Lapu-lapu is one of our favorite fish. It's in the top of the list when we order from Chinese restaurants since they are live and best served steamed. I used to watch my mother and my Cantonese gwa-kong (maternal grandpa) prepare this delicious dish and enjoyed by family members. So, whenever I get a chance to have fresh lapu-lapu, I try to make this recipe, no special occasion required.
Hey all! My Mom-Friday is still alive and active, heehee... just haven't been blogging as much as I used to. So, for today, I'll be sharing something that I've been using for a few months now, and it truly deserves a blog feature. Tiger Tacook JBX Rice Cooker -- the multi-tasking, multi-use, micro computer controlled rice cooker from Japan!
It's been ages since my last Mom-Cook blog feature and I apologize for being too lazy to write lately. Blogging has taken a back seat for me, but I will try to continue to share content that are hopefully interesting and entertaining for you. I just realized na mag- 10 years old na ang My Mom-Friday this May!!! Nakatagal din pala ako, all thanks to you who still visit and read my blog. THANK YOU! Anyhow, today's catch-up post is all about this delicious turnover I made for the first time. It was a hit-- the girl loved it, so I thought it's worthy of a space here.
Every December, when I was still working, I always look forward to my Christmas bonus. Siyempre after 12 months of toiling, year-end bonuses are the icing on the cake talaga. While I am no longer working, I still earn from projects that come my way, and of course, ang bonus ni husband ang inaabangan namin, heehee! Having something extra to look forward to this month, I already try to plan on how we can spend wisely, and how we can surprise our family and friends as we share our blessings.
I think we can all agree na mas magastos talaga pag holiday season, so we should always find ways for our hard-earned money to go a long way. After covering all the basic needs, how do we spend our extra from year-end bonuses? Here are the usual suspects, in no particular order:
Travel
Jewelry
Gadgets
Pampering services
Fine dining
Surprise gifts for the family
Home improvements
Specialty foods and beverages
After watching this fun and entertaining video by our Star for All Seasons, Vilma Santos, and his lucky boy Luis, I am reminded that as a homemaker, I need to be frugal and always discerning when it comes to spending. Para laging may extra pa to save and to surprise our loved ones as we create memories with them!
You should watch and share this video to know what I mean. =) Nakakatuwa itong PUREGOLD "concert" with #ViLucky!
While there are times when we like to splurge on certain things, most often, I want value-for-money with my purchases, even with my groceries. This is always the case when we shop at PUREGOLD, always panalo! Sulit na sulit kasi when I buy our dry goods there, especially when in bulk. I know a lot of people who make PUREGOLD their shopping destination because of the amazing deals they can find. It's a one-stop-shop too. Kaya this Christmas, let's all make the most of what we have and share with our families. Pasko na! PUREGOLD na! =)
Be sure to like and follow Puregold to get updates:
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Monday, June 4, was our last day in El Nido and I didn't want to leave. Bitin eh, and it rained pa the first two days. We wanted to stay for four days, but Lagen island resort was fully booked before and after our three-day stay, so too bad for us. But we are still so thankful that everything went well, and the sun finally shone brightly that morning, with the bluest of skies and fluffy white clouds.
When it comes to makeup, I've always stuck with the bare essentials. I can live on just face powder, and lip color. It was only two years ago that I've come to appreciate eyebrow pencils and liners. I got hooked on K-Palette Lasting 2-way Eyebrow Pens, and eventually had eyebrow microblading from Skin House Beauty and Laser Clinic. Mascara, eyeliners, and blush powder are reserved for events and special occasions. With blushers, my skin tend to feel drier when I use them. Then a few weeks ago, I was able to try for the first time the cream cheek tints from K-Palette. I'm in love!
I have a confession: I consider grocery time as "me time". Feel ko talaga mag-grocery shopping mag-isa coz I find it relaxing while I take my time browsing through the aisles, comparing prices, and discovering new products and good deals. Marami niyan sa Puregold 'coz they priced their goods at more affordable prices. I even made hashtags #MomGrocer and #MomFindsPH because aside from eating, I truly enjoy going to the supermarket. Mana ata ako sa mama ko, eat and shop, heehee. But, there are days when my kids make it more fun to shop too, kasi I learn about their preferences. Sometimes, they even surprise me by picking out grocery items they know I like and what we need for home. That's always panalo for me!
I never imagined I would be able to do flying trapeze. I wasn't even aware there's a rig here in the metro until recently. If I wasn't doing pilates, baka hindi ko kinaya ito, hehehe. But I did suspension pilates, and I know I can hang and do inversions, so I literally took the leap and went for it. Together with my pilates buddies and our kids, we booked a private class last week and had a nerve-wracking and exhilarating experience.
Dressing up kids 9 to 14 is not the easiest task. I mean, as big kids, they have already developed their own tastes and preferences, so nahihirapan na akong pumili for them. Many times, I buy something that end up not being worn. There are only a handful of shops that sell stylish clothes that cater to this specific age group so that's another challenge for me as a mom with a tween and a teen. One brand that got my approval is ZIPPY Kidstore from Portugal.
She took home the coral color of that white embroidered blouse, and this denim jacket with matching jeans
Our favorite styles of bags are tote and backpack. These styles are the most functional and practical styles for my family's everyday use, like for work and school, and even of travel. While we already own a few that we use and abuse, I an continuously on the look-out for bags that would serve the different needs and functionalities that will our busy and active lifestyle, especially for the kids. My latest discovery is this Japanese bag brand that carries both styles w love, and they are finally available here! From Tokyo to Manila, let's welcome ROOTOTE!
Because we all love garlic and we all eat chicken, I always have these in my kitchen. Always. While there are sooooo many ways to cook this staple meat at home, I always end up serving the most simple ones to prepare. Siyempre, nandiyan lagi ang pambansang manok - Magnolia Chicken, whole dressed chicken or in choice cuts for specific dishes I plan to cook.
Last Friday of the month: Beauty / Skin Care I have a very basic, fuss-free skin care regimen. The simpler the better. If you've been a long time follower of my blog, you would know that I just stick with the bare essentials when it comes to skin care and makeup products. As I hit 40, I've noticed my skin has become drier and more sensitive. While I tried different brands to find the right combination for my current skin condition, I still maintain a 3-step approach to skin care which consists of a soap-free cleanser, exfoliant, moisturizer. I am still not consistent with applying eye cream though. Most recently, I added this amazing micellar water to my regimen.
As a bearer of good news, I'm so excited to announce that SMART is spreading more love this season by showering us with lots and lots of surprises! Open a different surprise every week until January 2017. Seriously, umuulan talaga ng free trips, amazing products and services from Smart, kaya register now to enjoy #SmartLove!
Prizes at stake:
Fly off to Indonesia and Singapore to watch concerts
with DJ Snake, Zedd, Yuna and Guns N' Roses!
Hangout session with JaDine
Free data, discounts on Lazada, Uber, Zalora and more
Smart Love Promo Mechanics
Open to all Smart Prepaid, Postpaid & Broadband subscribers.
Promo is from November 15, 2016 to January 15, 2017.
Every week, SMART will announce a reward /set of rewards that will be open for redemption.
Subscribers may choose to receive any of the available weekly rewards
Smart Prepaid & Broadband Prepaid must have loaded at least P50 at the start of the week to claim 1 reward
Smart Postpaid & Broadband Postpaid accounts are currently active
Accounts that can still make incoming and outgoing calls, text, and data, regardless of account treatment in terms of credit limit and payment status
There is no required number of rewards points to join.
There will be 2 portions for the promo:
Raffle and Reward
Claiming of Rewards is not required to be able to join the Raffle, nor is it required to join the Raffle to be able to claim Rewards.
Subscribers may choose among the available raffle/s to join and rewards for the week (as detailed in the website)
For the trips to Indonesia and Singapore, subscriber must align with the following requirements to enter:
Must be at least 18 years old to join
Must have an existing passport valid for 6 months from date of concert
Dial *888 for Smart subscribers if there are any concerns regarding this promotional activity
Watch and see what's in store for you from #SmartLove
RAFFLE
To join the raffle, subscriber must first register using the following format:
Smart Subscribers: Text SMARTLOVE<space>REG<space>NAME/AGE/ADDRESS to 9999
For Smart Broadband Subscribers, follow these steps:
Connect your gadget to your Smart Bro Pocket WiFi
Open a web browser and access your Device Settings page. Type: www.smartbrosettings.net
To login and type smartbro for both username and password.
Check the menu on the left side of the interface, and click on the SMS function—new message.
Text SMARTLOVE<space>REG<space>NAME/AGE/ADDRESS to 9999
Registration is free of charge and may only be done once, but will be eligible for ALL raffles.
Additional raffle points may be earned via the following:
Smart Prepaid & Smart Bro Prepaid: Every increment of P50 is equivalent to 1 raffle entry
Smart Postpaid & Smart Bro Postpaid: Every increment of P50 based on monthly service fee is equivalent to 1 raffle entry.
This is a very early Christmas treat from SMART so take advantage of this opportunity, share the love, and feel the spirit of giving from #SmartLOVE!
Note:
Video and image from SMART.
I'd love to know your thoughts on this post. If you enjoyed this, feel free to share it! Get instant updates: My Mom-Friday on Facebook Follow @mymomfriday onTwitter,Instagram and Snapchat Also on Google Friend Connect, or Subscribe Via Email. I try my best to reply and answer any questions you may have on each entry so check back if you've left one. Thank you and do visit again! (Comments with links will automatically be flagged by Disqus.)
Let's get down to business. I don't know any other way to tell you about this new innovation that brings relief in the toilet. It's not actually a pleasant topic to talk about but I know it's worth sharing. I know many have the same health concerns. Are you constipated like me? Aside from having enough fiber and fluid intake, a proper sitting position in the toilet will help make elimination faster and smoother, and there's a scientific explanation for that.
When August came around, there have been so many new stuff to try, and the hottest of which is the worldwide phenomenon -- PokemonGo. Naturally, J and the kids immediately got the app as soon as it was launched in the country last August 6. It was a Saturday, so the kids were too happy to be able to register their own accounts and started playing with the rest of the world. Two days earlier, I was the one excited to try Instagram Stories, the latest feature on this popular social media platform.
Last Friday of the month: Mom-Finds / Cookware As a home cook, I am the one who makes decisions when it comes to what kitchen appliances and cookware to purchase. Aside from aesthetics, the product features, ease of use, and price points are my main considerations before I buy. One of my trusted brands is Korean brand Lock & Lock. I've been using their food keepers and tumblers even before I got married, and in recent years, they also introduced several lines of cookware, a few of which I have also acquired and use on a daily basis. So a new addition to my "collection" is always received with much delight. My latest discovery is their Hard & Light frying pan which I am showing off here. =)
"I want to be a famous YouTuber." That's what my son tells me. Aside from wanting to be an artist when he grows up, he also wants to create his own video games and share them online. But he still needs to learn how to create better-quality content and learn coding. Even the girl is into YouTube tutorials and toy shows. Nung panahon ko, TV is our main medium when it comes to entertainment and information. Nowadays, YouTube and other social media channels rule. Good thing, SMART recognizes the creativity of the Filipino youth kaya they recently unveiled #OwnIt -- a campaign to empower the youth to pursue their passions, channel their creativity, and broadcast their talents to the world via SMART Launchpad.
With fellow #SMARTmoms @mommyfleur, @mommymundo, @manilamommy
My lifestyle has evolved in a major way as I hit 40. It's only now that I took notice and appreciated all these changes in my life as a forty-three-year-old wife, and mother of the boy and the girl. I'm not going to turn serious here ha, but rather finding humor in the simple joys and pleasures that I've been experiencing lately, thanks to a change in perspective and channeling the law of attraction. Good vibes only, okay. It really works!
TOYCON 2016 was wild! Thanks to Smart, my family was able to attend the biggest toy and pop-culture convention in the country today. It was just so much fun for my kids to see larger-than-life toys, cosplayers walking around, and amazing collectibles from local and international exhibits.
May is special for me mainly because we celebrate motherhood this month and it's also my blog's anniversary every Mother's Day. For my blog, I really don't plan anything special but simply thank my readers and friends for the continuous support. As for Mother's Day, we usually dine out for lunch and treat the grandmothers as well. But what I love most are all the gifts and pampering I receive as mom's day weekend approaches, heehee! =)
Bonding and shopping at Hunt & Gather Festival
Mother's Day weekend:
I love all the gifts that came from flowers to chocolates, accessories and even matching Lock & Lock Horoscope Tumblers for me and my girl. More on that towards the end of this story.
Saturday -- my family had a simple lunch at a pizza place. Afterwards, the boys went home and my girl and I went to the first Hunt & Gather Nutrition and Fitness Festival in Glorietta, celebrating "Strong Moms". We snacked on vegan ice cream, coconut juice and bought myself a new pair of grip socks for my pilates class. Our spanking new tumblers came with us too.
Having her with me at the event was really fun as we bonded over yummy food and shopping. I told her na Mother's Day gift na nya sa akin yon, being with me that day. I always tell her that I like shopping with her and that she's my foodie buddy whenever we go out and travel since we both enjoy eating and appreciate good food. She agrees! =)
Aside from being foodies, I also like that we get to dress up in similar looks from time to time, or what millennials would call "twinning". Here's one example, where she observed that we have matching looks and our colors are in reverse daw.
Sunday -- Mother's Day, we had lunch with the grannies and as expected, we both enjoyed our orders, especially the decadent and sinful molten chocolate cake that we shared. Watch these short video clips and see what I'm talking about. =)
Sumptuous Sunday lunch with family.
Sharing dessert of molten chocolate cake!
Now, going back to my Mother's Day gifts... best surprise I got was a pair of Lock & Lock stainless steel tumblers for me and M!!! Woo-hoo! Naturally, we brought them with us to the festival at the mall.
SRP : Php 1,149.75
You know what's fascinating? M has been curious about astrology and horoscopes for the past few months. She's been asking me about our signs, the meaning and the symbols behind each one. Lo and behold, Lock & Lock, one of our trusted and favorite house ware brands, sent us their Horoscope Tumblers based on our astrological signs! What a coincidence and a wonderful surprise! I tell you, the stars have aligned for us on Mother's Day. =)
Here's M, resting by the stage with our handsome royal blue horoscope tumblers at the event, of course her LPS toys came with us too.
Capricorn for this January celebrant, and Pisces for me.
What we love about Lock&Lock Tumblers
Ideal to keep hot or cold drinks -- 400ml
Tumblers are vacuum insulated and keep drinks hot or cold for at least 6 hours
From the time we left the house for the festival until that evening, my leftover water was still cold after 8 hours
M did not drink too much and forgot about her tumbler until the next day -- 24 hours and her water remained cold!
Slim stainless steel body with polished royal blue metallic color and constellation design
Secure plastic lid with seal, removable mouth ring and rubber gasket
Mouth ring design controls flow of water while drinking, prevents spills even in a moving vehicle
Non-slip rubber base
I stopped buying plastic bottles for years now and switched to glass or stainless, so these Lock & Lock stainless steel tumblers are prefect for us. Basta kasya sa bag ko, we always bring water bottles whenever we go out.
Thank you, Lock & Lock for this super cool mom's day gift! Matching clothes and now may matching tumblers na with M! I have to thank my lucky stars too! =)
Get the latest product updates from Lock & Lock on Facebook and Instagram:
Shop for your Lock & Lock tumblers and food containers at these Lock&Lock Stores:
Eastwood
Fisher Mall
Shangri-La East Wing
Alabang Town Center
Glorietta 4
BF Paranaque
Megastate Bldg. - Araneta Ave.
I'd love to know your thoughts on this post. If you enjoyed this, feel free to share it! Get instant updates: My Mom-Friday on Facebook Follow @mymomfriday onTwitter,Instagram and Snapchat Also on Google Friend Connect, or Subscribe Via Email. I try my best to reply and answer any questions you may have on each entry so check back if you've left one. Thank you and do visit again!(Comments with links will automatically be flagged by Disqus.)
