Happy Friday: Where are you right now?

What is your target?  We all have one but maybe for some they haven't identified it yet.  

If you are at the time of your lifetime wherein you are already looking forward for something and you are deeply preparing for it then this is when you are starting to build of your goal, starting to hit your target/s.

Knowing what you want in life is just the start of everything.  Going to where you want to go is another story all together.  We should always start from somewhere and I know just where to begin.

Photo from Gelo Lacanlale

See the image above?  Are you familiar with what they call "comfort zone"?  Comfort zone is a behavioral state within which a person operates in an anxiety-neutral condition (from wikipedia).  In other words, this is a safe environment where one person is so used to and there are no risks involved.

However, being safe in what we do means we do not want to extend more effort.  It means not doing an extra mile, not adding value or not exploring new things.  It means that we will just being status quo, same old - same old and as usual.  For me this is not what growing is all about and this will not lead to anywhere.

In order for us to reach our goals, we should learn to do more!  Doing more is doing what we are not used to doing, literally getting out from our comfort zones to see how far we can make it.  Thinking that "impossible" is just a word but a possibility in doing things!

Photo from bloggers.com / Quote from Audrey Hepburn

Realizing that growth involves risks, risks that we all learn from.

Risks that will help us achieve greater possibilities that we never imagined.

Everything I mentioned above are very easy to say but I know are very hard to do but always remember ~ always take things one step at a time.

Now what are we all waiting for?  Let's start to explore to reach our goals!

Simple Meal: Talong Sitaw

I know that this is the first time that you've heard this name.  Yes, I know that this is different ~ I have an explanation for this.

Here in MY, we have a favorite food shop called "Recharge".  This is where we eat every time we are lazy to cook.  They have this meal and it's called "French Long Bean and Fried Brinjal", this meal has minced pork in it and a very nice sauce.  Very good served with plain rice.

I liked it and we call it "Talong Sitaw".  When we order "Talong Sitaw" Auntie knows already which dish we are referring to.  Since I liked it so much, I tried to imitate it.

Ingredients:

1. One piece eggplant (MY eggplant is equivalent to 2 eggplants in PH) - cut into small pieces (2 inches)

2. 1/4 kilo string beans (cut into 2 inches)

3. 4 tablespoon soy sauce

4. 2 tablespoon vinegar

5. 1 tablespoon sugar

6. 1/8 kilo minced pork

7. 1/2 pork cubes, maggi magic sarap

8. 1/2 cup water

9. garlic, onion, 1/2 cup cooking oil

This is how it's simply done.

1. Heat pan and pour oil

2. Cook eggplant - set aside

3. In another pan, pour oil

4. Saute garlic, onion, minced pork and pork cubes

5. Once pork is golden brown pour in the string beans and saute

6. Once the string beans is half cooked, pour in soy sauce and bring to boil

7. Add 1/2 cup water and bring to boil

8. Add vinegar and sugar then let simmer

9. Pour in the eggplant and mix well

10. Serve with steamed rice

Enjoy!

Simple Meal: Chicken Adobo

 



This is one of my favorite however Sweets does not like it much so I seldom cook it.

Chicken Adobo!

 





Ingredients:

1. 3/4 kilo chicken (breast and thigh)
2. 1 head garlic (crushed)
3. 4 tablespoon soy sauce
4. 2 tablespoon vinegar
5. 1/2 cup water
6. 3 tablespoon cooking oil
7. Pepper

 

How it was simply done:

~ Marinade the chicken together with garlic and soy sauce (overnight much better)
~ Heat pan and put cooking oil
~ Once cooking oil is just about hot, place the marinated chicken until golden brown
~ Once chicken is almost half cooked, put the water and bring to boil
~ Once boiling, pour in the vinegar and cook for 5 more minutes
~ Put pepper to taste

I like my Chicken Adobo dry, just the right sauce but not too saucy.
Best served with steamed rice and Coca Cola. :)

Enjoy!

Housewarming Party

When we moved into our new unit last May 2012, I experienced my very first House Warming care of our housemates.

A housewarming party is a party held within approximately 90 days of moving into a new residence.  It is an occasion for the hosts to present their new home to their friends, and for friends to give gifts to furnish the new home.  Housewarming parties are generally informal, usually there are no planned activities besides a possible tour.

The term "housewarming" is descended literally from the act of warming a new house, in the days before central heating. Each guest would bring firewood, and build fires in all the available fireplaces, offering firewood as a gift.  Aside from warming the house, this was also believed to repel evil spirits by creating a protective atmosphere of warmth.  Uninhabited houses were considered targets for vagrant spirits, and therefore required a certain level of cleansing before a house was safe to be occupied by young children. (from wikipedia)

I am not sure if I will initiate such activity, it's just not me.
Anyways, I did learn something new from this activity.

My friend invited their pastor from their church and they shared with us the "Family Participation in the act of Dedication".

~ We dedicate this home to love and understanding.  May it joys and sorrows be shared and the individuality of each person who lives and visits here appreciated.  We dedicate our home to family LOVE.

~ We dedicate this home to work, and rest and play.  May our home have joy and high fellowship, with kindness in its voices and laughter running within its walls.  We dedicate our home to HAPPINESS.

~ We dedicate this home to friendly life.  May its doors open in hospitality and its windows look out with kindness toward other homes and those who pass by its doors.  We dedicate our home to FRIENDSHIP.

~ We dedicate this home to cooperation.  May its duties be performed in love, its furnishings bear witness that the work of others ministers to our comfort, and its tables remind us that God works with us for the supply of daily needs.  We dedicate our home to COOPERATION.

~ We dedicate this home to the appreciation of all things good and true.  May the books bring wisdom, pictures symbolize things beautiful, and the music brings joy and inspiration.  We dedicate our home to APPRECIATION.

~ We dedicate the time and talent of those who lived here to hep build a world in which every family may have a home of comfort and fellowship.  We dedicate our home to SERVICE.

~ We dedicate this home as a unit in the church universal, an instrument of the kingdom of God, a place of worship and christian training and a threshold to the life eternal.  We dedicate our home to SPIRITUAL ENRICHMENT.

~ With our hearts turned towards You, so our thoughts rise in gratitude to God for this home, and in prayer for God's blessing upon it.

 

Hari Raya well spent!

Hari Raya also known as Eid-ul-Fitr is a Muslim Holiday that marks the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting.  Since we are here in MY; aside from the SALE all over the malls, we also had the privilege to spend 2 more rest days (making our weekend very LOONG).

Some people make the most of this time spending their holidays out of town, while some people do "balik kampung" (go back to village / hometown) spending this special occasion with their family and loved ones.

Since we are all here in MY and we do not want to go back to the Philippines just for a four day holiday, then might as well celebrate here with friends.  

Our four day weekend was well spent and I am very proud to say that we had a lot of fun with only below RM50 budget. Cool right :D

What did we do? Pretty easy!

Saturday:  

- We spent our morning by having breakfast in the Chinese Shop near the market place.   
- Went to buy grocery items for the week
- Went swimming in our condo, coupled with a fruitful conversation with friends.

Sunday:

- My husband and I did our normal weekend house hold chores
- Prepared for sleep over at Ced's place
- Sopas and Adobo Chicken feet for dinner
- The Bourne movie marathon

Monday:

- Arroz Caldo for breakfast
- Rest at home and some house chores again
- Prepared for another sleep over at Ced's place
- Played Jengga
- Watched three movies but was not able to finish 'em all :D
- Had cake, ice cream and jelly for Karl's midnight Bday celebration

Tuesday:

- Greeted Karl on his Bday
- Champorado and dilis for breakfast
- Prepared for a day outside (yes finally)
- Meatballs, fries, pasta and chicken wings at Ikea
- Daiso at The Curve
- Fullhouse at SSTwo Mall
- Grocery, crocks and last minute shopping at Tropicana Mall

Very well deserved break but did not hurt our pockets that much!

Holidays and breaks are always part of working. Now even if the break is a 7 day holiday, it will not be worthwhile if it was not spent well.  For people like us (yes OFWs) holidays and breaks are best spent with good friends and loved ones!  Even if we are far from our families in the Philippines, I am happy and proud to say that I have found a family with my friends here in MY.

Fullhouse at SSTwo Mall

For birthdays and special occasions, we always celebrate it in our condos, cooking our own food and having movies instead of going out.  

One of our friend, Khristian, told us that it would be cool if we try to eat at Fullhouse Cafe at SSTwo Mall here in PJ.

So we did!  Since we want to celebrate Karl's Bday in a new venue then we chose to celebrate here.  Boo Khristian! He was not able to join us because he was at SG.

Anyways, even before we started eating, we headed to take our pictures of Fullhouse' landmark.  A rover sports car with a Fullhouse logo in it.

Off with what made us burp!

This is Wok-Sear Chicken Chop!

This is Aglio Olio Spaghetti

Our thirst quencher:

- Vanilla + Dragon Fruit + Strawberry Vanilla Special Iced Blended
- Vanilla + Kiwi Fruit + Yogurt Magic Ball Special Iced Blended

- Iced Korean Lemon citron
- Iced Korean Jujubo Ten

After dinner, we had our dessert but it was designed to greet Karl.

Each of us were assigned a letter to give one word that described Karl.

H - Huggable
A - Adorable
P - Pogi
P - Papable
Y - You are Sweet
B - Beautiful
D - Darling
A - Appraochable
Y - Yummy

Happy Birthday Karl! May you have many more years and happiness to come!

Karli's Birthday ~ 210812

photo from  http://www.21colour.co.uk/ 

21st of August - this is the day where our friend, Karl, celebrated his birthday.  Every time that we celebrate it, it will always be his 21st birthday. Yahoo!


August 21 will always be a holiday in the Philippines, it was the death anniversary of Ninoy Aquino.  Here in MY, it was also a holiday because it was the end of Ramadan.

August 20 we were at the Istara Condo for our sleep over at Cedrick's place.

While waiting for midnight, we played Jengga.

Btw: this is the highest tower we made so far! :)

We sang! and yes good thing it did not rain!
You will notice that one person is working while having fun! Boo you!

We watched "Safe" and "ATM" but since it's approaching 12midnight, we then stopped watching and welcomed Karl's Bday.

After 7 hours of sleep, we again welcomed Karl's Bday with Champorado and dilis.

After completing our breakfast, we headed back to our homes to prepare for our one day mall tour!

Our first stop was at Ikea.
Second stop was at The Curve
Third stop was at SSTwo Mall
Fourth and definitely not the least stop was at Tropicana Mall

Let me start my story with our Ikea Pitstop (Click to see details).

We stayed in The Curve to wait for the rain to stop and so there was not much to write about it.

Just before sundown, we headed to SSTwo Mall to visit Fullhouse Cafe for our dinner and continuation of Karl's Bday celebration. (Click here to view story)

We ended this day full of smiles since we enjoyed our less than RM50 one day mall tour! :D

IKEA in MY

Ikea is a privately held, international home products company that designs and sells ready to assemble furniture such as beds, chairs, desks, appliances and home accessories.  They are the world's largest furniture retailer.  Founded in Sweden in 1943 by 17 year old Ingrav Kamprad, who later became one of the richest people in the world, the company's name is an acronym of the founder's name (Ingrav Kamprad), the farm where he grew up (Elmtaryd), and his hometown (Agunnaryd, in Smaland, South Sweden).  The company is known for its modern architectural designs on various types of appliance and furniture, often associated with a simplified eco-friendly interior design. (from wikipedia).

I am a fan of "Go Green" and I believe that going green is a sister of small spaces.  Ikea is known to be best in making the most out of small spaces and making things organized.

Photo from  http://onlinecatalogue.ikea.com/IE/en/IKEA_Catalogue/

The first thing that we did upon arriving there was to eat lunch.

Ced enjoying his meatballs and fried chicken. 

Here are the food up close ~

Swedish Meatballs with Fries

Deep fried boneless chicken with coleslow and fries

Chicken Wings

After lunch we went ahead to have our window shopping.

I like to go here because this is where I get some inspiration on what to do in our house.

Here are some of the items that I liked :)

There are many more ideas at the Ikea's online catalogues.

Aside from home furniture and appliances, there are also some food that you can get from Ikea, they taste good as well!

Project: For our Wall, Part II

I have been reading a lot of DIY nowadays and it keeps me inspired about the things that I would like to do.  

If you have been reading my blogs, I cannot deny the fact that I love pictures! I love everything that I can do with pictures.  

For today, I was inspired to do something new from my old wall painting.




Early this year, I bought a plastic wall painting from the Philippines.  It's just a simple plastic flower painting that I placed in our white wall for decoration.  This is how it looked like early this year (taken from our old condo).

It has been there for quite some time and since we moved in to our new unit, I haven't used it for a while.

My friends know that I am a big fan of the "Go Green" campaign.  In lay-mans term - do not throw something that you feel will be of use "someday" (my husband always ask me when will "someday" be?).

Anyways, this week, I finally thought of where I want to use them.
I want to use them as another wall decoration but with a twist.

Here are the things that I needed:

1. The Painting itself
2. Scissors, glue, double sided tape
3. colored paper
4. Maps
5. Black and white portraits

How I did it:

1. I picked three favorite shots from our wedding and printed it in black and white
2. Placed the photos at the back of the painting
3. Printed three locations from Google Map, I chose three places:
    a. San Pablo City - where I lived
    b. Angono, Rizal - where Sweets lived
    c. Kuala Lumpur Malaysia - where we live right now
4. Cut all maps into heart shapes
5. Placed each heart shape map into the colored paper and cut it with remaining colored paper at the edges.
6. Placed the three hearts into the back of the painting

The results:

This is the first frame.

This is the second frame.

This is the closer look of the maps of each of the hearts.

This is how it looked like in our room.

A very nice and personalized wall art!

I still don't know what will be my next project but I am sure that it will still include photos. :D

Happy Friday: Who loves sending emails?!

We are used in sending emails whether to our clients or to our customers.  Especially if you are in an office setting you cannot do away with emails. 

We were always busy with work but one thing is for sure, emails can also be used as a tool of gratitude and thanks!  Make it a habit and you will make one person happy for the rest of the day.

Share the happiness and the LOVE!
 

 

The Bourne Marathon!

Okie, I must admit that I got interested with Bourne Legacy because part of it was shot in the Philippines.



The Bourne Legacy was the fourth movie based on the Robert Ludlum novels.

RENNER and Weisz on a motorbike defying Manila traffic from www.jaunted.com

This is one big-time Hollywood production that was shot in the Philippines, where the Philippines was part of its storyline.  According to MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino the film included the following places:

- Intramuros
- Navotas Fishport
- Marikina Market, San Andres Market
- Ramon Magsaysay Boulevard
- Ayala Avenue
- Pasay Taft
- Jones Bridge

I know it has been showing for quite some time now but when we decided to watch it we thought that it would be best to understand the previous movies first.  Again, I have to be honest that I haven't seen any of the Bourne movies before.

Maybe because I am not a big fan of action films.

So, when we had the Raya Holiday, we grabbed this opportunity to watch the Bourne Films and at the same time had our sleep over at our friend's place at The Istara Condo.

1. The Bourne Identity (2002)

Photo from Wikipedia

2. The Bourne Supremacy (2004)

Photo from Wikipedia

3. The Bourne Ultimatum (2007)

Photo from Wikipedia

 
These movies were shown two - three years apart, we watched it over night! How cool it is to see it's continuity without being confused!

Now, we are off to see The Bourne Legacy and I am pretty sure that we will not only look for the action scenes but we will also look forward in seeing areas in the Philippines. :D

Simple Meal: Buttered Shrimp

Another meal that I enjoyed preparing is Buttered Shrimp!  One simple reason is that it is very easy to prepare!  

Good thing that my husband and I both loved shrimps and therefore we always enjoy eating this dish.



Ingredients:

1/4 kilo medium sized shrimps
1/4 cup butter
3 heads of garlic (if you want more garlic then you can add more)
1 cup sprite / 7-up

Procedure:

1. Marinate the shrimp into the Sprite / 7-up, usually 15 minutes will do but I prefer overnight.  This will enable to the Sprite to sip through the shrimps better.  Giving it a sweet taste
2. Heat pan, let butter melt together with the finely chopped garlic
3. Once the garlic is light brown, pour in the shrimp together with the marinate
4. Cook until the butter is thick
5. Enjoy with steamed rice

Yield = 2 people

 
Enjoy this very simple meal as we enjoyed it!

Who loves Mickey?

Again! Who loves Mickey?  During my childhood I was not that exposed to Disney, specifically with Mickey Mouse, maybe because my mom wanted me to watch Batibot instead.  Nevertheless, I was happy to know about him and I must admit that even if I am no longer a child, I am still fascinated on how he makes us all smile.

Mickey Mouse is a cartoon character created in 1928 by Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks at Walt Disney Studio.  Mickey is an anthropomorphic mouse and typically wears red shorts, large yellow shoes, and white gloves.  He is one of the most recognizable cartoon characters in the world and is the mascot of The World Disney Company. (From Wikipedia)

In a child's (or even adult's) eye, Mickey is someone who brings laughter and joy in a lonely afternoon!

I would like to share one of Mickey's solo Piano Performance in 1929.




On the same year, this video was where Mickey said his first words which were "Hot Dogs" (credit to youtube uploader)



Last May 2012, my husband and I was one of the lucky shoppers here in KL who was able to relieve Mickey's Magic.  Midvalley launched "Mickey Mouse through the years since 1928", it started last May 2012 and will end by September 2012.

In this event, they shared Mickey's Milestone! This is "good to know" to me and I hope to you as well!

A competition was hosted by Midvalley Megamall and anyone can vote for their best Mickey Mouse Figurine.  

Of course, my husband and I did not want to miss this chance for a great photo opp and so we did as much shots as we can! 

Here are some of the Mickeys that we enjoyed.

 

There were a lot more but we cannot afford to take all of their pictures! 
Now, who is your favorite Mickey? Don't worry I'll keep it a secret! :D

Enjoy!