Cooking is my waterloo! Much as I'm ashamed to admit it, it's true. It's very ironic since I'm a kapampangan (from pampanga) and Pampanga is just the Philippines' Culinary capital! Oh well, that adds to my list of eccentricities. haha.

Growing up in a family where mom seldom cooks (because she had to manage her shoe business), I had to just swallow whatever's on the plate. Yaya's cooking sucks most of the time. No wonder why I didn't take delight in eating, much less cooking.

And now being a wife and mom, I'm exposing myself to recipes and cooking shows - for my family's sake. Seeing how the seemingly 'talented' chefs do their craft delights me. Makes me so envious! I just wanna scan their brains so I could copy their descriminating palate and cooking abilities. Oh, if only I could only have a synchronized tongue-and-mind telling me what and how much of this and that should be in this kind of food!

Being a full time mom gives me the chance to learn more in this weakness of mine. Add to it, the time to expose my kids to cooking, which I never had as a child. My boys are so curious when it comes to cooking. Junior Master Chef Australia is one of their favorites. That's why I was delighted when I first heard that we have a pinoy version of the show.

Last August 20 and August 27, we watched the first and second episodes of Junior MasterChef Pinoy Edition. My boys were more excited than I was. The participants are amazing! Watching how those little kids could cook more dishes than I can, made me even envier. One of the secrets they revealed why kids their age can cook well is that they have moms who teach them. So Josiah told me "mommy teach me how to cook, ok?". When I heard him, I was like poured with cold water! Now my kid is asking me to teach him, when I could hardly make a gourmet dish.. argh! I really felt him! That's the same thing I hoped for as a kid. So I hugged him and said, "yeah I will teach you...". As I was hugging him, in my heart I had a prayer, "God, please help me in this area where I feel weakest. I'll start with the little that I have, please bless it".
It's my deepest desire to help my kids excel in what they desire to do- even if it entails more effort in doing so. :)


Here's the trailer of Junior MasterChef Pinoy Edition - The Appetizer (Aug 20, 2011)

Josiah's school is celebrating July as Nutrition Month. Part of their activities is a school tour to a local Pizza Hut restaurant. The kids will have their chance to make their own pizza. Excited mom that I am, I asked the teacher to let my youngest son to take part of the tour. He's salimpusa (extra) haha!

Josiah and Yosef all geared up, ready to make pizza!

Happy and excited Josiah :)

Josiah joined the "I love Pizza Huuuuut" contest. He made a long 4 seconds, haha!

Curious kids let their hands feel the fridge that contains the dough.

Josiah keenly looks at the recipes as he listens to the Pizza Hut manager's instructions.

The most awaited moment, he's making the pizza!

His classmates excitedly poured the final topping, pineapple. But Josiah managed to make a pretty presentation by neatly putting the pineapples over the ham. Maarte talaga!

Yosef's pizza's quite a mess, but he really enjoyed the moment. He kept sayin, "more"... toppings.

Delighted Josiah happily posing as he saw his baked pizza.

Yosef's equally excited to eat his creation.

From Pizza Hut to our house, they wore their toque and apron. Just goes to show how they enjoyed their very first school tour- The Pizza Hut tour. Josiah thinks he's now a chef.

The world we live today is overwhelmed with chemical-based products, artificially preserved foods, and synthetic drugs that do us more harm than good. While modern advancement aims to provide comfort, hassle-free, instant use of just about any human use and consumption, we are more than ever, exposed to junk, toxins and carcinogens. No wonder why our life span now is getting shorter. My grandparents died in their late 70's. I can only imagine up to what age I, or my kids will actually live if I will just let my family continue to be exposed to these 'killing-me-softly' products.

Good thing is, as much as we are exposed to the unnatural products, there is a growing awareness of health consciousness. More and more people are shifting to organic, natural, and chemical-free products. Now we are going back to basics.

I got curious when I saw Lifestyle Network show's Grow Your Own Drugs teaser. So I watched the show and every second was worth it. The show's packed with information on what plants/herbs are good as remedies and beauty treats, where to usually find them, and the must-know how-to's. Ethnobotanist James Wong knowledgeably hosts the show.

How I envy him! I'm awed at how vast his knowledge is of these amazing, God-given plants. Oh how can I not be? I never tried planting one, not until recently. I grew some plants on my plant box and I don't even know the names of these plants I planted. I am pathetic, harhar!

But it's never too late to grow my own drugs/plants. I'll start planting my own herbs. In the Philippines, some herbs are rarely planted. As far as I know, the only herb commonly planted here is oregano. I might wanna give it a shot for some basil, rosemary and thyme and mint for a start. :)

    Juliet:
    "What's in a name? That which we call a rose
    By any other name would smell as sweet."
    Romeo and Juliet (II, ii, 1-2)

A thing is always recognized by it's name. Vivid impression whether good or bad, is visualized in our minds when a certain name is heard of.

No wonder why, at the mention of some super brands, our ears extend to hear, our eyes light up, and we giggle with excitement.

That's the power of branding.

The name or brand dictates the amount of patronizers. When my hubby opened Q-Zone Detailing Center, a car wash and detailing center in Pampanga, he had no other detailing product in mind than Meguiar's Car Care Products. Why Meguiar's? Well, It's been on the business for so long -since 1901. It's been kicking that long, and has evolved to the detailing giant it is now. Of course, my hubby wants to lay his ground on what's tried and tested for years, thus making his Q-Zone Detailing Center known for using the best product.

Last May, at the 20th Trans Sport Show at the SMX Convention Center, hubby got the chance to meet Barry Meguiar in person. Barry Meguiar is the President and CEO of the Meguiar's car care product empire. And he hosts Car Crazy Central, Speed Channel's television series about automotive enthusiasts. Hubby was so overwhelmed! It's a once in a lifetime opportunity.

Enthused hubby and brother with Mr. Barry Meguiar

Mr. Barry Meguiar signing for Q-Zone Detailers, my hubby's detailing center.

Every home, specially if there are kids, should have a handy first aid kit. It pays to be prepared when accidents happen. Mine include mostly for the kids' needs.

Here it is:

It includes:

• Thermometer
• Gauze and adhesive tape - for cuts, wounds.
  
• adhesive bandage - aka Band-aid
• Herbal cough syrup - Vitex Negudo L. Lagundi Leaf - Brand name: Ascof - for relief from mild cough, naturally.
  
• Paracetamol- for fever.

• Tetrahydrozoline HCl- Brand Name: Eye Mo. Eye drop for relief of eye redness & common eye irritations.
• Povidone Iodine - Brand name : Betadine. This is a topical antiseptic  for cleaning minor cuts and wounds.
  

Nobody gets more excited in a kid's first day of school than his/her mom. Today is my eldest son's first day at school. He always say he's excited but today he woke up late, haha. He got tired from last night's malling.

Yesterday, we were oriented that we leave the kids and just go back to fetch them, thus laying their independence as school kids. I'm proud of my son, he didn't show any sign of fear as I leave him. His biggest classmate cried frantically as he saw his yaya leave the room. He got wild! But nah, we can't laugh at the kid. I remember when I was their age, I would cry so hard so my mom won't leave me. Scared me, but brave Josiah. :)

Who wouldn't want intelligent kids? I'm sure every parent would want their kids intellectually stimulated, and logically leveled. My hubby bumped into Grolier agents a few months ago and enthusiastically told me about these educational tools. So we went again to the mall to check on them. We agreed on purchasing two educational tools that will be of mind stimulating and logic foundation building to our two boys' active brain synapses.

These are Logico (Primo and Picollo) and Fun Thinkers. These are educational tools that makes learning fun, not burdensome. These are attractive, well organized and easy to use. The Logico comes in series, Primo and Picollo. We chose Logico Primo because our boys are still preschoolers. We must admit, they're pricey but it will be worth it. We both believe that we should invest in every tool available to sustain and nurture our kid's growing minds. 

Grolier Logico Primo is for Logic enhancement for preschoolers (ages 3-6 years old). It is designed to develop skills in visual discrimination, pattern awareness, sorting & classifying, sequencing, number sense, and letter recognition while the child is having fun playing with the Logico board game. In short, it helps improve the child's IQ while having fun.

Look at how my eldest son's face light up every time he answers all items perfectly. :)

Grolier Fun Thinkers is an easy matching game. Comes with a board game with 16 tiles and 10 books.

Even my two-year old son enjoys his Grolier Fun Thinkers matching board game. He doesn't have a clue that he's actually learning, and enhancing his thinking skills. All he knows, he's having fun! :)

Playtime is learning time. Or should I say, learning time is play time. LOL. Isn't that fun to know?

Six years ago, I was a June bride! My longing to be one was granted, thank You Lord! Any girl would dream of the perfect moment to be wed to the object of desire, her very own prince.

Time flies so fast that I couldn't even believe it was already 2186 days with hubby. Yeah 2186 days of happily ever after. 'Ever after' doesn't mean the much fantasized 'perfect' relationship. It's a concoction of life's sweet moments, bitter truths, sour experiences, salty situations. After all these years, I've come into conclusion that no one can really be happily married unless there's a love triangle with God. God should be involved - the Center, that is.  I can't fully love hubby (and vice versa) if it were not for God's loving example and sustenance.

Happy 6th anniversary, hon! Looking forward to growing old with you, and you alone.  ;-)

Parents must always be aware of what their kids are watching. We are bombarded daily with shows that showcase violence, sex, greed, or even lightly put - naughtiness and trash talk. I was alarmed when my eldest son uttered the word 'stupid'. We never use the word, nor other immediate members of the family my kid interacts with. No, not from school because he's not yet attending school when I heard him say the word. Where could he have heard it if it were not from some cartoons. I only let him watch cartoons when he's alone while I'm doing my household chores.

Cartoons should be for kids. But the way they are put, they hardly reflect values that should be inculcated to budding, innocent minds. The words sucker, dumb, stupid, looser are not for kids (neither are for adults as well). Sadly and frustrating, cartoons do use such. Sponge Bob Square Pants is one. There are even frequent slapping, attacking, and bullying like those from Tom and Jerry, Tweety, and even Mickey Mouse shows. I don't know why cartoons are not being regulated as to the use of language and content.

There are  just a few cartoons left that go for what they were made to be. But they're for preschoolers only. These are Nickelodeon shows, Nick Jr. cartoons. These are aired in the Philippines through the Nickelodeon Channel every morning, weekdays.

These Nick Jr's preschool shows promote social and thinking skills through playful entertainment and connected learning.

• Blue's Clues
• Wonder Pets
• Bubble Guppies
• Umi Zoomi
• Dora the Explorer
• Go, Diego Go!
• Ni Hao Kai-lan
  

But what about post preschool stage? I've been on the look for good grade-school and up cartoons but left disappointed because I can't find even just one ideal show that promotes right values and use no foul language.

In the meantime, while my kids are still preschoolers, I'll make most out of these preschool cartoons. After this stage, I shall continue my search for shows that will be of benefit, rather than pollute my kids' minds.

I've always loved zen minimalist structures and interiors. Be it an office space, a house or a condo unit. I love the good use of every space. Every inch of space is maximized by good layout and minimal but multi-functional furniture and decor . Every square meter counts. This means more space to wander around. Clean and uncluttered pieces create a calm environment which adds elegance to the seamless style. The house below is an epitome of a zen house.

I was like, "eureka!" when I saw this zen house on the internet. It's architectural detail is so amazing as far as the layout is concerned. It takes an architectural genius to turn a very small and unusual space to good and complete function. This is a pentagonal  house design in Tsuhima, a small village in the vicinity of Nagoya, Japan. Designed by Kazuya Morita Architecture Studio.

I've had the chance to be at Nagoya, Japan years back. Too bad I didn't see this house when I was there. This could have made my business trip perfect.

Layout of the zen Pentagonal house. It has dining as it's center room, uniting all other rooms.

View of the living room and the bed room. Ofcourse the bedroom has a door, haha!

Bedroom - so simple yet funtional and tasteful.

Entrance views of the house.

Center 'Dining room' and entrance area.

Living room with view of the dining, kitchen and entrance.

My favorite. You don't need a complex kitchen for it to be functional. Space is so maximized.

Simplicity is beauty, even in bathrooms. ;)

Top view of the house amidst other Japanese houses.

Exterior view of the house. So small yet so elegant.

I soo like this house. *giggly*