Crazy Over Cakes

Which to choose?

Conti's Mango Bravo

Mary Grace Cafe's Mango Bene

Red Ribbon Mango Cake

I have no idea why I have this huge craving for a mango cake but all I know is I need to have one for my birthday. I haven't tried Mary Grace Cafe's Mango Bene so I am kinda gearing towards that one but the strong pull of that huge Mango Bravo from Conti's is irresistible whereas Red Ribbon's Mango Cake is also proven to be delicious and definitely cheaper compared to the two.

Haay, what should I bring home tomorrow?

Feeding a Picky Eater

It may not be obvious that my son is a picky eater because in most photos that I upload on Facebook and here on my blog, he is usually holding a biscuit, a hotdog or a glass of Taho. Well, actually, those are the only food that Johan can finish in one sitting.

He is still more into milk (in a feeding bottle) and he consumes 6-8 bottles a day. Recently though, I was so surprised when he came up to me while I was having dinner and asked to be fed with what I was having. My MIL also told me that Johan's starting to like eating rice and would usually asked to be fed alongside his cousin.

So, I think it is the best time to become creative with his meals. I've read somewhere that to make my picky eater become a healthy eater, I must make his meals visually enticing. So, I logged on to Pinterest to gather ideas and look at what I found!

Pin after pin of wonderful creations!

Just look at all those colors! Now, I'm very inspired to get started and I will be dropping by the mall one of these days to look for cookie cutters, egg and pancake molds and colorful plates for the little boy. I hope I can find egg molds like the ones below, I can already imagine starting our weekends with flower-shaped eggs! I'm already loving it!

However, should I not find cookie cutters or molds to my liking within the week, I would have to settle for this easy weekend project. Rainbow pancakes!

The ingredients are pretty simple: pancake batter, maple syrup, butter and food coloring in different colors of course. For a step-by-step instruction on how to make a rainbow pancake, I suggest you click on this link: How to Make Rainbow Pancakes, because that's where I'll be referring to as well when I try and create my own this weekend.

I'm so excited for this and I am also praying that this would help me make Johan eat healthier. Let's do this, Mommies!

Sunday Bonding

We usually wake up very early during Sundays because we prefer to hear the first mass in our church at 5:30 am. We do this to keep the boy from wandering off around the church grounds because there are a few kids at this hour and we get to come home sooner so we could get more things done around the house.

Today was no exception as we went to church early to start the day right, we then went to Jollibee to have breakfast. I had the Hotdog Breakfast Meal, hubby only ordered Palabok and we got a Burger Meal for the little boy.

Cheers!

After having breakfast, we then proceeded to have the car washed. Johan and I stayed in front of St. Nicholas De Myra school while the car is being serviced. This is one school that I am eyeing for Johan as I've been hearing positive feedback about St. Nicholas de Myra. Another plus point is that they insist on having the kids speak in English while they're within school grounds. Anyway, while we're there earlier today, I saw a caretaker and asked him if the school offers summer classes for toddlers. I am so glad when the caretaker told me that they do offer summer classes though he's not sure if they accept kids of Johan's age. I would have to file for a leave one of these days and inquire.

Hubby decided to have the car waxed as well, so that meant the service will last for more than an hour. Since it's still early and we really didn't have much to do at home, I thought why don't I bring Johan to nearby Kadiwa Park and let him run around while we wait for hubby. So, we left hubby at the car wash station, boarded a jeepney and off we go to the park.

Kadiwa Park is not really a park-park. It's actually just a sidewalk that the City of Dasmarinas turned into a mini park by installing a Koi Pond, a few waterfalls, animal statues, lots of plants, trees and benches to sit in.

Johan wanted to get into the water!

He was so amazed to see a waterfall and kept on saying, "Big!"

  

"Wow!"

 

He was actually scared to go near the towering Giraffe statue

Then he got hungry and asked for biscuits

Then played some more

 Then he saw a magtataho and of course, he just got to have Taho

Yum!

 

It is barely lunch time and, already, we are having such a fantastic day. Sunday did start out right for our family. I hope all days are like these.

Happy Sunday everybody!

Weekend To Dos

I made a list of the things that needs to be done at home over the weekend and the list just a short one but given my mood and how sick I am (with the cough and colds again!), I was only able to finish one task so far.

From four baskets, we are now down to just two! Well, the other toys are still in their respective boxes and I take them out only when I am playing with Johan because some toys need supervision but then this is already a huge step in decluttering our home.

The walls badly need a good scrub as those are full of Johan's scribbles in crayons, pencils and pens plus there are hand marks everywhere. 

The underwear drawer too needs some organizing as I can barely close it without getting some pieces stuck.

The fans are a bit dusty and have to be taken down the walls for proper cleaning. I might have someone do it later in the afternoon as I cannot do it myself given that I already have colds and I don't want the dust from the fans trigger an asthma attack.

The salon trip has been delayed for the longest time ever and my hair definitely is a mess. I kept it tamed and tied in a ponytail these last few weeks and I'm sure I've made far more bad to it than good. I hope I'll feel better tomorrow so I could finally get this done.

Oh yes, I'm keeping myself busy just to get my mind off some things.

Random Stuff

1. I am deathly scared of cats. There was even a time in college when I didn't talk to some of my friends for days when they did a prank on me and placed a kitten beside me while I was reviewing for an exam.

2. I am still waiting for my husband to give me flowers. We've been together for 12 years, married for four years and he still hasn't given me a single flower.

3. I am very madiriin. I don't like talking about poop because my stomach overturns and I'd be heaving in just a matter of seconds. I imagine what poop looks like kasi. Eww!

4. I am selfish. Not in anything material but when it comes to dying, I don't want to be the person left behind and deal with the grief. I don't think I can handle it.

5. I still hate this certain girl who did something to my youngest brother. It's been years but I still feel the anger whenever I remember her. Forgiving is really impossible because how can you forgive a person when you haven't received an apology.

6. I'm still undecided whether I wanted to have another child. I'm scared that my time would be dedicated to the new baby and I would neglect Johan, that I'd have favoritism and that we could not afford to send them to good schools.

7. I don't like hearing the words, "I don't know." I blame this on how my Mama brought us up. She would never accept the "I don't know" answer to any of her questions. To her, if you don't know the answer, research and find ways to learn it. "I don't know" is unacceptable.

8. I am not a fan of chips because again, I blame it on my Mom's upbringing - "Nakakabobo yan" is her constant reminder.

9. I want to be surprised - for my birthday or anniversary or any other day at that.

10. I have very low patience to waiting in line. That’s why I never bought another box of J.Co Donuts because the line is always long. Even spending time at the salon to have my hair re-bonded again never happened because I really don’t like sitting for six hours. Masakit kaya sa pwet. J

11. Whenever I get mad, I tend to shut my mouth or walk away. I know it’s very frustrating to my husband but the reason why I do that is to keep myself from saying things that I’m sure I’ll regret later. My words hurt like a knife when I am furious so I just walk out to prevent that from happening and besides I won’t be able to communicate effectively because I am so going to cry out of so much anger.

Rough Patch

I've been going through a rough patch the last couple of days. It has something to do with work, my birthday, the husband and priorities.

Seriously I need a good cry just to let it all out because I can feel that I am on the brink of losing it. It's nothing life shattering but the way things have piled on top of each other is enough to bring me down.

Probably it has something to do with getting older as I will be having my birthday next week so I am becoming more emotional. Maybe. I dunno.

This boy is the only one that cheers me up these days.

2013 Monthly Visual Dream Board - Part 2

July: I have always wanted to try and eat at a buffet though I am never a big eater. I've been hearing positive reviews about several but I've never been into one because I'm scared I won't be able to finish even one plate. If ever I would decide and try, it would definitely be at Spiral in Sofitel.

August: If I am not doing what I am doing, I would probably be a florist or a baker. Those are two of my dream jobs and this year I am hoping I achieve at least one. To bake. Hopefully by August, I would have saved enough to buy myself a table top oven.

September: When I finally bought that oven, by September I would have baked my first set of cupcakes perfectly.

October: I planned to go to the Manila Ocean Park last year for Johan's birthday but hubby thought Johan's too young to enjoy the attractions. This year, we will definitely go.

November: I have always wanted to relive my childhood or at least introduce to Johan how it was like during my time. My family and relatives used to celebrate every birthdays in Luneta Park. It was a tradition of the Tan Family, well until everybody's all grown up and celebrating in Luneta became forgotten. I'd like to bring Johan here and play at the playground. Has it been restored already?

December: A new camera would definitely come in handy and with the 13th month pay in December, I am really hoping I'd be able to buy one.

2013 Monthly Visual Dream Board - Part 1

Since the visual dream board I made prior to us purchasing the car has proven quite effective, I thought why don't I make a visual dream board for every month of the year. So, here are just some things that I wanted to happen in 2013.

January: I want a Mango Bravo cake from Conti's for my birthday.

February: My husband and I were never fans of Valentine's Day celebrations. We find it corny and very stressful, what with the many other couples wanting to dine out on Valentine's Day itself, it is quite impossible to find an available table. This year, hopefully, my husband would give in that we have a decent dinner, not necessarily on V-Day itself (because I still find it corny), but a quiet dinner just the two of us, in a decent restaurant. (I know the photo shows the Eiffel Tower in the background. A girl can dream, right?)

March: By March, I hope I find a good toddler school that I can enroll Johan in come summer. The boy really needs to develop his social skills to get him ready for an actual school. I don't want him clinging to me during his first day and I do want him to learn how to get along with kids other than his cousin.

April: I want Johan to experience the beach. I love beaches, I find tranquility in the slow lapping of the waves and during those rare times that I was at the beach, I felt that I was most at peace.

May: I've been searching for great deals on hotels from different sites - Groupon, Metrodeal, Deal Grocer and Ensogo - so we could spend at least a night on a hotel for our 4th wedding anniversary. I would love for my husband and I to just relax, talk, reflect on how four years into married life has been for both us, plan, dream and to just enjoy each other's company.

June: Spend a weekend in Tagaytay for my parents' birthdays. My Mom has been dropping hints that she wanted our family to have a Tagaytay getaway so probably this is the best time that we do that.