Five Little Things I loved this week:

1. Mother’s Day Tulips

These beauties have brightened up my entire week. My husband remembered my favorite flowers and these tulips have been such a happy sight to see every time I set foot in the kitchen.

2. Good People & Good Stories

With all the sad stories in the media, I am always happier when stories of good people are featured on the news. I wanted to share these stories that made my heart smile. It’s always a good way to end the week. There’s the loving son who surprised his very deserving mother with the gift of a house on Mother’s Day, the family who finds a winning lotto ticket in a cookie jar, and this very special lady:

3. Better than Spandex

It’s that time of year where I reevaluate my workout clothes and check the tread on my shoes. These are some of my favorite things, and I can’t tell you how in love I am with Nike’s updated Legend 2.0 capris. I know so many people who are gaga for their Lulu’s but truth be told, I find it a little too heavyweight for my liking. These are perfect!

4. Motivating Apps

As you can guess, going to the gym is a huge part of my life, and I’m always open to new ways to stay motivated, especially since, as my sister says, things like chocolate are an occupational hazard. This week, my favorite app is NTC: Nike Training Club. It’s an awesome way to add a little something extra after a class, when I get back home, or if I miss the gym altogether.

5. Ab-hancer

And if all else fails, there’s this:

Have a fantastic weekend, everyone! Hope you get to spend some time outdoors!

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Post tags: Ab-Hancer, clothes, Five Little Things, Nike Training Club, Tulips, workout

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He invited me over for dinner. I accepted. We were about three dates in, and I was curious to see what he would prepare. I imagined a pan seared steak, or a big pot of spaghetti. Bachelor-fare. My expectations were tempered by the endearing fact that the contents of his refrigerator consisted of a large bowl of ripe cherries and a few bottles of Guinness.

When I walked into his apartment, I was not greeted by the aroma of simmering tomatoes or sauteed garlic. I didn’t see any steaks resting on the counter. You can imagine my surprise when he announced the evening’s menu.

Tacos.

Tacos it was, the first meal my husband ever cooked for me, and I found it highly amusing. We walked to the grocery store, bought the ingredients. I met his buddy the butcher. It was the first time we bumped elbows in that little kitchen, as we cooked our first meal together. The humble taco, with ground beef, shredded cheese and iceberg lettuce. And you know what? It didn’t matter what we were eating, really. To me, the fun of that dinner date was learning our way around the kitchen together. I like to think we’ve come a long way since then.

(...)
Read the rest of Tofu Tacos (129 words)

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Post tags: tacos, tofu, vegetarian, Wayfair

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Dear C & C,

Every Mother’s Day, one of the best parts of my day is the homemade card you make. You don’t even have to write much; my insides are already a blubbery mess when I see the words, To Mom. It’s all I really need.

This year, I wanted to write you both a letter. The weeks fly by and I find myself wanting to stop and bottle the good moments. Scattered throughout the memorable moments are mornings when we rush to get out the door, some bickering that forces me to practice taking deep and calming breaths, and even meltdowns when we don’t get our way (notice how I said we). But mostly, there are wonderful moments, the ones that remind me how fortunate I am to have you both in my life.

What moments do I love most?

I love how you find me after school and rush into my arms. I love that you greet each other with hugs. I love the puppet shows in the car. I love how you can quote movie lines on command. I love how you work so hard at school. I love how you can listen to Harry Potter audiobooks all day if I let you. I love that you miss one another when the other is not home. I love our reading time at night, and our evening cuddles. I love that you adore mangoes.

(...)
Read the rest of Simple Sundays | Mango Ginger Sorbet (210 words)

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Post tags: ginger, mango, mint, sorbet

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Five little things I loved this week:

1. Oodles of Noodles

It was a demanding week for all of us. Between travel, school schedules, and major technology issues, our family needed something comforting and nourishing to get us through the end of the week. So I made our absolute favorite Filipino rice noodles, Pancit Bihon. After days of not being able to cook a proper meal, it was so gratifying to put a lot of love into the wok, knowing that my family would be thrilled with dinner last night. The recipe can be found in a very old post, and is the version I still cook faithfully today. (Just don’t laugh at the old photographs.)

2. Muffins for Moms

This morning, my children were excited to go to the school’s Muffin for Moms breakfast. For me, it’s more about the extra time with my children, though I am sure they enjoyed the chance to have a doughnut for breakfast. The best part? The lure of doughnuts and muffins meant not having to drag them out of bed – they were up and ready in record time.

3. Last Minute Presents

The crazy weeks have meant that Mother’s Day preprations took a back seat. I hate to say that my original grand plans for a package for my mother in law were foiled. But thank goodness for Wantful. I just love this innovative gift giving service. Wantful partners with beautiful brands and products and allows you to create personal, stylish collections for the ones you love. They, in turn, select the item they love most, and Wantful takes care of wrapping and delivering a gift you know they love. Genius. So if you’re looking for a last minute present, definitely check it out. (And Mom, if you’re reading, forgive me, but I hope you like your Wantful collection!)

4. Astrid

I found my newest favorite app. Astrid is the to-do list I’ve been looking for. Perfectly designed, I love the interface, and the interaction. Astrid stays on top of things, so I’ve been more productive than ever before. With its reminders, it’s like having a personal trainer for productivity.

5. Slick Treadmill Dance Moves

I’m going to try out some of these moves at the gym:

Have an awesome weekend, everyone!

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Post tags: Astrid, bihon, dancing, Filipino, Five Little Things, Mother's Day, Pancit, rice noodles, Wantful

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The crickets are singing their nightly tune, a showy chorus of evening song. It is calming and peaceful, and if I close my eyes, I feel the breeze drift in waves. I am outside, in the cloak of darkness.

But then I open my eyes. I am indoors, and the chirping melody is coming from within the house. The office. In a tank. A terrarium, to be exact.

You see, our family has a new member. He is green, and has a long tail. He even has his own Instagram account.

We vowed No More Pets. Our house is full, you see. Two children, two cats, and a dog. We secretly breathed a sigh of relief when the hamsters and the fish had passed. There was a spoken agreement to not add any more to the menagerie. Too much work. Too much furniture destroyed.

And then the begging started.

“Please? Can we get a gecko? Please? Please? Please? I’ll pay with my allowance. Please.”

I made her research and provide me with a presentation of supplies, their estimated costs, and the type of care involved. She did her part. A scribbled spreadsheet of figures, and there was clearly effort, and hope. But I stood my ground. “Let’s discuss this with Daddy when he gets home.” I knew he would stand behind me.

We had an agreement.(...)
Read the rest of Jambalaya (252 words)

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Post tags: andouille, cajun, chicken, jambalaya, shrimp, spicy, Stew

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There was one aspect of California life that somewhat intrigued me when I first moved out west over a decade ago. As a newcomer, I noticed how the beauty of spring was also dreaded by many, for one simple sneezy reason: allergies. I was an outsider looking in, and felt pity for sufferers, as I have never had allergies in my life. Over time, I learned that certain trees and native grasses could trigger reactions, that strong winds could carry, along with its cooling comfort, dreaded pollen. The same wildflowers I found alluring were despised by some. And I also learned that seasonal allergies were something you could develop, over time.

Bless you. Bless you. My husband must have blessed me over a dozen times in a two minute period. Between the both of us, you would think that we are the most blessed people in the world. Could it be? This whole week, I have been suspicious. The sudden sneezing, the itchy glossy eyes, the trouble breathing. Did I develop allergies? Have I been in California long enough?

“Welcome to the club,” my husband remarked.

I feel as though my transition to life as a Californian is oddly complete.

(...)
Read the rest of Simple Sundays | Mango Pepper Salsa (211 words)

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Post tags: cilantro, jalapeno, mango, red bell pepper, red onion, salsa

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Five little things I loved this week:

1. Birthdays

My husband celebrated a birthday this week, and he was content (I hope) to celebrate with a home cooked meal. His request? Seared ahi tuna and Thai-Style Crab & Corn Chowder, followed by cupcakes…from a box. It’s the one time each year that I will use a boxed cake mix, just because he loves it so, and because I love him.

2. SusieCakes

To help us celebrate, our sweet friends brought over a treat from one of the best bakeries in California. SusieCakes has amazing, and I mean amazing, cakes, it makes me wonder why I bother at all. If you ever come out west, you must check them out. Their coconut cake is beyond divine.

3. Kid Coupon Books

When we were discussing how to celebrate my husband’s birthday, my daughter thought it would be fun to make him a coupon book filled with thoughtful goodies such as extra chores around the house. Until she remembered that in a book she read, the parent made photocopies of the coupons. Brilliant right? I chuckled so hard that my daughter asked (begged): “Are you going to put that in Five Little Things? Please? Please?” So there you go.

4. Cuba’s Secret Side

When it comes to fascinating countries that I have not yet visited, Cuba is one of them. Last night we watched an interesting documentary, it’s really worth a watch if you have time!

5. Mirrors

Some people know that in my past, I used to sing. My college acapella group celebrated its 25th Anniversary with a huge concert this year, and while I wasn’t able to go, my heart was there. Any time I hear a remarkable acapella arrangement, I still get excited, and here’s one that is quite impressive.

Have a fantastic weekend, everyone! May it be filled with sweet treats and good music!

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Post tags: acapella, birthdays, Cuba's Secret Side, cupcakes, Five Little Things, Justin Timberlake, Mirrors, SusieCakes

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