an attempt to remain sane in this insane world...

School Boy!

2013-06-18T22:11:00.003+08:00

This is it, I guess. The start of a new season in my life. I can't believe my little baby has started school. Okay, okay, four isn't exactly baby age, but sigh... time flew.

I guess it's true - time flies when you're having fun. But where did those four years go? Didn't I just give birth yesterday? When you think about it, we actually went through a lot since RL was born. And yet, aside from the fact that I probably have more gray hair than I would want to grow, life wasn't so difficult. And yes, the kids and I had fun. More than when R was still with us.

My tiny little newborn.

What are you looking at?

Momma, si ate o!

First birthday!

Bible bearer for his Ninang's wedding.

L.O.V.E.

Playing navigator in Singapore...

Modeling for GetBlued!

RL started school last week! We had to prep him for this. He is so attached to me, and we were afraid he wouldn't adjust well to school. So to get him ready for the school year, we had him attend Art and Science classes at Gymboree; join Children's Theatre at Trumpets, and take swim classes at the village pool.

RL played Robin Red Breast for his Trumpets showcase.

First day of school was Thursday. KY and took him to class, and he just walked away from us. Yes, just like that. He didn't even look back. So we didn't even get to take photos of him in school, save for that photo of him holding the teacher's hand and walking away from us. Sob! Momma has the case of separation anxiety!

My little school boy! SOB!

And he didn't even cry! I remember crying 'til I was in 3rd Grade! Yes, I am a certified crybaby! LOL!

I can't believe we're here! My little boy is now a school boy!

New Carrot Fantasy Walkthroughs?

2013-06-16T01:09:00.000+08:00

I have a couple on draft and will post them soon! I'm done with the new levels - have been since Day 3 (after the last update), actually. BUT! I have been playing Level 33 everyday since then, and the randomness of the hidden towers irritates me to no end! It takes about a dozen tries (or more) for the right towers to appear. Otherwise, the wrong towers are sure to let those pests get to the carrot. So far, I've probably gotten Golden Carrot about two dozen times only. Yes, since the update! Argh! So frustrating.

So if you're looking for a Level 33 walkthrough, I still need the right permutations. There could be a better way! So stay tuned.

Meanwhile, those other levels already have walkthroughs, and they're coming out soon!

| Need a walkthrough? Post your request and leave a comment!

Just Swish It!

2013-06-16T00:08:00.000+08:00

Our old nanny has this habit of storing things in the attic. A few weeks ago, while looking for a pair of goggles, I found a paper bag with these inside.

Alcohol-Free and Sugar-Free Swish Breath Spray for the win!

Turns out, these were inside a goody bag I had received as a prize for one of those contests I had won on Twitter. Because I had not seen these, I completely forgot about winning anything. And so, when I saw the bag in the attic, I was excited to try Swish in its Breath Spray form.

I am a fan of Swish. I love it because unlike other mouthwashes, it is alcohol-free - a feature that's a must for me, because I hate the sting other alcohol-based mouthwash brands leave in the mouth. Now, normally, when I am on the go, I pop in a mint candy to freshen my breath. But because of the sugar and other ingredients in these candies, your mouth ends up tasting stale once the candy dissolves. That's the plus thing with Swish Breath Sprays - your mouth stays fresh longer. And nope, no stale taste or dull breath. Hehe.

But hey, don't just take my word for it - try it yourself. Just for fun, I had the folks in the office test the product for me. I wanted to see if they thought it was as good a product as I believe it to be.

Tester 1: RD, Sales Manager
"It doesn't sting, and I like it that it doesn't taste like bad toothpaste or medicine."

Tester 2: MB, Sales Assistant
"I just had lunch and yet, after just one spray, my breath smells good!"

Tester 3: JJ, Brand Manager
"Sarap! Bibili ako nito! I will use this instead of candy right before meetings with my principals."

Tester 4: NH, Brand Manager
"Mmm... Cool and peppermint-y. I'm an avid coffee drinker. I will use this to wash out the stale coffee smell. And it stays, ha? Matagal na o, mabango pa breath ko."

Personally, I love how Unilab decided to come out with the breath sprays. It is handy and that means, instant fresh breath. Swish Breath Spray has Surefresh that kills germs and bacteria in the mouth, thus eliminating bad breath in just one spray. It is very convenient!

Comes in two exciting Swish refreshing variants - Arctic Chill and Peppermint Fresh. It is also very economical because one spray bottle can last up to 100 sprays.

Swish Breath Sprays retail for P105.00, and is available in leading supermarkets, drugstores and convenience stores nationwide.

Fresh breath anytime, anywhere. Swish Breath Spray. Yup, folks, just swish it (had to say it).

Tagged! Old School Blogging... ABCs!

2013-06-15T00:49:00.000+08:00

Thanks, Christine! That was sorta sarcastic, you know. LOL! Because I have a long, long, loooonnnngggg list of things to write about (and another list of posts to finish), and yet, here I am - choosing to do this because you tagged me. Haha!

The truth is, I am not much of a writer. I think I've said this many times in the past (and even my profile says so in a way), that I really disliked writing as a kid. There are days when my mind goes blank, and I write and rewrite a post over a dozen times, with no success. So I need this distraction. Besides, it does keep things interesting around here, especially since I have stopped blogging about the usual things (that being... having a womanizer for a husband, desperate women and that sort, hahaha). So yes, let's do this!

My Alphabet Meme

A: Attached or Single? Define attached. LOL! Seriously, single but attached (ang labo). Well, I still am married, but are we together? Physically, no.

B: Best Friend? Meaning the first person I will call about anything significant... KY.

C. Cake or Pie? Cake.

D. Day of Choice? Saturdays (I get to sleep in!). Also looking forward to that day when God restores what has been taken from us. :)

E. Essential Item? My iPhone. Hey, it has my Bible in it (the app, of course!).

F. Favorite Color? Red. I also like Black, White and Grey.

G. Gummy Bears or Worms? Bears! Red ones!

H. Hometown? Quezon City/ Walnut Creek, CA

I. Favorite Indulgence? Shopping for myself (which I hardly ever do now, sob!). Buying a bag. Eating a whole, white Toblerone bar, or a whole pint of Arce Dairy Macapuno Ice Cream.

J. January or July? January! New year, clean slate.

K. Kids? Yes, adorable ones.

L. Life isn't complete without? JESUS!

M. Marriage Date? February 2002

N. Number of brothers/ sisters? 3 siblings, if you count KY. Hahaha!

O. Oranges or Apples? Bananas! Hahaha! Okay, maybe Apples. With Peanut Butter or Cookie Butter. Nom!

P. Phobias? Frogs.

Q. Quotes? "When a believing person prays, great things happen." James 5:16

R. Reasons to smile? Grace. Sun peeking through clouds. Canopy of Trees. A baby's carefree laughter. Kids.

S. Season of Choice? Fall. Love the colors. And Black Friday Sale. Hahaha!

T. Tag 5 People. Thammie. Iris without the H. Ida, who stays up all night to catch Football on TV (and who needs to revive her blog so she has to do this). Ruth who runs her blog like the Energizer Bunny (saludo ako sa energy mo, Mare!). And Washi Tape Queen, Cai.

U. Unknown fact about me? I can bark like a dog. Meow like a cat. And M is my imaginary friend from childhood. Hehehe.

V. Vegetable? Tomatoes. Baby Carrots. Okra (steamed with Bagoong). Zucchini.

W. Worst habit? Staying up late. I'm a night owl. I can't sleep early, and I can't wake up early. I also like twirling my hair. So which one's worst?

X. Xray or Ultrasound? Uh... ultrasound. Instant results.

Y. Your Favorite Food? Japanese. Salmon and Uni Sashimi.

Z. Zodiac Sign? Gemini.

Yay! Now it's your turn! Don't forget to grab the button below, tweet about it (#OSBlog) and tag your friends.

Blogging the old school way. Now, wasn't that fun?

Let McDonald's Spice Up Your Day!

2013-06-13T01:12:00.001+08:00

Guess what's unveiling at McDonald's today!

McDonald's Philippines finally launches the McSpicy - the freshest and most exciting addition to the well-loved McDonald's menu! Yay! It's here!

Ronald wants you to get spiced up!

I remember trying the McSpicy in Singapore and in HongKong. And although I remember it being a tad too spicy for me, it's a great sandwich that's guaranteed to hit the spot for lovers of spicy food. The good news is, McDonald's Philippines has adjusted the recipe for the Philippine version of the McSpicy, and I must say, its blend of flavors is just right for Pinoys.

Modeling the McSpicy. Hehe.

Introducing the NEW! McSpicy! Yes, it is chicken spiced right! Nom!

A and I were given the chance to try the local version of the McSpicy, and we both loved it! Think 100% juicy whole chicken meat that is seasoned with just the right amount of choice spices, topped with fresh crunchy lettuce and flavorful dressing, all in a perfectly toasted sesame seed bun. Mmmmmm... Just typing this is making my tummy grumble, and I am writing this at midnight (in time for the launch!).

What goes into your McSpicy...

See how big that whole chicken meat is? The McSpicy hits the spot!

My McSpicy Value Meal - "Make it Medium!"

If you're up for a foodie adventure, break away from that favorite Cheeseburger or Quarter Pounder (or the Big N' Tasty!) and try the NEW! McSpicy! I am telling you, it is a sandwich like no other, and it comes with a kick - enough to wake up those taste buds!

PLUS! It launches today! TODAY! The 13th of June, 2013! So head on over to McDonald's and allow the McSpicy to spice up your day (yes, pun there, but you get my point).

Get Spiced Up with the NEW! McSpicy today! Only at McDonald's.

McSpicy (ala carte): P80.00
McSpicy Value Meal: P115.00
Make It Medium: P135.00

Let the NEW! McSpicy turn that dull day around! GET SPICED UP TODAY!

Share your McSpicy moments with McDonald's on Facebook and on Twitter!
| facebook.com/mcdo.ph
| twitter.com/mcdo_ph

Hashtag: #mcspicyishere

Mustaches and Musings: Superbook!

2013-06-08T00:34:00.001+08:00

SUPERBOOK!

I found out about Superbook a few weeks ago. My mom says I watched the classic version when I was little, but I don't remember. Anyway, my mom, brother and I went to a Superbook event. It was a Saturday. I actually thought that Superbook was just some sort of book fair, where you can buy books! Hahaha! But when we got to Galleria, I thought to myself, "Why are we at the theaters?"

The guy who hosted the event, Icko Gonzalez, was my mom's classmate in Middle School (that would be years ago! I will be in Middle School this year!). He had a short speech about Superbook. He told us that Superbook is a cartoon series that tells everyone about Bible stories. I got very curious. I thought, "Hmmm... this is something new." Then Icko had us watch an episode called "Let My People Go!" The episode is about Moses and the Israelites. I remember learning about this in Kid's Church. I loved how the cartoon made it easier for me to understand the story about the plagues and how the Israelites escaped Egypt's cruel Pharoah.

After the show, Icko announced that we can now watch Superbook on TV! That made me very happy. I told my mom right away, "Can we watch it?!!!" She told me I had to wake up early because it starts at 7:30am!!! You can watch Superbook on Saturdays and Sundays on GMA 7.

I took photos of our TV while I was watching Superbook!

Last Saturday, I woke up to my mom's alarm (very early! 7am!) so I got to watch Superbook. I was SUPER EXCITED! I was looking forward to it! The story they showed was called "In the Beginning", a story about Adam and Eve. The next day (Sunday), I woke up early again to watch Superbook Classic in Tagalog. The episode was "My Brother's Keeper", which was about Cain and Abel.

I really love Superbook.

My mom told me today that Superbook got high ratings when they first aired on TV. I am letting her post the news here for you to read:

SUPERBOOK'S PILOT EPISODE GARNERS HIGH RATINGS

It's proven and the numbers say it all! Superbook's television come-back last June 1 was well received by Pinoys, young and old alike, as it took the 15th spot on the Overnight Data of the National Urban Top Daytime Programs list provided by Nielsen Audience Measurement.

Many Filipino families from different parts of the Philippines woke up early and watched Superbook Reimagined's pilot episode entitled "In The Beginning." According to Nielsen, Superbook Reimagined got a 2.9% of the individuals watching during its timeslot, which earned it a spot on the top 15 tally.

The ranking was based on all daytime TV programs between that aired last Saturday and the audience covers those living within the national urban areas.

With all the support, positive feedbacks and high ratings, kids and their parents can expect more fun, excitement and learnings from Superbook Reimagined.

CBN Asia’s Superbook Project Head, Icko Gonzalez, expressed his delight upon receiving the good news. "The word to describe my feeling about the success of the first episode is 'Super!" I'm so happy that there were so many people who supported us, that they were excited about Superbook. We’re also very grateful to our friends, sponsors and partners. It's definitely great to see that many kids are ready to go for more adventures with Gizmo, Chris and Joy so all I can further say is: 'Here we go!'"

Source: www.batangsuperbook.com

I am excited to catch tomorrow's episode, "The Test". I am guessing it is about Abraham and Isaac. I found this preview on the Batang Superbook Facebook Page!

I really, really love Superbook!

Mustaches and Musings: HELLO!

2013-06-05T13:45:00.002+08:00

Hi, everyone! My daughter A has been bugging me about starting her own blog. As much as I want her to start her own account, she is only 11, and I think this is a safer, if not, easier way for her to start writing a few pieces (and getting an audience!). Yes, much like how Smart Parenting Mag started as a Good Housekeeping supplement and section! So please allow me to introduce A - my beautiful and talented daughter (wink!).

This was really supposed to be her summer project, but then, summer workshops and volleyball classes got in the way. I hope you encourage her to write some more by commenting on her posts. See, I was never really a writer until college, when my good friend EM complimented my writing style on a piece I wrote for English class - an essay about "telling the wind my secrets". It's been years since then, but I will never forget the thought that entered my head after he told me so - "I want to write some more!" (If only to impress him, haha)

So anyway, we've decided to call her section "Mustaches and Musings" just because these are her thoughts, and right now, she's into all things mustache. LOL!

~~~ * ~~~

HELLO!

My name is A. Catral, and this is my story. Not exactly my life story, but an introduction. Hehehe.

This is my first time to make a blog, and I am not used to it. You know, I didn't have a blog before 'cause I wasn't ready yet. But now, I AM READY! :)

I love writing stories but you wouldn't know 'cause I write them for myself. ALONE. But now, with this blog, I can just write those stories here!

OMG! I am so excited! Let's go! Join me! We're going to have lots of fun!

PS. Those stories aren't about me, so I guess that's what's going to be different now that I have a blog. I'm going to have to write about myself, too!

The Book is Back!

2013-05-31T01:16:00.000+08:00

What? Who? Why, Superbook, of course!

Yes, folks! Remember how I invited y'all to last Saturday's Superbook SuperLaunch? Well, Saturday morning, the kids and I got to attend a special screener of Superbook at Robinson's Galleria Cinemaworld!

A and RL posing with the Gizmo standee at the Superbook Special Screener for Media and Friends.

We got to watch the episode "Let My People Go!" - Superbook's take on Moses, the plagues, and the Israelites' adventure out of Egypt. My kids were enthralled. As expected, the little boy kept asking me questions. Watching the screener made me think about my own personal adventures with the old Superbook. I loved this series as a kid! I still do.

I must admit, I am in awe of the new graphics. And yes, that's Joy, Chris and Gizmo off to a new Superbook adventure!

Icko Gonzalez, Superbook Project Head in the Philippines (who also happens to be a good friend, classmate and brother), mentioned that Superbook had such a great impact in his life that he imagines Bible Stories as depicted in the cartoon series. This also holds true to the legacy Superbook established in me - as this is also how I imagine Bible stories!

And guess what we learned during last Saturday's screener? Superbook will be back on TV! That's right!

This Saturday, 1 June 2013, Superbook Reimagined shall air its pilot episode "In The Beginning" on GMA 7 at 7:30am.

Catch Superbook Reimagined every Saturday, from 7:30 - 8:00am on GMA 7!

And that's not all! Classic Superbook fans are in for a treat as well!

Superbook Classic episodes will air every Sunday, starting June 2, also at 7:30am on GMA 7!

Catch the old classic (this time in Tagalog) on Sundays, 7:30 - 8:00 am, also on GMA 7!

So why relaunch an old classic? "Superbook aims to capture the hearts of the children of today," says Icko. I doubt that it's a goal that's hard to reach. Already, A has set her alarm for Saturday and Sunday. "I am waking up in time for Superbook," she exclaimed this morning.

As for me, I can't wait for Saturday. I am excited to see how this well-loved and yet, reinvented favorite, takes root in my kids' hearts. This mom is ready to relive the greatest adventure of all time. See you on Saturday (and Sunday), Superbook!

Ikaw? Batang Superbook ka ba?

NEW! SUPERBOOK REIMAGINED
Saturdays, 7:30am, GMA 7

SUPERBOOK CLASSIC (In Tagalog)
Sundays, 7:30am, GMA 7

| facebook.com/BatangSuperbook
| www.batangsuperbook.com

The Crocs MegaSale 2013 CITIBANK EXCLUSIVE!

2013-05-28T20:33:00.000+08:00

I promised you an update, and I was supposed to post this yesterday. But as usual, work got in the way (I don't want to lose my day job, hehe). So anyway...

Citibank Philippines has announced they will be having their exclusive Crocs Megasale 2013 Preview Sale on not one, but TWO dates! That's right, if you are a Citi Card cardholder, you get first dibs on this year's biggest Crocs sale!

WHAT: Citibank Exclusive Preview Sale to the Crocs Megasale 2013!

WHEN: May 29-30, 2013 (Wednesday and Thursday); 10am to 8pm

WHERE: NBC Tent, Bonifacio Global City

Just present your Citi Card to enjoy FREE ENTRANCE for yourself and a friend, plus the chance to check out this year's megasale before everyone else.

For more details on Crocs Megasale 2013, click here.

Source: | Facebook.com/CitibankPH

Because YOU Asked - Extreme 23!

2013-05-26T04:05:00.000+08:00

I am currently stuck on the new extreme levels - 33 and 35, to be exact. My brain is on vacation, INERTIA, at rest - playing the no-brainer, HAPPY STREET. LOL!

I think, though, that the truth is this: my brain is trying to slow down when it comes to Carrot Fantasy. Who knows when the next update is?! So yes, maybe I am taking it slow. I don't mind. At least I still have those two levels undone. My brother spent a good part of the early evening in my office trying to get past wave 3 on level 33. I have gone as far as wave 18, only to have a pest bite into that lovely carrot. So sue me, I want GOLD! LOL! So yes, in the middle of trying to figure it out (and working on extra patience), I am playing Happy Street instead. Haha, it's such a lazy game. And because some folks asked for the walkthrough for Level 23, here it is.

Start by planting ELECTRIC BALL towers as shown below. Upgrade the upper right one once. Aim for the giant chest on the right. The lone ELECTRIC BALL on the left can take care of the pests.

Once you kill ONE pest, you will be able to plant another ELECTRIC BALL on the top of the track. Plant it. This will help you kill pests as you try to clear the right side of the track of obstacles.

Work on eliminating all obstacles on the right. Start with the giant chest, the the big yellow fish in between the two ELECTRIC BALL towers. And so on and so forth. Use the photos below as succession guide.

Giant chest will reveal four SHOOTING STAR towers.

The big fish will contain an ANCHOR tower.

The rocks below the SHOOTING STAR towers will not contain anything.
Plant MUSHROOMS to earn coins. Upgrade MUSHROOMS as you go.

Once you get the obstacles on the right out of the way, work on clearing the obstacles on the upper left of the track. Remember to plant another MUSHROOM tower (beside the first one you planted) in order to slow down the pests and earn extra coins.

Start with the rocks on top of the track.
These rocks actually contain GREEN SHOOTERS.
Replace with ELECTRIC BALL towers.

Plant an ELECTRIC BALL tower on lower left of track (right by the start of the track). Aim for the green liquor bottle right beside it.

When you have enough coins, upgrade your ANCHOR tower.

The set of rocks below will reveal empty plots. Plant MUSHROOMS in its place.

Next, aim for the remaining giant chest.

Don't forget to upgrade your MUSHROOM towers to max when you can.

The giant chest will contain GREEN SHOOTERS.

Work on clearing the left side of the track.
Do not upgrade any of the towers that come out of the obstacles.

Replace the four GREEN SHOOTERS with ELECTRIC BALL towers, except for the lower right SHOOTER, which you will replace with a MUSHROOM.

Once you've cleared all obstacles. Delete the towers on the left (two POO/MUD towers and the left ANCHOR and ELECTRIC BALL). See below for reference.

Plant two more MUSHROOMS as shown below. Upgrade to max. Delete left-most ELECTRIC BALL and plant two more on the right (top of track).

Then work on upgrading your TOWERS, starting with the ANCHOR and the SHOOTING STARS. Plant another ELECTRIC BALL above the right-most MUSHROOM just for additional defense.

Upgrade all those ELECTRIC BALL towers!

You can add more ELECTRIC BALL towers if you wish...
But the original ones should get you to the Golden Carrot.

And voila! It's that easy. Just a tad frustrating because it goes up to 25 waves. But nothing a little patience and persistence can't fix.

Extreme Stage 23, CLEAR AND GOLD!

~~~ * ~~~

EDIT: It took me all night to write this walkthrough. Well, I ended up playing the new levels and finished them. I was also playing on the little boy's iPad. I'm OC with my games like that. LOL!

Okayyyyy... so what shall I do 'til July (According to this, Ice World won't come out 'til then!)? And you, are you done with the new levels?

In case you missed it, Carrot Fantasy updated Extreme with new levels (20 May 2013)! Play up to Stage 35! Woohoo!

SuperLaunch!

2013-05-24T15:02:00.001+08:00

My siblings and I grew up watching Superbook. In fact, I still have our dusty (and probably moldy) VHS tapes of the old series. It was my goal to have my own kids watch it, as I learned many a Bible story from this childhood favorite. I think A got to catch a few episodes when we lived in Ortigas Center. But like I said, the tapes are dusty and although you could still get them to play by rewinding and forwarding it on a tape rewinder, our trusty old VHS player no longer works, LOL. And yet, the tapes still sit on the shelf, as I don't have the heart to toss them in the bin.

House of Praise sells the DVD version of the old series, but they have very limited stocks, as these have been phased out by the local distributor. UPDATE: I just checked. They've sold out. Sorry.

But then, here's good news! Superbook has been REIMAGINED!

Chris, Joy and Gizmo are back - this time sporting a new look! Catch the new SUPERBOOK SUPERLAUNCH this Saturday, 25 May 2013, (that's tomorrow) at the Robinson's Galleria Activity Center from 2 to 5 PM! Here's your chance to reminisce and relive a childhood favorite, and with your kids, too!

Heaps of FUN, LEARNING and GIVEAWAYS await you! There will be interactive games, presentations, photo booths, and a ton of activities for the whole gang! And guess what? You even get the chance to meet Gizmo!

What's more, we will finally get to catch Superbook on TV next month as it airs on GMA 7! Now isn't that great news?

See you tomorrow at the SUPERBOOK SUPERLAUNCH! It's going to be SUPER!

| batangsuperbook.com
| facebook.com/BatangSuperbook

Happy, Happy Meal at McDo!

2013-05-16T17:36:00.000+08:00

Guess who's back at McDonald's?! Oh yes, happy-happy, joy-joy! It's Hello Kitty!

Just yesterday, after I driving-thru for brunch at McDonald's, I wondered about the next toy for their Happy Meal. RL tries to collect all the toys for boys, while A would occasionally collect the girl toys if she is into it. The previous Happy Meal had Barbie for girls, and she was never into the doll.

When I got to the office, I saw McDonald's making the announcement on their Facebook Page - it's Hello Kitty and VooV for this month's Happy Meal!

So guess who will be having McDonald's everyday for the next week or so? LOL!

Catch Hello Kitty and VooV at McDonald's today! Each Happy Meal comes with a toy. Collect them all!

| Source: facebook.com/McDo.ph

#ThrowbackThursday: Beach!

2013-05-16T13:37:00.001+08:00

My kids love the beach. But we haven't been back this year. Last year, we went to far-off Lobo, Batangas for our company outing, but the beach there is rocky. A enjoyed though, because Lobo's shore is littered with hermit crab and shells. We don't take 'em home. She just loves them!

We were supposed to go to Boracay with my siblings for Labor Day, but couldn't get any more flights (as it was a last-minute decision). Oh well, maybe we could do Subic or Anvaya before school starts. Or yes, Mia, Matabungkay!

Here are some beach photos of the kids taken three years ago.

This was at Adventure Beach, owned and operated by Camayan Beach Resort.

A spends most of the time searching for shells and hermit crab.

It is so hot right now in Manila. Makes me want to take that drive to the beach. Why aren't there clean and decent beaches nearby? So sad.

Which beach do you usually frequent?

It's Here! Crocs Megasale 2013!

2013-05-15T21:29:00.000+08:00

Have you been waiting for this?

It's here and it's happening soon! Crocs Megasale is back with discounts up to 90%!

What: CROCS MEGASALE 2013

When: MAY 30-JUNE 2, 2013, 10AM-8PM*

Where: NBC TENT, BONIFACIO GLOBAL CITY, TAGUIG

Cash payment and all major credit cards are accepted. FREE entrance for all Citibank cardholders, and P50 entrance fee for non-Citi shoppers.

Source: facebook.com/crocsph

*Stay tuned for announcements on the exclusive Citibank preview sale. They haven't made any announcements yet, but since Citibank is part of this year's sale, it is bound to happen (it happens every year, hehe).

Growing Alfalfa

2013-05-15T15:38:00.001+08:00

...and no, I don't mean Alfalfa from The Little Rascals, but Alfalfa... er... Sprouts. (Hehe, Corny!)

My former boss and mentor, MC, would always bring Alfalfa to work. Then she would literally force everyone to try it with pâté and bread or crackers (I think I take after her when it comes to convincing co-workers to explore food. So far, I've forced people to eat Durian, Arugula, Champorado, Guacamole, etc.). So anyway, because of her, I've come to appreciate Alfalfa with just about anything -Salads, Sandwiches, Crackers and even just snacking on it with Cream Cheese by the spoonful.

The thing about store-bought Alfalfa is this - you don't know how long it has been sitting there. Sure, it sits in the chiller section, but many times in the past, I've purchased a pack that had wilting Alfalfa inside (you can't quite see the roots). After reading a few articles on the internet, I've learned that Alfalfa is pretty easy to grow. The hard part is finding seeds.

I work close to a bunch of garden shops, and often go to get compost, etc for my planter box garden. Once, when my dad had me go to get him something for his garden, I noticed they actually sold Alfalfa seeds!

Condor Seeds is distributed by Allied Botanical Corp.
http://www.alliedbotanical.com

So, last year, we started growing our own Alfalfa. It takes 5-6 days! Nothing to it!

WHAT YOU NEED:
Packet of Alfalfa Sprouts Seeds
500g Disposable Food Container w/ lid
Paper Towel
Hand-held Water Sprayer
Water

Get a Disposable Food Container and line it with a folded paper towel.

I didn't have plain ones that day. Oops.

Sprinkle some seeds onto the towel (about a teaspoon or two would do). Fill the water sprayer with water, and spray your seeds until they are completely wet.

The paper towel will hold moisture and keep your seed damp.

Cover the food container overnight. Keep your little sprouter container in a dark place. I just kept it sitting on the kitchen counter, under the shelves.

This will encourage seed germination.

Because it is currently hot and humid, spray your seeds with water twice a day.

RL took charge in spritzing the seeds everyday.

Some tutorials call for you to thoroughly rinse your seeds every 12 hours. You can do this, too, to make sure you wet your sprouts. Use the lid to filter the water and prevent the seeds from spilling out of your container.

I prefer to just spray with water for the first 3 days.

On the fifth day, you can move your container to a windowsill for it get a little sun. This will encourage your sprouts to turn green.

Ready to eat!

Rinse your sprouts with filtered water a few times to get most of the husks out. Keep in the refrigerator until use. These can keep in the refrigerator for about a week at most. We usually eat within a couple of days. Remember to rinse thoroughly before serving!

Use them on hamburgers, sandwiches, salads, and many more!

Cream Cheese and Mango with Alfalfa sandwich. NOM!

Cream Cheese and Alfalfa on a cracker. Perfect snack! NOM!

I've actually tried growing Alfalfa in a mason jar (as most tutorials online show you how to grow them that way), but it didn't work for me. The sprouts don't grow as fast, and when mine were still less than half an inch long after a week, I decided to just throw them out.

I have watched a few videos on it lately, and I shall try again soon (although I followed instructions to the T that first attempt). Anyway, this way works for me.

Have you tried growing Alfalfa? Have you tried EATING Alfalfa?

Alfalfa contains a concentrated amount of vitamins and minerals - these include calcium, vitamin K and vitamin C. The best part? Alfalfa contains just 8 calories and 0 grams of fat per cup.

Mama's Magic in a Stick

2013-05-14T19:25:00.000+08:00

I've been a fan of SoTrue since Mia first introduced me to her baby project. And I've come to conclude that most often than not, natural is indeed better for the body. However, because I've had to deal with migraine on a regular basis, I now already know for a fact that nothing natural helps (well in my case, that is). I almost always grab a pill to get through it, if not to help stop it before it gets any worse. And yes, that means, taking medicine needlessly.

So when she had me try this new product at last month's ExpoMom, I wasn't immediately convinced it could work wonders for headaches. She was explaining how I could apply this on mosquito bites, bruises, small cuts, diaper rash, headaches, etc. and yet, when KY asked me if she could have my stick, I let her steal it from me.

But see, our friend JT started posting raves about the stick, and how it works wonders. So because I am a sucker for testimonials, when I went to visit Mia at Balik Bukid a couple of weeks ago, I bought myself a stick.

And guess what? I LOVE IT! According to Mia, Mama's Kiss has aromatherapy benefits and works as a miracle balm of sorts. She decided to make Mama's Kiss "because of lavender essential oil's soothing properties. I first used it on my son's nappy rash..." And soothing it is! So far, I've had three major migraines, and rubbing this on my temples works like a charm. Of course there are big headaches that still need medication, but hey, I no longer medicate for prevention. Instead, I am quick to apply Mama's Kiss on my temples and forehead in order to prevent a major migraine from happening. And it has worked!

It works like Magic! I love my Mama's Kiss stick!

Yesterday, while at our family's post-Mother's Day lunch, KY told me how she applied Mama's Kiss (yes, the one she stole from my bag) on a nasty bug bite. "I only applied twice. Once when it happened, and once after I took a bath. When I woke up the next morning, the bite was gone. No marks! And it didn't even itch. Magic!"

I'm telling you, this has even helped with my insomnia. Mama's Kiss is made with lavender essential oils and I have been sleeping like a baby. I was telling my dad yesterday when we were discussing the stick that it makes me relax and I feel like I'm getting a massage (LOL! It smells like I just had one kasi).

Even my little boy RL loves it. He's such a chatterbug at 1am, when we're both trying to get some shut-eye. So lately, I've discovered that rubbing this on his forehead does the trick. He's asleep in no time!

Can you say magic?

Mama's Kiss is SoTrue Naturals' newest product. Just ask them for their magic stick. Retails for P180, 5g stick.

| SoTrue Naturals
| facebook.com/sotruecastilesoap

1 Out of 365 Days.

2013-05-13T03:12:00.000+08:00

...now if only R would come into his senses. LOL!

www.babyblues.com

Mother's Day comes only once in 365 days. It would be nice to be able to take a break some time. Husbands, value your wives, and to you, Children, value your moms. You can never fill their shoes.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

Due to Popular Demand... Extreme 17 (In Detail)!

2013-05-13T02:28:00.000+08:00

Okay. It took me a while to get this posted. I was thinking you probably didn't need a detailed walkthrough, and you'd probably figure out my strategy from that other short post. But then, I've received tweets, comments, text messages, FB messages, etc about Carrot Fantasy Extreme Level 17. So here's that detailed walkthrough. Enjoy!

Yes, let's cut through the chase, shall we?

Start with planting two STAR towers on the two empty plots as shown. Upgrade the right star to max, and the left star once.

Work on destroying the cloud above the left STAR tower. This should reveal a sun. Then if you have enough coins, upgrade the left STAR to max as well.

Next, work on destroying the plot of trees on the right of the right STAR tower.

The SUN and the left STAR will work on killing the pests.

The bunch o' trees will reveal four FISH towers. Upgrade as you go. Work on destroying the small chest above the FISH to get extra coins.

Then immediately work on destroying the lower large chest. Upgrade FISH towers to max as you go.

The large chest will reveal ANCHOR towers. Make sure all your FISH towers have been upgraded to max. Then upgrade the three ANCHOR towers as shown. Change the upper right ANCHOR tower to a FREEZE tower. Upgrade to max.

NOTE: You may want to pause through this wave. There is a big pest that goes by really fast in this wave. You must have your FISH upgraded to max, as well as those ANCHORS and the FREEZE tower. These will help you kill that big pest.

Work on eliminating the obstacles at the right of the track. Start with the giant chest.

Continue with the rest of the obstacles on the lower right of track. The small crate on the left will actually reveal a STAR tower. Replace with a MUSHROOM (see photo below). Upgrade to max so you can collect extra coins. Work on the rest of the obstacles.

In the process, you will be able to destroy the small cloud hiding the OCTOPUS tower.
Upgrade that to max when you can.

Once you destroy the big lower right cloud, it will reveal four GREEN SHOOTERS (I call 'em PEA SHOOTERS, but this isn't Plants vs. Zombies, LOL). Replace the two left GREEN SHOOTERS with MUSHROOMS, such that three MUSHROOM towers line the right of the track. Upgrade all to max, including the GREEN SHOOTERS. Plant a STAR tower above the GREEN SHOOTERS. Upgrade that to max as well.

All that shooting will open up other obstacles.
Work on upgrading to max all the obstacles at the beginning of the track first.

Next, eliminate obstacles on top of the track. Plant FREEZE towers in its place. Upgrade to max.

See that POO tower? Delete that and replace with a FREEZE tower.

Next, upgrade to max those two FISH towers on the upper left of track. The hot air balloon to the right of the SUN tower will contain CLOVER/ WINDMILL towers. Delete the upper ones and replace with FREEZE towers. Upgrade to max.

The bunch of trees on a cloud to the left of the SUN tower will contain HOT STAR (red) towers. Once again, delete the two HOT STAR towers on top and replace with FREEZE towers, upgrade to max. Also work on upgrading your SUN.

Then work on upgrading the rest of your towers to max. Your game should look like the photo below.

Add a FREEZE tower above the MUSHROOMS. Upgrade to max. Plant a STAR tower under the lower right ANCHOR. Upgrade to max as you go.

Add a FREEZE tower to the right of the four FREEZE towers on top of track. Upgrade to max. This should help you slow down the pests in the last few waves.

With your extra coins, plant STAR towers under the CARROT. This will help with your defense.

And yes, upgrade to max.

By the end of wave 14, your game should look like this:

Pause your game. The replace the STAR tower (directly above the OCTOPUS) with a FREEZE tower. Replace two of your MUSHROOMS with FREEZE towers as well. See photo below:

The sole MUSHROOM should get you extra coins to plant more STAR towers
around the track. Upgrade for maximum defense.

All that maxed towers should help you kill the boss.

Pow, pow, pow! Ulch! LOL! Bye-bye, boss!

Et voila! YOU WIN!

Say what?! It's the GOLDEN CARROT!

GOLD and CLEAR! Yay!

So see, nothing to it! Good luck with your game! And remember, patience is a virtue. LOL!

Did this help you? Leave me a comment (I'd appreciate it if you'd like this post, too)! Thanks!

Mother's Day 2013

2013-05-12T23:21:00.001+08:00

I had a long day. No nanny, and I have both kids at home (A is spending Mother's Day weekend here, then she's heading back to my folks' tomorrow - she's spending the summer there). We woke up late, so we had to rush to church because A had a meeting with her v-group. We were initially planning on having special lunch somewhere, but my family's celebrating tomorrow, so we saved our cash and did fastfood. LOL!

Church was encouraging. Pastor Larry spoke about mothers, even single moms, and how we go through each season with God at our side. Short of saying He's got our back, he encourages moms to never give up.

I had to battle doubt and bitterness early this morning. RL spoke to his dad on the phone, while I was in the bathroom. And A told me she feels bad for her little brother because she heard him telling R that he wants him home (to bring him to Jollibee and the "pelangke" to buy Maxx Candy, LOL). I don't understand how he can make empty promises over and over, and not feel bad for his kids.

But then, we're in this season, and God tells up there is hope on the next bend.

It is hard being a single mom. But as we ended church with a prayer, RL stood on the seat and wrapped his arms around me. There are things I may not be able to give my kids (like a decent dad, maybe), but I have come to realize... there is nothing wrong with me being a sole parent. And it isn't my fault R is the way he is. My kids are blessed regardless. They have a God who provides, a mom who loves them, grandmothers who dote on them, an achi who is more than a great big sister, and a whole load of aunties and titas who are more than willing to go the extra mile for their benefit.

To all the moms and mommy-figures in my kids' lives, Happy Mom's Day to you. xx

Happy Mother's Day!

God's Promises #4

2013-05-10T18:37:00.003+08:00

I am ending this work day frustrated. But I don't want to go into details. Nevertheless, it still is a great day. The week has ended and I can't wait to spend the extended weekend with the kids. That, plus it is Mother's Day on Sunday, and we are having family lunch on Monday (avoiding the crowd). I am feeling extra tired from the week that passed. Mostly, physically tired and mentally drained. Today, to cap off that tiring week, I've had to deal with emotional stress, but nothing about married life, just work and working relationships. So yes, I am exhausted, to say the least.

While looking to God for relief, I came across this verse - this promise! How appropriate! He is ALWAYS on time!

HE KEEPS HIS PROMISES.

Praise the Lord! He promised he would give rest to his people Israel, and he has given us rest. The Lord has kept all the good promises he gave through his servant Moses.

1 Kings 8:56
New Century Version

Making Homemade Yogurt!

2013-05-08T21:14:00.001+08:00

My little boy is a yogurt addict. We used to purchase over two dozen cups a month, maybe more. But then, I always thought the ones being sold in supermarkets (at least the flavored ones) were too sweet. My uncle makes his own yogurt at home and once, during a meeting a few years back, he told us how relatively easy it was to make your own. So, last year, I decided to get on Google to see if I can make some for RL. Apparently, most sites call for a candy thermometer. I had planned on getting one, until I stumbled upon one of those how-to videos on Youtube that claimed you can actually gauge by touch. Also, if you were to use Ultra-Pasteurized, UHT or milk that wasn't raw, then there really is no need to boil your milk to a specific degree.

Websites with homemade yogurt tutorials will tell you not to use UHT or store-bought milk because apparently, UHT milk won't set into yogurt. However, I've read on other forums, especially ones based here, that you can make yogurt with the boxed kind, even powdered full cream milk, and hello, let's consider availability. Let's be practical. Admit it, we don't really have good milk in Supermarkets. And I don't want to have to go to Tagaytay or Market, Market, etc just to find good milk for my yogurt. My goal was to make one with less sugar. And who knows what kind of milk commercially-made yogurts have in it anyway?

So I went ahead and tried to make a batch. I took pictures of that first batch but they are now buried somewhere among the 6,000 photos on my iPhone. So a couple of weeks ago, when we made our nth batch, I decided to take photos again for this post.

The key to good Yogurt is good milk (how bad for us, no? LOL) and starter. So far, I've made milk from whole milk - both the ones available in Supermarkets (Hacienda Macalauan, California Sunshine, etc) and the ones being sold by suppliers (Mr. Moo, Milk Man, etc). When I don't have access to good milk, then I make from boxed "fresh" milk. LOL! The batch I made for these photos, I used boxed Cowhead milk (not powdered). Apparently, according to Chef in Disguise, Sawsan, and one of her readers, you can make yogurt from all sorts of milk, even soy milk (but not almond milk)! I love this blog of hers, by the way.

Anyway, here's a step-by-step guide on how I made my yogurt.

To make about a liter of yogurt, you're going to need the following:

1 Liter Milk

1/4 Cup Starter (yogurt with live bacteria)

1/4 Cup Powdered Milk

When I don't have old yogurt to start my process, I just toss in the whole container of store-bought yogurt.

Sauce pan to heat your milk
Jar or Container for your yogurt

Step 1: Heat your milk in a pot. You must boil first if you are using fresh/ raw milk, then cool it down to about 40°C. But if using UHT or store-bought milk that has gone through sterilization, then you only need to heat until it is40°C. If you don't have a candy thermometer, you want it to be warm to the touch.

Using a pasta pot to heat my milk.

Step 2: Transfer milk to container. You can check if milk is warm to the touch or too hot by dipping a clean finger for a few seconds. The temperature must be warm enough, but should not feel like you are burning the tip of your finger. If too hot or scalding, cool down first. You will kill the live bacteria in your starter if your milk is too hot.

You can use an ice bath or a cold water bath to cool down your milk if you've heated it too much.

Step 3: When your milk is at the right temperature, add 1/4 cup of powdered milk. Carefully mix it in. NOTE: You should only do this if you want yogurt of thicker and creamier consistency. I used Birch Tree Full Cream Powdered Milk as it was the only thing available at home.

Step 4: Add 1/4 cup of starter. Most recipes call for 1 tablespoon, but if you want your yogurt to be a tad sour, use more. I usually just pour in the whole small container of store-bought yogurt, if I don't have old homemade yogurt to use as starter. It doesn't matter if you are using a flavored starter, the flavor will be mild, you won't notice the taste in your homemade yogurt anyway. You just need to make sure your starter has LIVE MICROORGANISMS. Or you won't get your yogurt. And yes, you can use Yakult! Also, keep in mind that your starter MUST NOT be cold. You need it at room temperature to get those live bacteria going. Mix into the milk with slow upwards strokes (please don't ask why, I just followed one of those how-tos I watched, haha).

TIP: I usually take the starter out of the refrigerator right when I'm about to make a batch. It should warm down enough to the right temperature when you're about to pour it in.

Step 5: Cover container. In order for your milk to turn into yogurt, you need to keep it covered in a warm place. You must put it in your "incubator" (for lack of an appropriate word!) for it to set properly. Some people put their yogurt in an oven or a cooler. I usually just wrap the jar or container in a blanket, place it in a large pot and forget about it for about 6 hours or more.

The longer that incubation period, the thicker the consistency of your yogurt and the more sour it will be.

I usually just use the same pasta pot to incubate my yogurt. I wash it first, of course. LOL!

I used RL's Mickey blanket (as it is small enough to wrap the jar and fit in the pot) as a jar warmer.

After about 4 hours (and since it is warm in the Philippines), you can check on your yogurt. If it is warm enough, it would have set already. We like our yogurt tart, so we make our yogurt late at night, and leave it incubating 'til morning (about 8 hours). Usually, the right consistency and taste is achieved after letting it set for 6 hours. But really, it depends on you and your taste buds.

Photo of a different batch. Checking after 4 hours if yogurt is ready.
Powdered milk means less whey on top.

Et voila! Homemade yogurt!

Yay! Homemade yogurt! In my beautiful Ball jar from Paper Chic Studio.

You would want to keep about 1/4 cup of yogurt as you make a batch - to use as starter for your next batch. Homemade yogurt can keep to about 2 weeks (sometimes more) when kept in a cold refrigerator.

I must warn you though. This is plain yogurt. You can sweeten with fresh fruits or honey. Or even sugar (at least, in your desired amount!). My son loves strawberry yogurt, but the fresh ones don't really sweeten the yogurt the way he wants it to taste like (sobrang nasanay sa store-bought ones, haay), so I use Smucker's Strawberry Squeeze. Yum!

You guys should try Smucker's Squeeze!
Available in leading supermarkets, in Strawberry Fruit Spread or Grape Jelly.
Also in Reduced Sugar Strawberry.

I love how I can control portions and how sweet I want his yogurt to be. I, however, eat my yogurt plain as a topping for cereals, instead of milk. Sometimes, I add a teaspoon of honey. Basta, it's good, and way, way better than store-bought.

Yogurt with fresh Philippine mangoes! Nom!

Also, I've recently discovered that you can make sour cream from your homemade yogurt by mixing in lemon juice (or calamansi) and letting it sit in the fridge for a couple of hours. I've used this as a dip for chips, too (I actually didn't wait for two hours, more like two minutes, haha)!

Homemade yogurt, anyone?

VIP Status!

2013-05-07T11:19:00.004+08:00

Drive thru at any McDonald's today and get your VIP sticker to enjoy VIP Status! With this sticker, you are entitled to a FREEBIE* whenever you drive-thru at McDonald's.

I have mine! Go get yours today!

*Freebies are subject to the promo terms and conditions of McDonald's at a particular time. To know more, visit www.mcdonalds.com.ph or like their Facebook page: facebook.com/McDo.ph

God's Promises #3

2013-05-06T18:45:00.003+08:00

DO NOT BE AFRAID.

Photo from BloodBoughtChad.blogspot.com

Don’t panic.
I’m with you.
There’s no need to fear for I’m your God.
I’ll give you strength.
I’ll help you.
I’ll hold you steady,
keep a firm grip on you.

Isaiah 41:10
The Message

Mondays.

2013-05-06T17:49:00.000+08:00

I left my mobile phone at home. Bah! What a way to start the week. But all is good. I actually feel good today. I have no idea what's different. I just woke up telling myself it's going to be a great week.

Do you ever get that feeling? I mean, waking up on Monday and just knowing how the rest of the week is going to be?

I worked this weekend. I thought I'd catch up with pending stuff and found myself actually enjoying the time I spent juggling between encoding new releases and watching "The Lucky One" on rewind (that's because I kept going back to scenes I missed while filling out information sheets, haha).

Filled up information sheets for permits for these new releases...

It's mighty quiet at home, what with A spending the summer at my folks' and RL pretending he is the only child. Leave him with his Lego kits, and you're sure to find loads of peace and quiet - that is, until he gets tired (and mind you, this little boy gets bored easily, but yes, we're working on his patience).

RL putting together a LEGO Firetruck all by himself.

Saturday. We were supposed to head out to BGC for "Chak the Walk" but A decided she didn't want to go (because it had rained hard in our area and she wanted to be home when my siblings get home from Boracay) and RL just wanted to stay in bed (after spending most of his morning and afternoon at Trumpets). He actually slept through the rest of the day, getting up at 10pm to get dinner then played with his LEGO sets until the end of the movie (and encoding).

Sunday. I had to check on the new girl manning our Greenhills store. We were late for the 2 o'clock service and pretty early for the 4 o'clock. I guess all the waiting got to RL as he ended up sleeping in big church! Oops. At the last minute, and because it wasn't as traffic yesterday (compared to Friday and Saturday's mall sale traffic), I took RL to Rockwell after church to catch the last day of Make Your Own Havaianas 2013. Yes, yes, I know, a late notice to you readers. I was planning on blogging about it before the actual event (like I always do), but I got caught up with work. Last week was mighty crazy!

Deciding which pins to put on his sister's pair.

I wanted to get lime green flip flops (as it is the closest color to anything flou) but they ran out of the soles! I suppose I should start going on the first day. Two years ago, I had won tickets to their pre-event and got A and I the colors we had wanted. I ended up getting dark gray slims with lime green straps and a hot air balloon to commemorate this year's MYOH. Beautiful pair! I'm not quite sure if A will like hers. She wasn't with us yesterday, since she opted to sit this year out. But I got her purple ones with amethyst straps and a bicycle pin, since that's what she's been doing all summer - bike (and swim).

RL was proud with our finished work, he gladly posed with our loot. Oh, we used our Citibank Card and got a 10% discount! I would have gotten more, only A's enrollment is this week and we're on a super strict budget.

~~~ * ~~~

So, I forgot all about finishing this post earlier. Mondays always mean more work, especially since my brother moved to corporate and I'm struggling two positions. In the meantime, remember what I said about knowing today would be a great day (as with the rest of the week)?

Well, today I got blessed with an early birthday gift! Thank you, Mike and Mitchelle!

Then my bff J told me she was coming over tonight with a surprise from her mom (I'm guessing some Durian! So do watch out, neighbors!). It isn't even my birthday until the end of the month! And you know how enrollment's this week? I found out from my daughter that tuition this year is a whopping __ thousand pesos!!! Excuse the blank, but I do not want you rolling your eyes asking me why. But see, I didn't even have time to worry about getting the money. Yesterday, I had to get money from the ATM and lo and behold, when I checked to see how much I had, I realized God was way ahead of me. Half of our 13th month pay got deposited early, and I already have enough to cover the first installment for tuition! And I think I can come up with enough cash to cover books, supplies and uniforms. Isn't God grand?

I am feeling the love! Thank you, friends! Thank You, Lord!

Great times!

Jars of Clay CD Winners!

2013-05-03T17:42:00.003+08:00

Sorry! Sorry! I was planning on posting this a few weeks back, but events at the office got in the way, and I completely forgot this was still pending. As such, I am throwing in a couple of freebies (secret!) when I send out your prizes!

Without any more delays, here are the winners for that Jars of Clay promo! Each winning a Jars of Clay THE SHELTER CD plus something... uh... secret. Hehe.

DIANE CAMILLE ADRAQUE

JONATHAN BLAS

JOVIL OROZCO

JAYLORD RODRIGUEZ

PAUL MICHAEL CO

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Congratulations, winners! I shall send you an email over the weekend on how to claim your prize. Please expect it on the email address you used to join the giveaway.

Special thanks to House of Praise for the Jars of Clay loot!

Okay, now that that's done... it's time for another one... SOON!