Live Life to the Fullest – Epilogue of Meaningful Life Adventure

“Life is always a competition. One has to always accept, assess and never stop to improve all challenging endeavor that goes along the way. From there, learn what is lacking and never repeat the same mistakes again.”

Last Saturday, Oct. 30, family were very busy busy waking up early in the morning as the kids were so excited with their anticipated cheer competition.

Actually, there were last minute adjustments on the kids’ activity schedule that prevented me to attend a food event in the South which I will be the judge.   Definitely, I choose them more than anything else even there were regretful feeling.

With the preparation, they were more than stress than me. I let them do all as I watched them – from their costume, their hair style and most especially their moves.

This is my eldest daughter, Regina Jane or Jeng for short.  She is a beauty and love to pose a lot. Their warrior theme complimented the costume.  She is always a stand-out ever since when it comes to dancing.

My youngest daughter is Jane Roxanne which we fondly called her Jam. We noticed she got taller.  Haay, no matter what they say, she will always be my cute little baby.  She amazed us also with those dance moves that a lady can performed.

My children did not won in the cheering competition.  I have felt their failure when they started to complain and compare what had happened to the extent of being so expressive to voice out to us the unfair judgement  on the winning results. They felt they were cheated.  I know they were drained and understand they were tired to complained.

What we did was to treat them to dinner and while eating, these are some of our advices to them as we share our insights:

• One must be willing to let go.  There is still more life still waiting for tomorrow.

• There are always chances to improve and one has not to stop to achieve because everyday is an opportunity.

• Life is always a competition.  One has to always accept, assess and never stop to improve all challenging endeavor that goes along the way.  From there, learn what is lacking and never repeat the same mistakes again.

One of my key indicators which made me living life to its fullest is seeing my children happy to where they are now.  Me and hubby are satisfied to the joys they were giving to us – good scholastic grades in the academe, achievers with their extra-curricular activities, doing household chores but most of all being respectful to us.   Sometimes they become also independent and took actions if they think it is the right thing to do.

But despite of their free will to decide as they grow, we parents stand on their side no matter what – ready to assist and advise them.   Later on, they will become more stronger on what they are capable of.

Really my children gone a long, long way…I am just proud of their achievement.  They got a medal as they won on the sports they have join during the sportsfest competition.  For me, this is enough!

Even they did not won in the cheering competition, they will always be a winner.   Their effort eating their heart out performing and compete will always be a big deal if they survive the test of life.

What more I can say, I just love you guys and keep up the best shot, ever!

“Life’s own treasure are amazing simple moments yet precious pleasures to rekindle great relationships with the family”

Long ago, me and hubby love to watch new movies at the theater. There were times we have to limit going out because of the high ticket theater price and at the same time, eating in a fancy restaurant after watching the movie.  We have to think ways to save also and  what more, to be practical nowadays.

One way to do it was to watch movies at home at your own television, a DVD player and maybe hooked up in our  sound system  to make it more sound theatrical.  We also love to listen to music together and appreciate different genre.

But how can you rekindle relationships with these simple activities like watching or simply listening to the music together:

• Even you will be staring on the screen for two hours or just simply listening, you can have a topics to discuss and to open to
• Preparing all together your snacks like popcorn and pizza before watching is one way to keep in touch with the family members
• Strongest connection only happens if you alone with the family as you tight your bond with them, boosting also their confidence because kids know you will always be there for them

There were tons of titles to choose from.  One reliable retailer store with excellent quality our family can recommended and trusted where we buy original movie titles/audio CD is Astrovision.

Astrovision got this cool, latest, up-beat and hard-to-find collection titles varying from movies, music and to add it more, gadgets that would suit each lifestyle.

I just found this one at Astrovision – the Beatles collection all in one set and what more the ABBA music.

I am in 80′s generation.  Definitely I will go back to purchase Rick Astley/Toto and add this to our family collection of music. LOL! I still vividly remembered I have these in my cassette tapes.

For almost 20 years,  hubby made it a point to buy one movie title to add up to family collections. We got this library of original VHS and cassette tapes for almost a thousands.  We ended up selling all those titles in a lower price as the the hype of CD/VCD/DVD come along and when we decided to transferred our home.  It was a bit saddened but that is all about.

Until now, Astrovision live up to our expectations and has been our video store to run every time we love to purchase one.   Good thing, they have 54 branches nationwide and visible to every mall in the metro. Here is the facebook fan page link – http://www.facebook.com/Astroplus1.

I know originals are quite costly but these are some of our tips how to value your money more when getting movie titles and audio cd:

• Purchase movie titles that were blockbusters and timeless where you will not be tired to watch it over and over again.  Buy those in series like Indiana Jones, Star Wars, Happy Potter, James Bond, etc.

• Be aware with the quarterly sale of the store where prices dropped off almost 70% on the original price

Again, take every moment of your time to schedule  quality time with the family.  Family bonding is essential in building trust, harmony and strong family ties.  You maybe surprise to know that every second keeping in touch and the moment you spent your precious moments  is a  life’s treasure. Living life to the fullest.

“Welcome the real love that may already be just there”

This is my official entry for Certified Foodies First Anniversary Giveaway.

I am kinda excited because this is my first time to try a contest like this one especially if I also love the blog that I am also reading like Certified Foodies and the persons behind it with Mhel and Khen. Seeing them both makes me missed also my younger brother abroad who was been my partner in crime in cooking.

I have also many to share in terms of food craving.  Our family, relatives, friends and colleagues gathered for one common purpose  – to impart good food with good company which is a good combination for a healthy relationship.  This is a sort of rejuvenating yet reminiscing good times together.

So here is my entry – a buffet experience in Shangrila Edsa and Makati taken this August 2011 – first and last week of the month.

It was very seldom when hubby will go to the metro. One thing for sure, he will just go here for seminar, conference, meetings or urgent matters for work reasons.  He will never wasting time traveling if it is not that important.

This is something to look for…After the dreaded rainy, sunny day out, jam-pack audiences and so much learning in the convention, both of us finally took a break and splurge ourselves with a dinner buffet. Its been a very long while when we have moments with me and hubby. It is about time to take those sweet chances, I may say…

Actually, we took advantage of this opportunity, documented it as we reach our more matured relationship, I may say.

Ever since, we love exploring places and if budget permitted it, we ate and savor all the goodness of being together with the food we love to share. Its funny that before we indulge with this moment, hubby will compute if it was really worth it and the most, we really compromised if we deserved an expensive dinner like this one.

There were times in our lives we regret something we crave for and saying to ourselves why not try it since we were already in the area. So we have learn our lessons.

We rather see how our hard earned money will definitely spent out especially if both of us are doing our ass of hard work every time, the most 24/7 we were doing projects we were engaged in.

This is the beauty of life after all.  We have to live it to the fullest and enjoy as long that we can while we are still young.

Now here is our buffet experience with the first one – Edsa Shanrila Heat.

A totally splendid gastronomic experience.  LOL, that is only I can say!  For the month of August, a celebration of flavors entails a team of 10 chefs from different parts of the world and the finest Filipino culinary talent which combined the best authentic Asian and Continental cuisine.

Expect an “eat around the world” as the choices of buffet food are endless.

Ruel, my hubby took a lot of pictures as this one is already a festive to his eyes.  There were also interactive cooking for each station that will be a gusto to our palette.

Price for the dinner buffet is P 1,500+++ or P 1,692.63 to be exact.

More pictures here – Heat of Shangrila Edsa:

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150295654528534.354155.574253533&l=52b2964b74&type=1

For more info of Heat at Shangrila Edsa, here is the link:

http://www.shangri-la.com/en/property/manila/edsashangrila/dining/restaurant/heat

Since this is also a Mid-Autumn Festival for Mooncake at Shang-rila, personally, have tried the free food taste that they offered.

I crave for moonbake “ang sossy hopia”, LOL!  I tasted all the five flavorful varieities – White Lotus, Red Bean, Mixed Nuts, Green Tea and Chest Nut.  The verdict!   I still love the Red Bean because the combination of the red bean is just right for the sweetness.  Now I need a tea!

More pictures here with this link:

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150295016968534.353952.574253533&l=7429fc116f&type=1

During our food sharing, this is also the time we talked everything under the sun.

Yes, we were always together at home. But everyday at home, sometimes at kiosk when everybody especially in the morning where all of us busy going to work/school preparing and the most, we arrived late at night were all of us will just like to sleep and rest at all.  We usually got a talked thru text messages or phone calls  if we have concerns to accommodate.

It is different still to have bonding moments once a week with one another especially your loved ones where you talked personally to each other, plan things out or anything that you can share, as in anything.

There were times I can say we have heated discussion but it is just ok. At least thru this personal communication between us, we control, clarify and understand some sort of arguments.  Again, as I put it with my other posts, even we have spent almost 20 years being together, we were not a perfect couple.

Another one we tried was Circles of Shang-rila Makati where hubby was having a seminar and asked me if I like to dropped by since I was just near the area.

Anyway, here I was, waiting for him at the hotel lobby, sitting at their sofa.  LOL! Feeling I was just in our living room here on how I seated.  That was I am comfortable with the place.  Hubby even caught me here and take pictures.

We were quite apprehended to tried this one because here again, hubby was computing the budget.  I told him this will be credited to my next billing statement using our mastercard.  Again since we were already here, we splurged and goofed out.

We availed the themed buffet which is Filipino fiesta and what more we noticed compared to Shang-rila Edsa was the interaction of the chefs while we were touring here, introducing each cuisines with us.  This is more customer-relationship bonding, I may say.  Mind you, young chefs were cute.

 

 

 

 

The price is more or less the same with Heat – P 1,500+++ or P 1,692.63 to be exact.

More pictures here – Circles of Shangrila Makati:

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150314720628534.359871.574253533&l=57fc975ab4&type=1

For more info on Circles at Shangrila Makati, here is the link:

http://www.shangri-la.com/en/property/manila/makatishangrila/dining/restaurant/circleseventcafe

Some tips in enjoying buffet:

• We usually avoid carb foods like rice, pasta, sushi.  We got only few of it.
• We go for foods we do not eat everyday like lamb, steaks, ribs, fish like salmon and varieties of sea foods to taste
• While touring, we ate piece by piece on hand some of their desserts
• Savor the taste of each food, tasting it pieces by pieces, the most enjoyed it
• Definitely, go there with empty stomach, LOL, just to make worth of the price tag

For my beh, Ruel Umali:

Have enjoy the night, babe…Its a sort of breather as we were cropped up with soooo much to do – at home and at work. Now its time to face them…Thanks for those simple yet short but great moments …

Yes, it is really a breather. We just promised to ourselves to do this often.

I would also like to end this post by sharing share this thought I got from Ms. Aileen Santos of How to Find Your True Love facebook fan page:

Very often, it isn’t true that love is missing in our lives.
Most of the time we just fail to recognize it when it’s there,
because we expect it to come in a specific form,
or come from a specific person.

In order to truly find the love we need,
we must often let go of how we think love “should be,”
and be ready to Recognize;
Welcome the Real Love that may already be just there.

Yes, I just found my real love – my family especially spending my fullest life to my one and only hubby – Ruel Umali.

Peeeee…….Esssss……

LOL! I remembered it crystal clear we did not stop at that night talking with each other as we tried near resto, Buddy’s. We remembered those times when he was still my boyfriend then that we cannot end the night with each other. Now we reminisced those times.

Maybe that is the beauty of love anyway, loving always the same way as you missed each other.

Actually our purpose was to bought some food for the kids at home who were waiting for us. I cannot resisted myself to taste Pancit Lucban and their longganiza. Takaw ko talaga! This is best with their very own vinegar both soaked with it…Tsalap!

Utmost, we just tasted it and bought the remaining food at home.

I cannot find information about Buddy’s Pancit location at the internet.  We ate infront of Landmark which only just beside Makati Shangrila Makati.

 

Again,t this is my official entry for Certified Foodies First Anniversary Giveaway.

Hope you can also support Certified Foodies by  joining Certified Foodies’ First Anniversary Giveway where you can win gift certificates, food gift packs, cash prizes and even a food trip date with the Mhel and Ken.

To join, just click on the badge above.

These are also their  generous sponsors…

Major Sponsors:

Secondary Sponsors:

Hot Fun Stuffs / Food and Fashion Blog / Baguio Girl / Mahlzeit / Ruthilicious / jared’s little corner / Stay at Home Blessings / Shy Girls Own / Travel Monologue / Delight My Appetite / Vector Dad / Pinoy Holistic Healthcare / {cherry} everyday / Jefrox News / The Misis Chronicles

General Sponsors:

The Cookie Jar / Familia Foodie / NomNom Club / Let’s Go Sago / Noob Foodie / Philippine Travel Promos / GEORYL: Welcome to Our World / Techie She / Wentot’s Thoughts / LEVYousa / Living Life to the Fullest! / Food and Happy Things / Impulsive Buyer Goes Organic / YipeeMedia / Filipino Blog / Kizuna / The Life Encounters / My bric-a-brac / The Food Encounters / The Geek Side of blankPixels / A Woman Remembers / Adventuring Foodie / Nash Goes Chenelyn / Deej Speaks / Certified Pinoy Reviewer / Kwento Ni Toto / MAG of My Life / Delectable Ideas / Joy’s Flair / Home Buddies / Mike Mamaril / Fedhz on the Go / Easy on Yz / Yz Little Steps / Samu’t Sari Online Store / Your Filipino Virtual Assistants / Filipino Virtual Assistant / Ken Avenue / Shop Pinay / Day Dreaming Mommy

“Cookery is not chemistry. It is an art. It requires instinct and taste rather than exact measurements.” – Chef Marcel Boulestin

Yes, my food escapade at Restorante La Capre is a truly a work of art.  To taste is to believe, I may say.

Mr. Nandy Ilagan a.k.a. Fernando Canda was a schoolmate way back in highschool.  When we had an alumnae gathering last July, I was intrigued with the many gratitude thanking him by giving food like pansit and chicken inasal while fellow alumni has this high regard to even endorsed his restaurant to us.  This gave me the idea to know the person behind and checked his facebook fan page about Restorante La Capre.

What captured me was the menu that the resto is offering displaying those different pictures of  foods like crocodile, deer (usa), and horse (kabayo).  Whoow, quite exotic indeed!  As I said in my previous posts, I am not into meat food but experiencing to taste this gastronomic kind of food gave me that excitement.

What I did was to called him up and made an appointment to visit his resto.  During our phone conversation, I just found out that Nandy was a brother of my closest friend in high school and  the son of our famous school dentist Dr. Ilagan.  That really made me decide to come over to exchange stories with him.  He even asked me to invite friends with me.

There were quite a number of friends I have invited but only the three of us arrived.  But what the heck!  Definitely this can never spoiled our night and go on no matter what.

Why the name, Restorante La Capre?  Because Nandy is soo tall – 6’3″ in height that made the name connected to him.

See how tall he is when we were taking our pictures with him!

Now my journey escapade for food begins.  What I will be sharing with you were a sort of a food photo blog as I enjoyed taking pictures before I started eating with it.

First stop was the Asian Crocodile as an appetizer.  This recipe has this spicy-sweet taste which is basically a wholesome ingredients that even my sister-in-crime in eating, Lariza even asked how it was cooked.   It was secret thou that Nandy changed the topic.

Another one is “Tapang Usa”  which the meat are in tender strips, savory tasted and deeply marinated in different spices.

Nandy recommended his own version of Pizza La Capre.   My favorite pizza flavor is cheese and this was really suited to my taste palette.

I am also a fish fanatic that made me heart these two dishes – Persian Fish Fillet and Fried Tuna Tail.

The Persian Fish Fillet got this predominant white paste on top  flavored with herbs, lemon or lime as far as I remembered the taste.

The Tuna Tail is deeply fried – juicy in the inside and crispy on the outside.  The crispiness is ultimate!  The tuna tail was quite huge as we cannot eat them all.  I asked my friends that it will be possible I can take this home with me.  Forget the other food, just for this alone is enough for me.

We got to drool around some of their meaty dishes like Bopis, Burger Steak Kebab, Angus Beef Burger, Inasal Chicken and Italian Barbeque.  What we do was to dig in again and again and enjoy the food after all!

This is me and Jen splurging all the food around.

What more can I asked?  Two winners of taste for me were also their seafoods – Shrimp and the Baked Oysters.   Fave foods ever since!

If I am not mistaken this is Garlic Shrimp recipe where the natural sweetness of the shrimp heads and shell added its depth taste to the dish.

When I got to Kalibo and Boracay, oyster was my most eaten food in the land.    I would definitely know if the oyster is fresh as what I eaten with Restorante. They are big, fat, succulent and yummy-o-licious oysters baked with melted cheese topped with herbs.  I even put this in my entry picture because it is really a favorite.

We ended our meal with a brewed coffee and their sansrival with a fusion twist of cobwebs of pink cotton candy around. LOL! Whatta a twist of dessert it is!

But wait!  It did not stop there.  When we were updating our facebook wall, one of his avid customer which was also an alumni suggested to tried this wrapped up spicy dish with green pepper inside called Pacquiao-Marquez appetizer together with cheese dip.

Overall, the ambiance of the place is great that can accommodate 50 to 60 people, opens everyday from 3pm to 2am.   Got also this relaxing 80′s music around suiting once mood.

What can I say, all the dishes are enjoyment of rich, vibrant and contrasting flavors. One can see that Nanding, the owner is obsessed and passionate to what a home cooked is all about satisfying his customers with good food yet affordable price.  What more, his sense of humor and friendliness add up to the totality of a great place.

As we paved goodbye to the owner, people were still full and keep on coming.  It is just ok that customers were in front of the resto’s with table and chairs prepared eating at the sidewalk.

Truly, the receptivity to romance for food comes from the general sense of relaxation and well-being as one induces good time with good food.

Again, thanks Restorante La Capre for the gastronomic, aphrodisiac taste of splurging all the goodness of what you call food taste experience.  We will definitely come back for more.

For more information, visit their Facebook Fan Page with this link:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Restorante-La-Capre/123980940949822?sk=info

“Taking food alone makes one’s meal hard and coarse.  For it is only in company that makes eating a sumptuous meal to share.”

I got to tried their pizza when they opened their branch here in metro south when kids having their summer event as I shared my post here.

Now, Domino’s is back again with the new flavor to enjoy, the Double Decker.

Double Decker is a pizza with the all-too-goodness favorite toppings on top with very two thin crispy dough.  That makes it double!  The pizza is sandwiched together with a layer of cream cheese.  Cost is P 449.00 for 10″ and P 649.00 for 12″.

I am still looking with those double deck part but it seems it is sooo thin.  I’m trying to elevate those pizza with my fork and like to take pictures just to convince me it is really double. Anyway,  I cannot ruined my pizza just to see those two but definitely have tasted the creaminess of the cheese in between.

So much of that explanation, I got this Domino’s own marketing picture to explain the double decker issue here.  LOL!

I got to try this new release pizza with their branch here in Makati.  The place is quite small and quaint but the ambiance is good enough to accommodate number of people.

Still, the same with their Alabang branch, customers can monitor the minutes in waiting and tell if it is ready based on the status of their ordered pizza by simply viewing the screen.

I am very honest to tell to my family and friends  that I am not a pizza lover.  I only ate pizza if it is veggie or cheesy flavor which makes me come back to Domino’s flavor Cheese Mania and Margherita.

But what makes the pizza more exciting for me when I began indulging it with them around.  Any flavor of pizza, I will be with them especially sharing it for comfort or bonding time with them.  Then this makes a food much more sumptuous to taste.

Again, for more info, you can visit or call their branches for delivery:

Marvin Plaza, Pasong Tamo, Makati, 754-3030
Silver City, Tiendesitas, 576-3030
Molito Mall, Alabang Muntinlupa – (02) 553-3030

“A true friend is the one who comes in when the whole world has gone out and others do not even bother.”

Flocked with soooo many concerns this week that I was doomed what comes first because all of them were priorities.  I was not also  feeling well considering I have to travel from our home to a new work gig made me sooo gloomy too.  The traffic alone gave me this disgusted feeling.

I supposed I need a reflections I can work on because I just felt I am alone in this battle.

I need a breather – someone to air what I am feeling right now, will  listen to me yet will understand me no matter what I say.

I contacted my long time friend which was just near the place.  I tried to reach out to her even I knew most of the time she was also in/out of the country tending their family business, busy also as a mom to his sons and an active parent advocator.

Despite of that, I take chances because I know she will be with me no matter what.  We considered ourselves not only best of friend but more so I also considered her to be one of my truest friend here in this world. Exaggerated  I may say but maybe that is how we feel with each other ever since.

One text only, then she responded ASAP even there were times we never bothered to take some times for a simple hi and hello.

We talked but most of all we planned to meet personally.  To make it more intimate, we also shared something in common we love to do back in good old days.

We both love salads and soups as we indulge to Cravings Restaurant that offered “Eat-All-You-Can Soup and Salad.

Definitely, we stayed long in this resto, LOL! indulging our hearts out to different dressings with all kinds of veggies and macaroni for salad.   Definitely we revived all those gusto..

For every Eat-All-You-Can-Soup and Salad, one can also avail the main course where the price ranges between P 250 – P 400 depending on your preferences.  Again, both of us have in common as we love both chicken meal.

We tried their Chicken Cordon Bleu with light salad dashed also with mashed potato and Chicken Tandoori.

We enjoyed it and the most when we call it at night, we were inseparable as we even tried their next offer – unlimited cakes and coffees. That is something to indulge again!

From Chocolate Cake, Walnut, Willie Wonka Cake – we splurge as what we have done with their cakes and desserts.

Worth it, I may say – from all the food we intake abundantly.

We stayed in the resto before closing time I think…Nahhh!   After that, we enjoyed watching the free concert provided by the mall and we even stroll around.

As I told you on my first few sentence, there are time in our life we need some reflections. We have to re-group ourselves and get the core of what are issues.   Sometimes in life, with all the demands and caos can become irritable yet overwhelming – we need an air to breath.   We are just human and rest is something that we need.

What great about this is if there would be someone beside you who will share your thoughts in this insane world -  a friend by your side, someone you grow up with but mostly someone who helps you grow up.

I remember have a guest post from other blog – Our Fullest Life, www.ourfullestlife.com where I share the importance of having a friend. – which I even dare myself to do a simple poem.  A friend is truly our connection to life -  not only there thru happy times but most especially be on our side the moment we need them.

For the food, savor it – every bite, every taste.  Chew it slowly – take portion by portion, sharing peace and tranquility.

We only not enriched ourselves with good food but we also nourished one’s friendship.

Simply live in the present moment and feel the slice grandeur and beauty of it.  We did not rush – we just taste what the meaning of life is. Enjoy, linger and mostly luxuriate.  That is living life to the fullest as we transcend our journey day by day to fulfill it.

For more information on Cravings Restaturant, you can visit their website – http://www.cravingsgroup.com/

“The greatest gift I ever had came from God; I call him Dad!    ~Author Unknown”

Photos courtesy of: http://flickrcc.bluemountains.net

One of my most awaited event this June is Father’s day celebration.  I love to greet everyone – from my husband, family, relatives and friends.  Our family gives time to visit also my father and in-laws personally to really feel the celebration.

It is a plan already but how come I got screwed up with many, many pop-up odd schedules that came along the way?  Good thing that I wrote a post about taking control of schedules – a reminder that will keep me on tract no matter what.  Great also that I can express my thoughts here in this post about how important our father in our lives.

To start with, I  like to share with you my father, Jun Lastimosa Rabena.   This picture is my father with my daughter Jeng taken when we we had our family trip reunion last summer 2011.

This is my father’s routine when we were small:

• Woke-up 4:30 am to pick up students and returned them home by 4:00 pm.  Between 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm, he will hit the road to drive a jeep.
• When all of us were  going to college, he decided to went abroad to sustain more our needs.
• At times, even if its late at night, he will invite us to ate with him bringing us pancit or lomi.
• Papa will save in a large can putting coins everyday.  When our tuition fees come along, we will be counting all those coins and run the nearest bank to change it into bills.
• To discipline us, Papa will simply talked between us and explained it more heart to heart.

At present, Papa is an auto-mechanic by profession who specialized in repairing and even assembling different vehicles.  Aside from that, he also drives a jeep part-time.  But mostly, he is involved in the church where they do community works along the vicinity.

Yes, I am not a daughter whose father got this high position in a corporate world.  Some think it can be one of a criteria to be a best father ever but any man can be a father. According to Ruth E. Renkel sometimes the poorest man leaves his children the richest inheritance.

It takes a huge task, a special person within self to carry such a father’s responsibility.

Every father will always:

• a family’s pillar of strength and support
• persevere whatever it takes
• provide the best of his ability – financially and emotionally
• present in his children’s life
• took seriously to discipline his children
• made us feel proud as a person

No matter what their responsibility is, our father will always make sure we will learn to support also ourselves because they believe in us.  He will not only teach us to love what we are doing but also he will share to us how to work hard with values.

Did you have a feeling  that there is something like a line of wisdom running through our father’s advices when he talks to us fervently?  We realize later on it is love after all as our father challenge us to see how wonderful life is!  We nurture those thoughts as we embarked the facets of living our life to the fullest day by day.  Still, we are very proud to have a father.

In my heart and in this post dedicated to all fathers, I love to say and shout once again – Thanks Papa, for everything!

Happy Father’s Day! More love, more hugs everyone!

“Get something to happen quicker and better by striving to outdo your full potential.”

Photo courtesy of: http://flickrcc.bluemountains.net

It was 2009-2010 when recession struck worldwide.  I was not that affected but still, there were tendencies that some of my training and consultancy work has to stop at the moment.   I suppose I can venture to other avenue of learning to make most of my time as I  choose  blogging. Definitely, I plunge to this new learning.  But it is not enough.

Still, I have to network with other bloggers and connect with them.  This is the reason behind why I like to join the Bloggers’ Buffet at Carol’s Texan 5.   Ten Minutes Tops! with participation of Club Travel Now are organizing this exclusive event for bloggers.

My idea is, if I can do it as fast as I can to be involved in the blogging event like this community then I AM IN!   I have already participated like attending seminars and events sharing bloggers’ learning experiences.  Great to know that through these different facets of knowledge, I can reapply and yet duplicate what other blogger does but mostly enjoying it.

I am also excited to see Carol’s Texan 5 first restaurant in this side of the metro which offers  chicken, ribs and some of American dishes like hamburger and roast beef.

Most of the food served are home made recipe of the owner, Carol.  If its personal dishes, foods are considered always better because it entails a lot of preparation in terms of time and effort just to serve quality dishes that would benefit to those person who will dine out.

Carol’s Texan 5 offers the following services:

• Dine-in while enjoying the food and ambiance of the place
• Delivery  where key areas are San Juan, Mandaluyong, Ortigas, Pioneer
• Event Food Booths available for hire like company and school fair
• Party Trays where you can order for special occasions
• Functions where you can hold the event at their restaurant
• Kiddie Meal Sets which is good for ordering meals in office and kid’s parties

There you go!  Hopefully, I can be part of this event where I can take my writing into the next level not just to inform, to teach and to entertain but more on lessons to learned from a blogger’s perspective sharing their personal story.

For more information in the event place, here is the contact details:

Carol’s Texan 5
Address:   2F 713 J. Abad Santos St. Little Baguio, San Juan
Telephone No: +63(2) 727-3843
Mobile No.: +63 (922) 485-0154
Email Address:  orders@texan5.com
Website Address: www.texan5.com
Facebook Fan Page:  http:/www.facebook.com/texan5

“Eat festive food if you have chance. Laugh even its stupid jokes.  Tell someone how much they mean. LIVE LIFE TO THE FULLEST because tomorrow’s not guaranteed to anyone”.

I am more of a fish, chicken and veggie person.  To those people who personally knows me especially of course my husband, I love to taste different chicken dishes.  But what crave me to taste other food like lechon when Anthony Bourdain’s No Reservation international show featured hierarchy of pork as Philippines’ lechon taste is number 1 all over the countries he went.   Here is the blog post link as he shared his views.

Because of that Filipino honor of food taste, I make it a point once in a while to include lechon in our family gathering which I post it here and given a chance I will indulge to taste it all over again.  This is maybe the reason why I was very eager to attend Anton Diaz invite in the Ultimate Lechon Taste Test at General’s.  Not only that, I also love to meet former friends and be acquainted to new ones.

General’s Lechon is owned by a couple, Bryan and Lynett Ong who got this food business idea when they visited San Carlos City, Negros Occidental.

They prepared three flavors of lechon to taste – Curry, Chilli Garlic and Original.  I know others will put lemongrass to soothe the flavor of the dishes but for me this is something really an innovation to try its different yet unique flavorful taste.

Bryan personally sliced the crispy skin in square as we started to craved because of its crackling sound.

Is it obvious that I grab more crispy lechon skin than the meat in my plate?  I cannot resist it because this is also my favorite part. Since it is quite hot when I grab for a squared skin, it is definitely crunchy.  Great to know it has also less fat when I started eating my first bite.  The way Bryan also explained to us when eating lechon, one has to separate the skin with the meat.

All the flavors were absorbed by the meat – from herbs like chili, garlic and lemongrass while spices from salt and pepper.   Abundant, I may say but the flavor is not too empowering.  Ever since then, I love lots of garlic in my dishes and that is why I chose Chili Garlic as the best flavor for me.  Curry is also a must try especially the oozing aroma that makes the lechon taste more tender and sweet.     Have try also the suggestion of Lynett to put calamansi to keep the taste more interesting and succulent.

We know that we have to be careful on what we eat.  But occasionally, enjoy the indulgence of eating as my life lessons are:

• Whatever you feel like eating, go ahead, just eat and be happy.  Food which are good for your health – eat often and more.  Food which are not good for your health – eat less once a while but do not abstain from them nor feel guilty.

• When there is a chance, get acquainted with colleagues and friends.   The gathering is not just about eating,  it’s enjoying more when you also have the chance to share yourselves to others.

Overall, I enjoyed the sumptuous private dinner especially the company of former and new nice friends around. This is aside also the hospitality gesture of the couple, Bryan and Lyn who warmly welcome us.  Again my deepest gatitude!

For more information, you can contact:

Genera’s Lechon
Address:  3 Guillermo St. Paranaque City
Telephone No.: +632 408-6850, 964-5900
Mobile No.: +63917 897-5966, +63917 8LECHON (853-2466)
Email Address: the_generals_lechon@yahoo.com, sales@generals-lechon.com

“With every perseverance, failures and difficult times, as soon  you get the lesson, you pass and then move on.” – Oprah Winfrey

Class is on and family once again are excited preparing everything and anything – from school supplies, books, uniforms and even planning the food to bring during lunch/break-times.   All of us put an effort into those preparations and make it a point to finish it before school begins.

Me and hubby also have reminders to the children and these are:

• After school, organize all the notebooks and books in the study table
• Check school diary and do assignments
• Television, online games are limited to one hour the most
• Before bedtime, read at least one part of the book especially if  has stories like Reading and Cultural subjects
• Sleep early

Are these too much to ask from our children once the class is on?  We have to do these advices over and over again to serve as their routine or else everything will be just ok. The most, school days will just past thru with no responsibility at all.

Sometimes, parents gave their children a notion to be perfect on what they are doing especially during academic school times.  But what must parents realize is  to perfect first their  relationships with the children and everything will simply follow.\

Some suggestions are:

• Bonding moments like exchange stories can be one way like school happening – new friends and new activities.

• Even children can already study on their own, give time still to read stories and relate  practical examples to make their learnings more appreciative.

• They say patience is a virtue but once children are almost taking out our nerves so much for everything, patience now becomes a requirement for parents.

Confidence and trust are easily built-in to our children where they can excel on what they are doing.   I rarely brag about my children but these methods tested us through times.

How about you mothers out there, what are your advices to our children now that the school is on?