Your Family's Christmas Gift

Planning on what to give your friends and relatives on Christmas can be done as early as now and there are things you can give without putting so much pressure on your wallets. Like giving them Christmas photo cards. It’s one of the best way to send your greetings to friends without spending so much. You be very creative by doing it personally or if you don’t have the creative juices in you, you can just order them online. Christmas photo cards seem to be a new traditional gifts of families nowadays.

Space Saver

It’s almost been a year and yet I still haven’t bought a new computer cabinet to replace our worn out one. I was thinking if I will just ask a friend to make me a customized one or buy those ready-made cabinets being sold in department stores. But I really wanted to have something like this in the house because this can save so much space knowing how small my room is. You just have to open the cabinet when you are working and close it when you’re done, a space saver indeed!

Happy 6th

July is one of my favorite months. It's because I have to celebrate two special occasions and I have a lot of friends who also celebrates their birthdays this month.

But, every July since the husband started working in Riyadh, we don't get to celebrate these two occasions together. But even so, I still tried to make the day special for us by making this simple slide show for my husband.

Anti-Smoking Campaign

The campaign for anti-smoking law in the metro was a good one. I think this will be hard in the beginning since a lot of smokers will surely retaliate when they will be apprehended but I think this is a good move. I just don’t know how long this will last. The anti-smoking campaign restricts people from smoking in public places so you don’t puff your perdomo cigars inside public buildings like hospital, schools, offices, even public utility vehicles. You will be fined of worst you will be locked in prison. It’s just frustrating when this law is being implemented but people are still uncooperative. But I’m praying that as time goes, people will start abiding to this law. After all, the main benefactor of this is still the public.

Pendant Light Fixtures for a Warm, Cozy Home

I am always fascinated whenever I watch a lifestyle program or talk shows that feature celebrity houses. Aside from reading topics about home styling in magazines, it's more interesting watching it on TV. And what I love about it is because I'm learning a lot so that when the time comes that we will have to build our own house, I'll have enough ideas.

One of the things I learned about home styling is good lighting. A good lighting in a house makes it more relaxing and welcoming. A dull room will brighten up if there are good pendant light fixtures installed. I've seen quite a number of houses that has good lighting fixtures and I found out, that's good trick for a warm house ambiance. From living room to the kitchen, a house should have good lighting even to the comfort rooms. Sparkling ceiling fan lights are great in a living room or in the dining area. And of course, a mom likes me who loves to stay in the kitchen would love it if it has good kitchen light fixtures. Lighting is an essential part of house planning so I I know that we have to really invest on good lighting when we start building our own home.

Sesame Chicken

Today was a fine day. I was able to make a bento snack for my little girl, as able to make california maki and chicken sesame for our lunch.. wow!

Anyway, the chicken sesame turned out to be wonderful and my little girl loved it so much.

The sweetness and sesame flavor and the crisp of the sesame seeds and the chicken itself made this dish a joy to my little girl. You can also try this at home. I only didn't have the spring onions or scallions available so I was not able to garnish it with that. But sans the scallions, it's still great.

Sesame Chicken

Ingredients for the marinade: Nixed the following and marinade chicken

2 tbsp sherry or cooking wine
2 tsp sesame oil
1 tsp chicken cube (powdered)
1/8 white pepper
1½ tsp sugar

Ingredients for the sauce: (mixed together)

1/4 cup sugar
1/3 cup honey or karo syrup (I didn't have honey so I used a pancake syrup)
1/4 cup ketchup
2 tbsp white vinegar
1 tbsp soy sauce

Batter/coating:
flour, 1 beaten egg, cornstarch.

Vegetable oil or peanut oil for frying, sesame seeds (toasted) and scallions for garnishing

Procedure:

Cut chicken breast fillet in bite size or about 1 inch. Mix the marinade ingredients and marinade chicken in about 1 hour. While waiting for the chicken, mix the sauce ingredients. Once chicken is ready, prepare the coating ingredients. heat the oil for frying. Dredge the chicken in flour, on the beaten egg, then on the cornstarch and fry until golden brown.

Once all the chicken are done, removed the oil and wipe your wok. Heat it again and pour in the sauce mixture. Once the sauce started to bubble, add in the chicken and stir until the chicken are coated. after about 1 minute, removed from wok and serve on a plate. Garnish with toasted sesame seeds and scallions or leeks

This is just a simple and easy to prepare recipe. Try it.

Until Then

I came across a store while looking for car accessories in a mall last week. It’s a store at which truck gps systems are being sold. I wonder if they can also install gps for my car, hehe. But seriously, a gps can be a big help for me since I am a new driver but I don’t think my car is one that can accommodate a modern machine like that. Well, I’ll just patiently wait until we are blessed with a new and modern family car. Until then, I’ll have to be loyal with Ms. Kia :)

My Custom Printing Business

When I decided to quit my job and stop working, I also have one thing in mind that I want to do. I want to put up my own business and I was thinking of putting up a shop that specializes on Custom Printing. I have been fond of designing invitations, and other personalize stuffs as gifts and souvenirs that's why I thought it will be a good start up business for me since I know I can handle it well. I love making stuff like Flyer Printing and Gift Card Printing and stuffs like that and since I believe that one will be successful if one will pursue what he is passionate about, I thought it as the perfect business. But as time passed, my dream business center is still in my dreams. Financial issue is what restricting me for that dream business to be realized. It's hard when you do not have yet the funds to support your passion, he he. So for the mean time, while we are still waiting for the funds to come, I am already preparing myself for that business. I am consulting a friend for a good marketing plan. I am also trying to get as much information as I can get to learn everything about custom printing. And I am thankful that my husband is supporting me on this. Though we are still on the stage of praying and planning, we are full of hopes that this printing shop will open soon.

Triple Celebration

After giving birth, my sister will be returning to her home and she is planning to hold her house warming same day as her son’s birthday and also welcoming the new addition to the family, her second son. It’s going to be a triple celebration. She’s asking me to help her plan since she isn’t fully recovered yet. But aside from helping her plan the event, I’m also thinking of what to give as housewarming gift for her and for the kids. I guess, I have to visit suki market at Dapitan to find a good gift.

New Addition

This is late but I just want to post a picture of the new addition to our clan ;-)


Meet my new nephew...Aldrin Matthew, born last June 29, 2011 at 7pm... the same day as her mom's birthday. Isn't it nice? hehe. I was the one who assisted my sister since her hubby was not with her (working overseas). It was a tiring night but when I finally saw this cutie..all the effort was paid off.

Welcome to the family Aldrin! ♥

Monthly Round Up: June 2011

Time flies, yes. the month of June has ended already and here's my round up:

What books and/or magazines did I read this month?
- Re-read the Purpose Drive Life

What movies and/or TV shows did I watch this month?
- Korean Dramas :D, My Princess and Kung Fu Panda2 with the littlegirl

What special days did I celebrate and how?
- Johan's 14th month birthday
- Aldrin's arrival

What gifts did I give and/or receive?
- None

What illnesses or health concerns did I have?
- None, thank God we're all healthy

What fun things did I do with my friends and/or family?
- Week end malling

What new foods, recipes or restaurants did I try this month?
- None :)

What special or unusual purchases did I make?
- My daughter's trolleybag

What were this month’s disappointments?
- blog assignments :(

What were my accomplishments this month?
- Driving my daughter to and from school.