my life & my kitchen

Comparing yourself with others

2014-07-23T04:09:00.002-07:00

“If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain and bitter;
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.”
~Desiderata(Unknown)

Comparing is very common to women. Majority of us loves to compare ourselves with other women which can cause unhappiness. We like to compare and see who is the better mother, better wife, who has the better marriage, skinnier, richer, creative, more material things, better house, better children's accomplishments, more successful, and so on (like no end). More often, we compare ourselves with someone who we perceive as being, having, or doing more. And this just leaves us coming up short. Our husbands become the punching bags of this madness (so pitiful situation for them).

Don't get enslaved into other people's facebook, twitter or Instagram pictures and blogs, because most people like to share the good (who wants to share and read bad things). So don’t think other people’s life is so perfect… Before, I always thought comparing myself to others would make me better but in reality, it just does the opposite.

Last year, I had a total shift of career from a hustling business life to a SAHM (stay-at-home-mom). For more than a year, during office/school hours, I spent most of my time ALONE far from my previous years. The 180 degree change was tough during my first few months but later I got the rhythm. I embraced my solitude. I engaged myself everyday 45 minutes exercise and before I start, I meditate or just a simple reflection to have a better day or happier me.

Instead of comparing:
1. Appreciate yourself – we are good in our own way.
2. Do good things for your body, like exercising and eating healthy foods
3. Work your goals that make you feel passionate and purposeful.
4. Plan something - planning meals, budget, activities,
5. Listen to music – sing & dance (even though I’m bad in both)
6. Share care, love and positivity- sending a good morning and sms/post about positivity sometimes can change the mood of others.
7. Day dream - think of scenario that can make you happy.
8. Share your time. Be a volunteer. Talk to people who you don’t know.
9. Go out and meet your friends personally.
10. Smile.

Last night, before going to bed, I asked my husband if I still compare myself to others. He answered not anymore, at least in the past half year. He said that you probably have transcended that part of yourself, enlightened that comparing will either only make you feel worse cause you’ll always find someone in better circumstances than you. I was one of those women before, but finally I’m a better me. The story won’t end here there always a temptation to compare I just think always how blessed we are!!!!

Coffee and sugar scrub

2014-01-08T21:20:00.000-08:00

Benefits:

exfoliates and cleanses away dead skin cells
lighten stretch marks
powerful antioxidant
tightening benefits for the skin
stimulate circulation in the skin
natural way to banish cellulite

Ingredients:

3 tbs brewed coffee grounds
1 tbs brown or white sugar
enough olive oil to make a dry paste

French Toast served with egg and Spam salad

2013-11-08T00:37:00.001-08:00

Beef Bolognese Pasta

2013-11-08T00:35:00.002-08:00

Diet on budget

2013-08-04T17:44:00.001-07:00

We could say we made it. We achieved our weight loss target thanks to the The Metabolism Miracle as a guide and determination plus discipline to reach our goal. It was a challenging 6 months but we made it and ofcourse it wont end here, we need to control our food intake and excercise.

Now, I will be challenging our household budget. I need the same determination and discipline that we practiced during our diet. Creating a budget isn't easy, but sticking to it is extremely difficult.

sometimes words can give too much happiness

2013-08-01T07:43:00.001-07:00

It was a sleepover night in Albert's room. While we were in bed, I showed to Albert that my hands were having tremours and he asked me why I was having tremours. I told him that sometimes when our hands are too tired or exposed to heat for a long time and if we wash them right away, this will happen. He took the Vicks and offered me a massage. He said that, next time if I needed to cook food for visitors I need not prepare and cook lunch for him. He said that he could buy at school anyway, he said that he wont get mad, sad, upset or angry and he understood that im busy. Actions speaks louder than words but sometimes words can give too much happiness. I felt like I was carebears in the clouds. Too happy that my little boy cares about me.

37th Birthday

2013-07-30T23:08:00.001-07:00

18 Jul 2013
I'm 37 years of age now. Thirty seven years was not perfect or smooth life. Lots of downs but the ups are very appreciated more. The struggles taught to be a mature and wiser person. I thank God for His guidance during my struggles in life. I promised myself not to complicate my life and try to live simply while still fulfilling the desires of my heart. I thank God... 1. For having a kind-hearted husband.
2. For having Albert into our lives. 3. For good heath
4. For managing to lose weight.
5. For the continous recovery of my mother who is undergoing chemotherapy for her breastcancer.
6. For having a chance to be with my mother during her operation
7. For the chance to go back Philippines frequently so I could my mother more.
8. Having more time with Albert
9. Having more time with Alvin, even just listening to our favorite music or watching favorite tv show.
10. Chance to travel and see the world but still hoping to explore more.
11. For accepting to sell Tresor, my first baby business.
12. For embrasing the new chapter of my life.
13. For accepting to be a housewife
14. Learning to love myself
15. Having more "me time" even just 2 hours a day.
16. Having time to exercise and be fit.
17. Learning new hobby...painting. 18. Acknowledging my weaknesses and improving to a better person.
19. Having 90% stress-free life.
20. Having time to serve Alvin and Albert.
21. Enjoying my own pace in my kitchen and to cook quality food for my family.
22. Less time facing my computer and more time facing beautiful things and sorroundings
23. Having a 90% worry-free life.
24. Stop thinking how to be rich but to have a quality life and a good retirement is enough.
25. Be thankful to every little things happening in my life.
26. Having few good friends
27. Continue sharing posts about good things and avoid the negative part of life.
28. For listening more
29. Keeping intouch with old friends
30. Appreciating more achievements of Albert.
31. Keeping positivity and good vibes.
32. Keeping a balance life.
33. Having 7 hours sleep everyday.
34. Having time to pray and be thankful for all the goodness of our God.
35. Having time to reflect daily.
36. Motivate others more.
37. Love more and expect less in return.

Lunch box

2013-07-30T23:07:00.001-07:00

15 July 2013

I wrote a note and put it in Albert's lunch box. After fetching him during dismissal he immediately told me that he saw the note and said thank you to me. He told me he showed the note to his friends and classmates. One of the friend told him that your mother really cares about you. I told Albert that all mothers are caring to their children. They only express it in different ways. When we reached home, I unpacked his bag and surprisingly, he finished all his meald including the apple slices. Could the note have give him motivation to finish his lunch?

Simple parenting makes children happy and us feeling blessed. To all mothers, let us inspire each other

Watch our words

2013-07-30T21:20:00.001-07:00

This morning while he was taking a bath, i was reminding him all the steps that he needed to do and was nagging at him if he misses one step.
He said to me "Please don't push me to my limit!" It was the same statement i used to him two weeks ago when Albert and I was having some mother-child argument. Lesson learned don't use words/statements that you don't want your child say back to you.

What is emergency funds?

2013-07-30T08:32:00.001-07:00

This afternoon, Albert and I were watching Suze Orman Show. While I was tacking in Albert's blanket before saying goodnight...

Albert: What is emergency funds.
Me: In life now there are many uncertainties that include the work of each individual. We need the emergency funds so in case Daddy lost his job, we still could eat, have your piano/swimming/french lessons, school allowances, school fees, transport allowance, pay bills and all our expenses while he is looking for new work.
A: Why do you need 8 months emergency funds.
M: It's the safest span of time to get another job.
A: Is the emergency funds the same as savings.
M: They are different piggy banks. You can use savings if you want to buy something that is not included in your monthly expenses.
A: oh dear, i only have one piggy bank. I only save for my savings. I never save for my emergency funds.
M: You don't need to save for your emergency funds yet because you're still our responsibility.
M: Can we sleep now...

Welcome to SAHM

2013-07-30T07:47:00.001-07:00

This morning, I finished all my household chores including polishing our windows In a while, I will be bringing Albert's packed lunch to school. Later, I'll hang some washed linens and clothes and lastly, I'll be cleaning the toilets. I can relax and have my "me" time for 1-2 hours then start preparing our dinner. This is my first month after my dear Juvy, our helper left us for good to be with her family. I must say that my experience really made me admire stay at home moms and also those working moms who are still able to do chores. This job is physically exhausting but quite fulfilling and serving your family with your hand and heart is really rewarding. Love what you do and you'll feel real happiness.

Wonderful morning

2013-07-30T07:45:00.001-07:00

25 June 2013
It is still school holiday and Albert still sleeping. Alvin and I took our breakfast earlier. After Alvin left for work, I set Albert's breakfast and started my chores and cleaning routines. When he woke up, he said good morning to me and went immediately to our dining table to check the breakfast. I went to his room to fix his bed and he came to me and said in a joyful voice "Thank you for waking up early to prepare my breakfast" and hugged me.

Baked egg with ham, sausage, mushroom, tomato, onion and cheese

2013-07-14T23:08:00.002-07:00

Ingredients:

5 eggs

2 tablespoon Sour Cream

1 pork sausage, chopped

3 slices of picnic ham, chopped

¼ cup sliced fresh mushrooms

1 onion(small), chopped

1 tomatoes, chopped

1cup Cheddar Cheese, finely shredded

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 180C.

2. Beat eggs and sour cream with whisk until well blended. Pour into 8-inch baking dish sprayed with cooking spray. Bake 10 min. or until egg mixture is softly set. Meanwhile, cook sausage, ham, mushrooms and onions in large skillet on medium heat 6 to 8 min. or until sausage is done, stirring occasionally. Drain.

3. Spoon tomatoes over egg layer; cover with sausage & ham mixture and cheese.

4. Bake 20 min. or until center is set.

Happy cooking and stay healthy!

Chopped roast beef with pepper sandwich served with salsa and caramelized onions

2013-07-07T18:51:00.000-07:00

Chopped roast beef with pepper sandwich served with salsa and caramelized onions
Carb: 30g per serving

Ingredients:
3 hotdog bun or hoagie rolls
olive oil
1 1/2 cup of chopped left over roast beef
1/4 cup chopped red pepper
1/4 cup chopped green pepper
1/2 cheddar cheese, shredded
1/2 leftover salsa
2 white onions , sliced
salt and pepper to taste

Directions:
1. Heat a pan and olive oil in low-medium heat.
2. Add the onions to hot oil.
3. Keep stirring then add a pinch of salt and pepper.
4. Continue stirring the onions until the color turns golden then set aside.
5. In the same pan with oil, saute the red and green pepper for about 5 minutes.
6. Add your roast beef and cook for about 5 minutes. Let your roast brown a bit and then scrape up all those good flavors off of your pan
7. Add the cheese. Stir until the cheese melts and is like a sauce throughout the roast beef mixture
8. Grill the buns with olive oil.
9. Fill the buns with the beef, cover with a large spoonful of the onion, top with a generous spoonful of salsa and serve.

Pot Roast Beef

2013-07-07T18:44:00.002-07:00

Pot Roast Beef
Total carb: 28g including veggies

Ingredients
Herb rub:
1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary leaves
1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme leaves
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Ingredients:
1kg boneless beef chuck roast
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 white onion, chopped
2 medium carrots, peeled and chopped into 3/4-inch pieces
1 medium fennel bulbs, sliced into 1/2-inch pieces
salt and freshly ground black pepper
3 cloves garlic, crushed
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
1/4 cup white wine
4 cups low-sodium beef broth, plus extra, as needed
2 dried bay leaves
Steamed vegetables: young potatoes, carrots and snow peas.

Directions:
1. In a small bowl, mix together the rosemary, thyme, oil, salt, and pepper until smooth.
2. Preheat the oven to 180 degrees C.
3. Pat the beef dry with paper towels and rub on all sides with the herb rub.
4. In a heavy 6-quart pot or Dutch oven, heat 2 tablespoons of oil over medium heat.
5. Add the beef and cook until browned on all sides, about 10 minutes. Remove the beef and set aside.
6. Add the remaining oil, onions, carrots, and fennel to the pot. Season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring frequently, until tender, about 8 minutes.
7. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute until aromatic.
8. Add the white wine, red wine vinegar and scrape up the brown bits that cling to the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon.
9. Stir in the broth and bay leaves.
10. Return the beef and any juices to the pot and bring the liquids to a boil.
11. Cover the pot and transfer to the oven. Cook until the beef is fork-tender, about 2 and 1/2 hours, turning the beef over halfway through and adding extra broth, as needed, to keep the beef halfway covered in liquid.
12. Spoon any excess fat off the top of the pan juices. Using an immersion blender, blend the vegetables and cooking juices together until smooth. (The vegetables can also be pureed in a blender). Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Keep warm over low heat.
13. Cut and served with the steamed vegetables and sauce.

Shreded Pot Roast Beef Burger served with romaine lettuce, pot roast gravy and mango salsa side dish

2013-07-07T18:35:00.001-07:00

Shreded Pot Roast Beef Burger served with romaine lettuce, pot roast gravy and mango salsa side dish
Total Carb: 27g

Banana and Cajeta Layered Crepes

2013-07-07T18:31:00.001-07:00

Banana and Cajeta Layered Crepes
Total carbs: 30g

Lesson from a child: Cheers!

2013-07-02T19:33:00.003-07:00

Lesson from a child:
Cheers!

Almost everyday during our meals at home or when dining out, Albert always calls for a toast with a matching "Cheers!". How good life will be if we can always be thankful for each day, regardless of how good or bad the day is, because surely there's always something to be thankful of. Most of the time we complain about our work (we should be thankful that we have a job), we envy others or simply unhappy about our situation. It's really amazing how our kids can teach us to see things in a better perspective. May we always open our eyes to see their perspective that happiness comes from appreciating the little things that we have or do.

Lesson from a Child: Unity

2013-07-02T19:33:00.000-07:00

Lesson from a Child:
Unity

Today, Albert and I went to the Singapore City Gallery at URA (Urban Redevelopment Authority). The gallery showcases Singapore's remarkable physical transformation from past, present and even the future. Albert was astonished with the beauty of Singapore's model 270 degree sights and sound show. While looking at the wall pictures from the 1950s, I told Albert how amazing the big change of Singapore in a such a short span of time & I felt sad for the Philippines. He answered to me, Singaporeans are united and willing to work hand in hand.

Lesson from a child: Don't give up. Sometimes the reason for giving up is laziness.

2013-07-02T19:28:00.002-07:00

esson from a child: Don't give up. Sometimes the reason for giving up is laziness.

Our house was messy because of our house painting work in progress. Our books and stationeries we're stacked. Last night he was looking for our label printer and I was so tired and lazy to look for it. So I just told him it was under of some boxes and asked him to use pen to label his notebook instead without trying to know where it was. He was very persistent and never gave up to ask for Alvin's help to look for it. And they found it. But there was no battery and told Albert again, just use pen to write. But still he was persistent to print the label, he took the battery from our aircon remote and it worked. He managed to print his name and after that he told me that "Please mommy don't give up so easily next time." Ouch..

Lesson from child: List your to do's so you won't miss any at the end of the day

2013-07-02T19:27:00.003-07:00

Lesson from child:
List your to do's so you won't miss any at the end of the day.

I'm a little bit forgetful person. Albert was a little bit unhappy that I forgot to sign one of his worksheets. He reminded me but i couldn't really remember that he did. So he gave me a solution, he went to the room and took a white paper and pen to write my to do's so i won't miss anything. Our minds are sometimes loaded with so many things that we forget those things that we think are not so important.

Lesson from a child: On doing your best and not expecting rewards...

2013-07-02T19:26:00.001-07:00

Lesson from a child:
On doing your best and not expecting rewards...

Today, Albert got his results for his exams and he surpassed my expectations. He didn't study last weekend because of his Natgeo and Mother's Day activities. After telling me the results, I asked him if he wanted something as a reward after getting those marks. He said, "I did my best and it's for my own good and not for any rewards" .

...I wish i could think this way. I wish adults could think this way.

Frenchtoast served with trio :)

2013-02-14T21:34:00.002-08:00

Stri-fry vegetables and scallop

2013-02-14T21:33:00.002-08:00

Smoked duck salad

2013-02-14T21:32:00.000-08:00