Ge Lai
April 29, 2013 § 1 Comment
I grew up in a Chinese Household think Joy Luck Club. My mom is the type who would boil medicinal herbs and drink it with full confidence of its worth, she would regularly force us to drink some and we would device ways and means to get away from it. I also studied in a Chinese school so most of my classmates have kinda the same thing going for them at home. So Ge Lai is a common thing in our house and we grew up believing in its value. For us after giving birth doing Ge Lai is as important.
When I was pregnant with Kite, I had to rely on my mom to take care of my food so everyday the driver brings the food to me sa Balintawak, ang hassle. I wish there was someone, somewhere to order these food na lang. Then 11 years later, when I was about to give birth to Laya, same thing I still had the same wish. I had a friend from Singapore buy me cookbooks for Ge Lai. Hirap but she was able to score me several. I was able to teach our helper to cook the Ge Lai food and ang sarap ha! Basta sesame oil, ginger and wine are staple sa ingredients.
Fast forward to last year, I was told by my friend na her kinakapatid is into Ge Lai food, wah was too excited and was so happy to meet them. Last 2 weeks ago I was finally able to taste their Black Chicken. Ayan na pa blog ako kasi I feel for the moms who’s parents are either too far, too busy or not there anymore to do the Ge Lai for them.
Kaya am introducing Mama Chow by Chef Jonathan Chua, his wife Raquel naman owns Ginquelrus Pastries yummy goodies, she got lactation cookies and cupcakes too that are so yummy. Been ordering her Cheese Cupcake like crazy.
Anyway, here’s how the Black Chicken looks like packed. And uploading some of their literature too.
Yan just order from them if you dont have anybody cooking Ge Lai food for you. I really suggest eating Ge Lai food to help your body recover from birthing. I will try to look for the recipes too that I love from the Ge Lai Cookbooks I got. (Thanks Candy!)
Tuwa, The Laughing Fish
March 3, 2013 § 3 Comments
Ohh it has been so long since I last blogged but this one I really want to blog talaga.
Tuwa, The Laughing Fish is an ecological village with zero waste, they have a sustainable lifestyle that is ready for any climate change. They plant their food, they harvest their our power, they live a life they way our ancestor did with no waste and full use of what is around them in comfort. They were able to create a balance of life there in their paradise in Cabiao, Nueva Ecija. I first learned about their place when Dominic Velasco showed photos of this place a year or two ago. He was proud of what Penny, his ex wife have created (dont you love it when couple are friend after separation? Pwede naman eh, hope others follow suit the friends part not the separation part ha). Then last February another friend who is really into eco living, organic life mentioned there’s a nice place to go to daw, so I googled it and found out it was Penny’s place pala. So I immediately invited some people whom I think would appreciate such and off we went this morning. Oohh I so love the place. I wasnt able to career the pacpipicture because I was busy listening to Penny & John explain what PermaCulture is and also on what they are doing in their place and how they are able to do it. I find their life so rich and full of substance, this is the life I want to have. One day… I will have it!
For now, let me share with you their place and hopefully you get to visit it and experience it and hopefully learn and copy also from them. I feel we all owe it to Mother Earth to do our part in not wasting our resources and in making our life sustainable. I felt like it is such a privilege to be able to visit their place and hear them talk about what they do. They are selling their place so they are not accepting bookings for more than 3 weeks in advance. So do find time to visit their place now before it is sold. Or buy the property from them?
Day Trip is P850 per person; P300 for children below 5 years old & P300 also for driver’s meal. Daytrip includes lunch & merienda and a tour and lesson on how they do thing there and why they do it.
Overnight stay is P1750 yata per person inclusive of full board meals.
Their place may be back to basic but it is definitely not lacking of comfort. It is not luxurious but everything you need is there.
Check out some of the photos I was able to take.
Main House – what a welcome sight. Those duyan is heavenly with a soft wind in the afternoon.
Penny here happily sharing her advocacy/her life/her creation!
Dry Compose Toilet. Every waste is harvested to good use even fecal matters and urine. Nope there is no foul smell at all.
You pour this over the feces and they decomposed etc etc and they change the bin every 3 weeks. The last dump was a few hours before we went and yet no trace of bad smell at all. The urine container will smell if it is almost full which is also a signal to change the container.
Penny will explain to you how to use their Dry Toilet so it is really simple and easy.
Main House. Simple, cozy and fully functional.
We were given this place to rest 🙂
John happily taking about Permaculture and about what they do here in Tuwa.
Penny prepared our lunch. This is called Locavore Cuisine. Food grown within 160 km of its point of purchase or consumption.
Rocket Stove. If you hear them talk about how little resources are needed if used wisely, you will be heartbroken on how much waste we just incur on our day to day life.
I didnt take that much photos because I read a blog where the photos were shot so nicely and explanations are clearer. Please visit the blog of Triple Espresso Shot to know more.
And read also more on the official TUWA website.
Like them too on their Facebook Page.
Please help spread the words.
Babywear Meet 3 Kwento and Discovery of Bailey Wrap
September 26, 2011 § 1 Comment
Wanna share lang.
We had Babywear Meet 3 last Saturday at Gymboree. Yung first 2 kinda kinareer ko, but this one not anymore, aside from I think am graduating na I felt mas ok if the sellers na mag asikaso kasi malaki na yung group unlike the first halos tayo tayong taga N@W mostly, yung second lotsa N@Wies but half na lang kasi nga super dami.
Anyway it was great kasi sa Gymboree ginawa so the kids and yaya can play sa floor area (they gave a promo of pay for an hour and play for 2 hours) tapos yung babywear dun sa classrom nila. JenCC made a presentation ng ibat ibang carrier pa. Di na siya chaotic like Starbucks yun nga lang the attendance is super limited lang. Also less chikahan kasi nga mas serious anf mood, but then if you went to learn you will go home learnt (if there is such a word). Congrats to those who took care of Babywear Meet 3. (Maski di ako pinakilala sa group hehe)
Am writing this kasi I want to kwento about the new carrier called Bailey Wrap. Check them out at their Bailey Wrap Facebook page.
I tried it with Laya and I felt na parang ang gaan ni Laya so sarap gamitin. Medyo may level of difficult kinda like Saya I think. The make of this is SaYa-ish but may support siya sa waist kaya ang laki ng difference.
Sa mga may SaYa carrier you just buy a stabilizer belt for SaYa at P350 then parang ganito na din, no need to buy a Bailey Wrap na.
Ok since I want to buy this one am selling my other slings hehehe. Iisipin ko lang muna how much ha. Will post here.
Anyway just wrote to share this new discovery.
Also isang negative about Bailey Wrap is parang too much cloth baka it might feel mainit although super thin yung material naman. Also ang Bailey wrap is locally made so good yan and yung imported counterpart niya is Moby Wrap
daw sabi nung mga veterans sa carriers.
Yun lang.
Roasted Sesame Dressing
September 20, 2011 § 7 Comments
I saw it at Eastwood Malls Food bazaar, tasted it, loved it and bought the smalled bottle at P150 for 150ml. Ubos agad isang kainan lang (3 naman kami) bought mesclun mix at Santi’s (highway robbery! but walang ibang ganyan kaganda ang mix eh, they even have endive in it. you know of sellers ng mesclun mix aside from Santi’s?).
Dahil ang sarap nga ng dressing I bought one sa Shopwise ibang brand kasi Sesame Dressing din, kaso di masarap so tinawagan ko yung seller nito kasi nakadikit sa bottle yung numbers nila. Got na a bigger bottle at P350 for 350ml. Lasa nito yung arang salad ng UCC. Hay naka ilang kain ako, been eating it for the past 4 days. I am guessing it is healthy kasi greens eh maski I am eating it for the dressing. Oh well, am going to subscribe to Good Food Co. for their salad subscription, Rowie of Pinoy Baby from N@W’s been raving about this here and here and I am so eager to try it too. Sana maka daan ng Sonya’s Garden kasi I want the pop beans and also their dressing. Para maka salad everyday! Another dressing I like is the kamias somethign vinagrette, gift ng friendship Michelle, kaso forgt the name of the seller/brand, but alam ko nagse-sell sila sa Mercato.
Happy Salad Everyday!
Roasted Sesame Dressing
P150 for 150ml; P350 for 350ml; P550 for 1 liter (P650 for 1 liter sa DEC)
5151350; 0917.8137462; 0922.8148503
Full Disclosure: I dont know them at all, I just ask the messenger to text them and pick up from them. Dont even know their names… wala lang feeling ko lang idagdag.
In aid of Mother Earth and the Urban Poor
July 30, 2011 § Leave a comment
I love recyclables specially when the making of it helps the urban poor pa.
We used to sell the Yabang Pinoy bands. We are mighty proud of how far the group have gone na.
This is where Pat & Maricris started, and look where they are now.
Here are other stuff I have and super love that are made from recycled materials &/or made by rural communities.
gift from N@Wie Marife - made from Coke Billboard
gift from K Fol & Leslie - coke wristlets from bottle labels
The only Rajo Laurel item in our house... for now. Coveting Rajito!
And this one I saw from SM in Kultura. I got myself the pink & purple one 🙂
made from those colored plastic bags that clogs our river and drainage! but I assume they use new ones so anong recycled dito? hmm maybe it just gives livelihood to the urban poor
I want this one from Aranaz. I wonder where I can get myself one of this? and how much!
Salute and cheers to people like Penny Velasco of Happy Earth & Forest King (and yes Velasco from Dominic Velasco), who just went ahead and built her Eco Village, she did it while others (me included) are just yapping and yapping away!
Read more about Tuwa, The Laughing Fish a bed and breakfast place in Cabiao, Nueva Ecija
by BeyondManila
This is what I wish to leave for my kids when I die, not just a house, not just a rest house, not just a vacation house but an ecofriendly house.
Can’t wait for your ecohouse to finish, Velvet!
Mama’s Table by Chef Vicky Tinio Clemente
July 28, 2011 § 1 Comment
I love eating out, food should be good, it would be such a pleasure if place is stunning or cozy, but I think what makes a meal memorable is the company. I have lots of memorable meals but this one I want to do again.
I first read about Chef Vicky from Heart-2-Heart‘s blog last January (she blogged about the place again recently here) and after reading I really really wanted to go. Lucky for me, my closest friends were on a road trip bug so off to Baguio we went one February weekend. Oh we were really excited for that meal!
It’s an 8 course meal at Chef Vicky’s home in Baguio. We wanted to have it Saturday dinner but she was already booked as she only accepts one group per meal. So no choice but to have our meal on Sunday lunch before we head back to Manila meaning no wine for us. Her place is roughly 10-15 minute away from Manor in Camp John Hay, roads are in good condition too. As you enter her home you will notice the big living room/dining room space with a big window for the wonderful view of the mountain and of their garden. Oh my I wish I have access to such a house. The weather was perfect so we loitered around the place before starting on our meal. The meal was such a great experience. Quite pricey at roughly P1500/pax but it was such a memorable one that the amount is so worth it.
We started our meal at 1230 and mid way we told Chef Vicky to quicken the pace as we will still head back to Manila, we finished around 330pm, if only we are not heading back we would have lingered on pa. Such precious memories of great times with good friends. These are friends I have been with since grade school and high school. Knew them quarter of my life now. Love them too!
Am not a food blogger so please head to Leslie‘s blog instead for a blow by blow account and lovely description of the food accompanied by great photos. Our meal was like theirs except for the soup, ours was mushroom cappuccino.
I am itching to go back to another meal at Chef Vicky’s place. When kaya?
Chef Vicky
074.4421794
0915.6438775
Online FB Shopping
July 19, 2011 § 8 Comments
The past weeks or so I have been having so much fun shopping via facebook. So much fun that I was scammed by a seller (the amount is negligible but the feeling that I was ripped remain sour). To erase that annoying memory am sharing the great finds from my facebook shopping.
My favorite is from Wee + Mutsi (N@Wie Michelle’s shop)
flip & tumble
so easy to pack away
so hard to choose a color
got a mini bag for Kite too
flip & tumble mini
we also got the scrunch bucket from this site.
we have been looking for a tabo to bring to our travels and this is the best answer so far, although its use needs practice since the bucket collapse but it is workable naman. di naman kasing tama dalhin namin stackable cups ni Laya kung di siya kasama :)p
how to collapse it
got this one too but havent had the chance to use it yet, still waiting for our high chair
Next favorite would be Swim Ways floaters
papasan = love
got this for Laya, ok naman but not as great as papasan
Also got Gap PJs for Laya from Martina’s Corner
pajamas
shorts
The mojos from Kyma’s Corner is not bad too, not exactly like mojos but pwede na.
Of course Milkman who delivers to our house twice a week.
Am excitedly waiting for Got several shirts from Chen’s Corner (N@Wie Sheryl’s shop)
Vespa shirt
And eyeing the ff for my next shopping. (unless magalit ang asawa pag nabasa niyo ito)
From MyBaby Onlineshoppe (dunno them so takot pa muna ako bumili, sayang sale pa naman ito now, anybody who knows them?)
From Wee + Mutsi
as soon as I find the need I will buy na
more flip & tumble bags (which colors kaya?) also the produce bags
and another papasan, super agawan sa papasan eh
picking color for the next one, probably the white and blue
Do you also have your fave FB shop? Share? hmm dont share na lang? No, no please share 🙂
DISCLOSURE: I paid for all items posted in this page.
Sa-Ya Carrier
July 8, 2011 § 6 Comments
SaYa is one carrier that proved to be challenging for me. To some like Charmaine, Clarice & Elai, it was easy. I guess added to the fact that the size I got was wrong, I also didnt have the patience to learn it. I would succesfully to do it while being taught but I always how after some time. Last BWM2 Buding (creator of SaYa) taught me how and hers was simple so I got it. I was able to wear Laya last Tuesday then again today so I know I got it na. Do I like it? Am not yet closing the door on it but I still like the flexibility of the slingor maybe it is really hard to teach old dogs new tricks. What I like about SaYa is it is easy on the back as the weight of baby is distributed equally on both shoulders. With the sling it is always my left shoulder carrying the load, I tried doing it on the other side but it felt awkward. Will keep trying the SaYa pa. Thanks pala Nadine for lending me the Saya. Will return yours already. Am decided to buy my own already.
Anyway, I am quite ‘feeling’ so I will attempt to explain here how it is used, hopefully successful ako but if I am not, no worries Buding just made 4 videos to guide us. Also here‘s Elai explaining how it is done the HULA way. Diyan ako nag fail so yung mga tulad kong fail sa HULA try ninyo ang LEI.
Step 1 Just put the thing in your neck like a LEI
Step 2 Loosen/separate the two loops (it will feel natural) then it will look like a PRETZEL (spread the cloth na din in this part and find the seams para yun ang nasa middle to catch the butt of the baby)
Step 3 let it fall sa shoulder
Step 4 put arms in the loop na. tada! you have the X in front and X in the back now.
Step 5 ilagay na ang baby sa loob sa pinaka loob so it’s you then baby then the X in front. (please see this video of Buding. on how to do this step)
NOTE: pls make sure that the knees are higher than the butt; flatten the cloth or fold the cloth para mas swabe ang feeling.
Keep adjusting until you feel comfortable. You will learn it by always using it,so keep practicing till you get the hang of it..
Let me know if success ang aking explanation, if not kareerin ko ito, nacha-challenge ako eh.
Where to buy SaYa?
At Mama.Baby.Love or at Indigo Baby
I got mine sa Babyland, am quite disappointed kasi the saleslady was just eager to sell and maski mali yung size sige ok daw yun. Hay ayun I didnt like SaYa tuloy for the longest time. Pls note unang suot of baby dapat fit na fit kayo not maluwag, luluwag yan as you wear baby eh.
Please please be successful!
Here’s a success story: Legally Mom:THE SEARCH IS OVER
Disclaimer: I bought my SaYa and will buy my next SaYa, I met the owner Buding just recently and this is not a paid blog not a requested blog. Gusto ko lang mag share kasi ang daming nagtatanong sa FB ko, and also ako ay product of failed SaYa noon so yun I wanna try it. Walang saysay BWM if di ako ma success. Also kaya ako nag di-disclaimer kasi excited na ako one day magsabi ohh this is a blog for an advertiser! charing! hahaha
Milk Tea Craze
July 7, 2011 § 4 Comments
Last week I stayed in Starbucks while I wait for my photocopy orders in Ashcreek and when I saw their new product Sesame Green Tea Frap, which I love, I realized how long it’s been since I wanted to go to Starbucks. Hmm seems like the milktea craze is affecting them (hahah natawa ako sa ka feelingan ko! feeling ko I represent the world).
Hay I can’t seem to get enough of Happy Lemon. My milktea craze started with Serenitea always Royal Milk Tea with Pearls (usually 20% sugar, minsan 0%, minsan 50%) I also love their spicy corn, spicy tofu and potato rounds. I actually prefer the Royal Milk Tea of Bubble Tea but I find them too expensive and also they dont deliver so Serenitea ako madalas. Then I discover Happy Lemon’s Cocoa with RockSalt& Cheese (50% sugar, will try 0% next time). Hay am so addicted there was a time I have it or maybe 5 days in a week. Taba galore! Nowadays I take GreenTea with RockSalt&Cheese (50% sugar, anybody tried it with 0%sugar? how was it?) not cocoa anymore kasi we have chocomilk at home for Kite and always nakikinom ako. I tried Gong Cha in MOA (addict diba? Went all the way to MOA with miktea addict friend Kendz & Jenki); then a few days ago I tried ChaTime hmm nothing comes close pa din to Happy Lemon.
Hay yun lang. Just had Happy Lemon a few hours ago. Yum!
Disclosure: am hoping ma catch attention ng Happy Lemon at sponsoran ang aking everyday RockSalt&Cheese drink 🙂 yan full disclosure yan!
I am a fan :)
July 7, 2011 § 8 Comments
Hay have you ever read a blog where the ALL of that blogger’s opinion you agree with or even share? Am a follower of a lot of blogs (hmm not that many naman wala pang 8 yung talagang alam ko lahat lahat ng content at nabasa ko buong blog) but I don’t agree with ALL thoughts and opinion but with Topaz girl hay am so agreeing with everything and the more I read her blog the more nagiging fan ako. I started with TopazMommy, hay super relate ako syempre. Some of my opinions na realize ko lang after reading hers (gets niyo? parang magulo basta!), eh natapos ko na yung TopazMommy so I moved to TopazHorizon, I started the present am now on Jan 2011 (you know the feeling of watching telenobela in dvd and you feel part ka na nila kasi you spend so much time watching? kinda ganyan feeling ko kasi I am spending hours reading her blog everynight while feeding Laya, I actually feel like a stalker but am calling myself a fan lang) and am so so so a fan na I just had to express how much I love her blog! One of these days I will go back to her blog and comment (na feel ko sarap ng may comment sa blog so I assume she’d want that too but then my blog is not in her league so baka no big deal na din sa kanya ang comments… but am too busy reading up na di na ako nag cocomment but while reading at the back of my mind I want to stand up and blog and say yes yes what she said is so true and I agree so much! also hirap mag comment via mobile) She is so honest and she writes so nicely. Hay the more I know her thru her blog the more I am so impressed. Hay if only am not in a hurry I would link all the blog entries na I agree with. Basta super fan ako! If my blog gets as famous as hers (am not sure I want that as she just said nawawala yung voice niya as the blog get popular) I hope am I as nice as her… ha! di pa famous blog ko eh di na ako as nice eh. oh well will keep reading and hopefully I channel her niceness. I also know the nice person sa blog is not 100% her syempre she wouldnt show naman her not so nice side but I am realistic and I can smell a nasty person a mile away so I know she is nice. I find her so pretty too!
Am just so happy she is getting such big breaks in her life as she said nga she worked hard for all of this and I so agree and am happy the universe is giving her such a charmed life now. Throwing good vibes and wishes to you Frances!
Yun lang. Fan post lang. Ha ha am actually thinking if I should post this or not. Have several friends who are her friends am dyahe if this gets to her. Di ako ready!
Let’s see if I post this or not. Laya will be the one to decide, if she lets me finish this or if she cries and I stop.
PS.
Read Vince’s writing re Frances & their baby now I wish there’s a TopazDaddy or TopazHubby, that would make so many girls swoon! Am not so into gadget but let’s see if I’d be interested in his blog too.
MimmaBenz.com 