Our Newest Toy

GE 25.4 Cu. Ft. Side-by-Side Refrigerator
(Model # GSHS5KGXSS)

Isn't she beautiful?

To Shine or Not To Shine

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.
We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?
Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God.
Your playing small does not serve the world.
There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you.
We are all meant to shine, as children do.
We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us.
It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone.
And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.

-- Marianne Williamson

Good Times

I'm cleaning out our files for the anticipated move and I found these in one of my culinary folders from long ago. The good memories kept me sane through the paperworks and red tape I had to deal with back then.

Some days, I wish life were simpler and less stressful. But then the good times won't roll if it's all smooth-sailing, don't you think? It is through much pressure that fine porcelain become what it is after all.

I Scream for Ice Cream!

Is anyone else craving for ice cream? I've been dying to buy some lately... It's not even hot outside yet... 'tis actually pretty chilly if I say so myself. But I'm screaming for ice cream!!! Here's one for you! ^_^


Taro. Pom. Strawberry. YUM!

It's been C-R-A-Z-Y!

It's been CRAZEEEE!!! The hubby and I have been chasing deals here and there over Memorial Day weekend and finally got this beautiful Whirlpool washer and dryer set for a steal! Originally $1298 each at Lowes, we got both for $1206 pretax. WHOOT!

Aren't the colors simply gorgeous?! They look even nicer in person than they are on photo. Now to get a steal on a Viking oven. ^_^

Happy Mother's Day!

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

WE LOVE YOU!

XOXO

<3

Another Feature, Another Day!

Another one of my Mom's Day cards got featured in a blog! *HOORAY* Check out this nifty blog by MRS. TROUBLE & MRS. TRIFLE. Aren't those monickers simply catchy?! Thank you for the feature, ladies! You just made my night ^_^

A Full Week!

That Physiology test was C-R-A-Z-Y! Thank goodness it's Friday! Now the hubby and I can start bumming again. HEEHEE! ^_~

New to my Etsy is this pretty waterlily card...

It is such a solitary flower... Always watching what's happening around her, but never standing out despite her beauty. I think it represents someone full of wisdom though, what do you think?

100 Hearts, 2 Treasuries, & 1 Feature

How happy can I be? The beautiful sunny month of May has just started and I hit 100 hearts at Etsy. That feature is way cool. I check it whenever I log in and having more people heart my shop makes me smile in more ways than one can imagine. Thank you for adding me up! I *heart* you guys, too! ^_^

On top of that, I've been placed in people's treasuries twice within the past month... One for the sweet penguin pop-up card that I absolutely adore. And another one for the dear mommy pop up card whose colors are simply irresistible!

As if those aren't enough, an Etsy enthusiast, Erica from Etsymay, featured my mama pop-up card in her blog. It's my most favorite piece from my set of Mother's Day cards :-)

I wish everyone wonderful, sunny days ahead! ^_^

Thinking of Hawaii

My brother-in-law just got home from Hawaii... I'm so envious that I couldn't go that I just made up this hibiscus pop-up card to release all the jealousy in me. :P

Now to get a hold of some cheap Hawaii plane tickets for the summer! ^_^

What I'm Thankful For...

On top of four grueling exams and practicals on both Physiology and Microbiology, these little things consumed my entire past week:


I thank the Lord for getting my fingers through the ordeal alive. ^_~

I think if I had to choose a favorite body part, I'd choose my hands. They do so much! I know there are two of 'em, but they're a pair, aren't they? What God has put together, let no man separate, right? ^_^

How about you, what are you most thankful for lately?

If I Have to Choose...

...then I choose to be free.

Mother's Day Cards

New to my shop at Etsy... Mother's Day Cards ^_^


Have a wonderful spring break, everyone!

Oops! 2 years!

Only 2 years, and we're forgetting the date already! If it weren't for our cellphones alarming like mad in the middle of class and work, we would've totally missed it. To "compensate" for our lapse of memory, we drove ourselves to Running Springs & Big Bear Lake the following afternoon for a well-deserved nature trip. Better late than never... always ^_~

Happy 2nd anniversary, my love!
CHEERS to another year of living!
^_^

Kitchen Knick Knacks

Can someone buy me these for my birthday, please?!

Pepper Mill : $40.00

Salt Shaker : $19.00

Dish Brush : $29.00

Grater : $31.00

Kitchen Timer : $36.00

Eh? Better yet, can someone buy us a house so I can buy these myself? ^_~

All funky items from Pylones-USA.

Bibingka

What to do when bored out of your wits waiting for a late afternoon seminar to commence? Bake bibingka, of course. :P I've been craving it since I got these banana leaves from somewhere I don't remember. I froze them and I've been meaning to use them but haven't found the time till today. (Haven't found the time = Too lazy to get off my butt)

It doesn't look much like the authentic bibingka I get back at home... I had to substitute a lo of ingredients along the way. I'd have made my own kesong puti if I had access to buffalo/carabao milk, but I didn't, I don't, and I won't. I would've made kesong puti's brother, paneer, if I wasn't too lazy to drive to the supermarket for some whole milk (we only have soy here at home). So I ended up using the four Mexican cheeses we had in the fridge.

Forgot that I used up all my baking powder last time I made the princess bear cake:

...so I ended up substituting with baking soda and cream of tartar.

Coconut was grated from scratch though. Not by me, by the dear husband. ^_^ He grated some a couple of weeks ago when I asked him to and I froze 'em. It's handy to have around. :-)

In the end, the taste satisfies my craving. All is good and well <3

---------------------------------

Bibingka
Adapted from my dear mom's recipe and Simply Anne's recipe

2 cups rice flour
1/4 cup glutinous rice flour
1 tsp baking soda
2 tsp cream of tartar
3 each large eggs
3/4 cup white sugar
1/4 cup melted butter
1 1/4 cup coconut cream

salted duck eggs, for topping
freshly grated coconut, for topping
white sugar, for topping
muscovado suger, for topping
kesong puti (I substituted Mexican cheeses), for topping

banana leaves, prepared for lining (wilt over flame until top side is shiny)
extra butter, for brushing on liner

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line cake molds/pans with banana leaves and brush with butter. Set aside.
2. Sift together flours, baking soda, and cream of tartar. Set aside.
3. In another bowl, beat eggs until light and fluffy. Add white sugar gradually then add the butter.
4. Alternately add the flour mixture and the coconut cream into the sugar mixture. Mix until well blended. Pour batter over prepared molds.
5. Bake in oven for 20-25 minutes, or until toothpick inserted at center of cake comes out clean.
6. Top with sliced salted duck eggs and pop in the oven for another 5 minutes.
7. Top with your desired topping combination. (I broiled mine after putting all the toppings to get some smoky flavor in.)

Ta da! Home-made bibingka!

Now to hunt for some bibingka claypots to make the real thing...

I'm off to my seminar! ^_^

CookieBits Now @ Etsy!

Itching for handmade crafts this Valentine's Day? Come visit CookieBits' new selling site at http://www.CookieBits.Etsy.com! Grab your loved one a beautiful pop up greeting card that will never wilt! And while you're at it, why not grab a special girl (yourself, perhaps?) a unique jewelry that will remind her of you always?