OMG I am hooked!

Love you Tonyo!

Show them you deserve it

I got promoted last January.

I have never been promoted at work. At least, not in this (what I would call) movie-type kind of fashion. In one of my previous jobs, I changed titles but I still wouldn't consider that as a promotion. This time , I went through the promotion process in our company , which was like applying for a new job.

I submitted a justification for my promotion and underwent a series of interviews. I had a total of 9 interviews: the regional HR supervisor, my two former superiors, my current boss, the boss of the country office, someone from another department whom I have worked with in the past, our regional boss, and someone from the same company who is totally unrelated to our program. Due to the global nature of our job, some of the interviews were done outside the country or through conference call.  Although I knew most of them and subtly knew they were on my side,  it was still nerve wracking !

It was a big deal because I was moving from an administrative support post to a program level post. For the admin level , the post that I had was pretty much end of the line for admin staff (don't get me wrong though, I feel like our organization presents good opportunities for administrative professionals! I just think it is not my line) . With this promotion  , I am like catapulted to a world of endless possibilities where I can really grow within the organization.  

I thoroughly enjoy immersing myself in our program, and I guess that was why I was willing to go beyond my admin tasks before to get really involved in program implementation. I am glad they saw that in me and offered me this opportunity. I am also luck to have very supportive bosses.

However, this new post is overwhelming - that sometimes I can't help but wish I am back to being Program Assistant. Where I exceeded expectations and performed above my grade level. But now, I then have to strive to perform above par and show them that I really deserved the promotion.

It makes me giddy with excitement but it also makes me chatter in fear. Right now I am in Jakarta, Indonesia, not for training (which is usually the purpose when you get out of the country for admin staff) , but on "official mission". I have been pulled out temporarily from our Philippine program to contribute to the Indonesian program -- and I don't want to disappoint them.

Dear God, thank you so much for the blessings that you keep on showering our little family with. Please grant me the strength , confidence, and responsibility to be able to handle all of these.