I woke up early today since I am used to it working in a call center. First my husband bought me “tahu” at around 7:15AM which I started eating since I got pregnant. After that, my husband went back to sleep. I decided to start my day with cleaning and arranging our small but crowded table. We are living alone without a maid so we have to do the cleaning all by ourselves. Then while I was busy washing plates and glasses I heard “Manang” shouting out “Isda! Kinhason! Lukot!” I called out to her and found out she had “Imbaw”. “Imbaw” is the Cebuano or Moalboal name for clams. I bought 2 plastics of “imbaw” worth 30 pesos each. I was excited to cook it since this is one of my favorites since I was a kid.
First, you just have to clean the shells with a small brush to remove the seaweeds and sediments/residue from the seawater. Then, you prepare 3 cloves of garlic and 1 medium size onion.
Then for seasoning, you can prepare either honey or sugar and black pepper to spice. There is no need for salt since the shells are already salty. You start cooking by sauteeing in 1 tablespoon of oil the garlic and onions. Then add water and let it boil. Add the shells and let it simmer for 3 to 5 minutes depending on the size of the shell until it becomes tender. Then add 1 tablespoon of honey or half teaspoon of sugar plus a little bit of black pepper and whala! you already have a delicious and healthy meal!
I was really not conscious about my beauty stuff so I did not have the usual reactions that women get when they get pregnant. But there was one thing I did not want to get, STRETCHMARKS!!! They said it looks ugly and because of its color your skin will be stained with red and dark lightning-like traces on your legs and tummy. I became so worried about getting some and so my husband suggested we buy a lotion or cream to prevent it from forming on my skin. We went to the mall and found one that says it is specially formulated for pregnant women to avoid getting stretchmarks. I got one for myself. However, no matter how specially formulated it is for sensitive pregnant women’s skin, I still got rashes all over my tummy after a week or 2 of applying it diligently day and night. Now, I am suffering and everytime, the itch is so unbearable I want to cry! You couldn’t just imagine how I regretted the day I started putting it on. I know it was really effective for preventing stretchmarks for when the rashes started to appear and I stopped using the cream, the stretchmarks started appearing on my inner thighs and limbs. So now, I have 2 disgusting and depressing skin problems, stretchmarks and itchy rashes!!!!!! What can I do? huhuhu…
A few weeks ago I told my husband we should set some time to go out on a window shopping for baby basics. I am excited to list down the things I need to prepare for my little angel and I felt window shopping will be a fun way to come up with a list. My sister, her family and my brother also went with us. It was really fun and I enjoyed the baby section and seeing all these wonderful and really small stuff. I was dictating everything I saw and I thought will be needed by my Leonard Cedric. I was not thinking yet of how much it is going to cost me although some already cost more than a thousand pesos like the milk pump. Anyway, these are a few of the things I am excited to buy once I already have an idea how big my baby will be…
infant shoes and gloves, talc, blanket
bib, hooded towel, milk container
milk pump, teether, sterilizer
nose sneezer, bag, bath cradle
bath soap, lotion, diaper
mosquito net, safety pins, pacifier,
baby wipes, baby clothes, baby oil
Champorado or champoy is one of my favorite snacks. It is made of “pilit” or sticky rice and “tablia” or chocolate.
To cook champoy, all you have to do is prepare 1 cup of “pilit”. Put it in a kettle and add 5 cups of water. Then add 6 pieces of “tablia” depending on how pure the “tablia” is. Let it boil, then reduce heat and let it simmer until “pilit” is tender. Serve it with honey or simply sugar.
Our management has made efforts to let our employees feel loved during the Valentine’s Day! Each one of us were given a Valentine’s Cake flavored mocha and shaped like a heart. It has sprinkles of small candies around it and peanuts too. It really tastes good and I was happy myself to receive it. To the management, thank you for your thoughtfulness. We appreciate it!
February 14, Happy Heart’s Day! Although it seems like an ordinary occassion considering that this happens every year, it has always been a special day especially with those who are in love. To celebrate this wonderful day, me and my husband attended mass first. We were too early for the mass so we had to wait. My husband excused himself for nature’s call but to my surprise he brought me a bouquet. Then after saying our prayers, we proceeded to Ayala Center, Cebu City. There we had to go around and check which restaurant would be both not too crowded and offers real good food for a romantic dinner for two. We decided it’s Moon Cafe, a Mexican inspired restaurant where we both enjoyed a delicious meal. We ended the day with love and kisses.
I read from an online source that playing classical music as early as the baby is still the mother’s womb makes the baby intelligent. Although I have not confirmed this, I told my husband we should get one for Cedric. Well, it was not hard to convince him since he too felt the same way. So last December my husband brought Mozart’s collection of classical composition. We also got 2 more CD’s from my husband’s sister during a christmas cringle: Bach and Bethooven. The one I love the most is Fur Elise since it really helps me with getting not just enough but for me quality sleep. If you play it while sleeping you will feel as if you have slept for more than 8 hours even if it was just 3 to 5 hours of sleep. I do not know what the reason is but it helps. I also think that it helps in the proper development of the baby’s brain and may be make the baby become intelligent. I am also playing it for Cedric so that when he grows up he will love music as well. And not just any music or noise but soothing classical music…
After 4 years of hardwork and patience my brother made it and passed the nursing board exam! We are so proud of him. He is for me the typical type of student who goes to school and back home. He is not the type who would burn the midnight oil but he did weeks before big day. The first one to know about the news was my mom who had to call us at 4am in the morning to notify us of my brother’s success. Everyone in the family was very happy. We received calls from friends and relatives who shared with us the joy. For my brother, this is just the beginning! He had more journeys, hardships and winnings to come! But once again, congratulations Bro! You’re the best!
Homemaking tips, Just about anything!, Woman I am... | April February 28, 2010 | 
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