My witch's brew

I get so frustrated with my skin as it is often a play between being dry or oily. I think the last time I had ultra soft and really very good skin was when I was a baby 😂  So, for the longest time I have searched far and wide for the best skin soap and the best moisturizer for my face. Truth be told it's been a long and arduous path! And very frustrating most times! Then one day, while buying at Watson, I absentmindedly picked up a soap, I was reading through the label when the cashier told me that it was on sale. From the price of P300 or P500 (not sure), it was now being sold for P50; the box contained 2 bars. 

I've forgotten all about the darn soap as I was following my doctor/friend's advise to use milk cubes on my face and nothing else. Anyway, one night coming from a tiring trip, I felt the need to wash my face. I used the soap which, was unscented by the way. I continued using it for a couple of days and noticed that the rashes I have on my face has diminished by around 50% as my rashes used to be bumpy and red angry. After using the said soap, the bumps are gone but my face was still "rosaceous", if there was even such a word! hahaha Yes am inventing words here! I still needed a good moisturizer though, but the moisturizers I've been using are causing my face to break out. Hence, I tried olive oil which was ok but I felt I needed something more. So the other day I prepared my own natural concoction. I blended one (1) whole avocado, around two (2) tbsp of olive oil, and one (1) lemon with the pulp. I used my blender to cream my concoction. I started using it last night so let's see what happens in the following days. When I woke up this morning, I could still feel a few patches of rough skin. I'm going to give myself a week of this treatment, if it goes well (which I hope it would, since am using natural ingredients) then I shall use it to moisturize my skin. I have not told my doctor/friend about my "witch's brew" though 😂.

I'm not promoting or anything and am not even being paid for this article. Am just sharing something so that people with the same skin problem can look into as well. Am posting my photo to make sure we all get to check how well my "concoction" would work. Give me a week won't you?

#nofilter #rosaceaproneskin

Life's a bowl of everything!

I read somewhere (most probably on Facebook) about an old adage on how “Yesterday is history, Tomorrow is a mystery, and Today is a gift of God that’s why it’s called Present!” Some weeks ago I was talking about a career relaunch which looked promising at first but which, eventually brought me back to where I started. Weeks back I was inconsolable and allowed myself to feel bad about my job hunting experience with the earnest desire to be of help to my family’s ever growing needs. I know that God has a plan for me but I was so desperate… so impatient to know what it is! That time I felt the dire need to be able to do the very thing that kindles my passion. I felt anxious about the future, I was putting so much stress on myself about not having the time and money to pursue a culinary course. Of not being able to put into reality what I’ve always envisioned to do. 

After a week of wallowing in self-doubt, self-pity, and uncertainty – I jumped back on my feet and decided to start blogging again. My very first blog entry after September 24, 2014 had something to do with the wedding of very good friends, which I posted on May 13, 2016. After which, my next entry was posted after my “weeklong kawawa-naman-ako” period hahaha. Sometimes we really need to curl up like a fetus and begin anew. When we feel we have to re-think our life’s purpose, it is always a good idea to sit it through. I would like to believe that the hiatus helped me accept my defeat, re-discover what I can do, and allow me to re-design my plans which should be aligned with what the Lord has prepared for me. Allow yourself some quiet time and believe that things would work out in the end. It may not be exactly as how we’ve planned it but you will realize that there has always been a blueprint, it was just a matter of time.

I have an ongoing project coming up but I would rather reveal that on another day when I have something more concrete to share. So for now, let me serve as the bright light for everyone who feels enslaved by their current status. Nothing is lost! We just have to have a great  amount of faith and vision enough to own it!

Oh my Ribs!

You know coming back from Saudi, I was filled with hopes of fulfilling my lifelong dream of becoming a Chef. Of taking a real course on Culinary Arts, of being able to wear “The” Chef’s uniform or Chef’s whites and of course the Toque. Oh! Don’t confuse my longing for the prestige of wearing such but it’s this burning desire to learn more, to finish the course, to apply this knowledge and the added skill to what I currently do. The uniform and toque stands as an affirmation of this enduring love for this craft! It is no longer in slumber but fighting to be recognized!

While this is something that is far from materializing, I continue to find my place in the heart of my tiny kitchen! So today am sharing a favorite of the family… Barbecued ribs! I do not have a smoker, nor a place where I can go barbecuing so I just use my sturdy oven to do the task. And since I do not have a smoker, I buy liquid smoke so that my ribs would have that smoky flavor to it!

For this recipe you would need the following:

1 slab of ribs, I buy mine at SM Supermarket as they always have a good supply of ribs J

2 cups banana catsup

¼ cup olive oil

1/8 cup brown sugar

1-2 tbsp liquid smoke

3-4 drops Knorr seasoning

Salt and pepper to taste

Chili powder

Dried oregano

Garlic powder

¼ cup Rootbeer

1.   Mix all ingredients and rub onto slab of ribs
2. Marinate overnight. I also inject some of the marinade into its flesh. Keep the marinade for basting.

Inject with marinade and leave overnight in the fridge

      3.  The next day slow cook for 5 hours drop some of your potatoes into the pot as well

      4.  Take out the ribs from the slow cooker and let it drip on a rack

      5.   Place cooked ribs on a roasting pan and baste with remaining marinade.

      6.  Oven bake for 30-45 mins with your slow cooked potatoes at 145-150^oF temp., basting from time to time.

      7.  Serve hot with potatoes or any vegetable of your choice.

Delish!

Happy Birthday in heaven

To my dearest Tito Rev. Fr. Sancho Sison OSJ,

It's been 15 years since you've passed away. If you'd only waited, it would have been you who'd preside over the mass on my wedding day! But that was not to be! "Heaven could not wait for you..."

You know I was going over FB's reminder of what transpired last year and I got to read again what I posted. 15 years of celebrating your birthday without you around! I was trying to check on fb if I have other photos of you but there was none.  So what I did was to try and google you and check if you have any photo laying around somewhere in the worldwide web. And voila! was I surprised to see a very old photo of you and and a short write-up. I had no idea that the oblates already had a website. But am glad that I was able to stumble upon it! I had no notion of what you did as a priest. All I know was that I had an uncle priest who celebrated mass, who went from one place to another in an old beaten up car, who was often assigned to buy ice cream on family reunions. An uncle priest who would always give in to his eldest sister's wishes, a priest who was always there for his nieces and nephews, and someone so humble and who practiced his vows to the hilt!

You are a gift to the family Tito! An inspiration to your parish. The Lord deemed your work here on earth done as he took you from us so many years back. Bless our trip tomorrow Tito as we go visit and celebrate your birthday at the same time. I am very excited because it will be Alloy and Allen's first trip to the seminary. It won't be Ally's first though, as the oblates have known her since she was a baby. Am sure you know the story when Alloy turned 2 -- he was about to blow his birthday candle and before he did he said that he wish he could be a priest someday! This is probably why I am looking forward to this trip. I want him to get a feel of how it is like there and to meet your OSJ family!

So till later Tito Fr! The whole family will be there! Happy happy birthday in heaven!

An open letter to my son

My dearest son Alloy,

As I was seated at the auditorium of your soon to be school, amidst the cold blast coming from the aircon; I listened attentively to what was being said. I was overwhelmed. I knew right there and then that you are in good hands (like that Metrobank ad on tv 😂) and that you will be needing my support more than ever! 

Understand that your future at the Makati Science high School, as a scholar, is dependent on you, how well you manage your time, and your best efforts. So from now on choose your books and your lessons over your gadget, choose to be prepared than to cram. Use your time wisely. Never procrastinate! Never let your focus waiver!

I am so proud of you my son! Thank you for deciding to pursue your studies as a scholar. This will be such a big help to us but more importantly, such an opportunity will open more doors for you in the future! 

The other day when you told me how excited you are and how determined you are to face the challenge is assurance enough of how well you will do! I promise to be at your side all throughout this journey as I have always been to your other siblings! 

Remember that "When the going gets tough, the Tough gets going!" 

So, good luck my son! May the force of the universe be with you! Couple your journey with lots of prayers and never let anyone or anything daunt you!

We love you son! 

Love, 

Mommy and Daddy

School's cool!

When my son told me last year that he wanted to take the entrance exams at the Makati Science high school, I was pleasantly surprised! That time I was giving more weight on what the scholarship would mean to our growing expenditure. Imagine all 288 incoming 7th graders will not only be granted free education, but would also be provided books, school supplies, school uniforms and a pair of school shoes absolutely free! In addition to that, the scholars shall be receiving a monthly stipend. Is that cool or what?! But then my perspective changed after I've attended their Parent's orientation. I must admit though, that I was really looking forward to attend. I think I wanted to see what the government funded school had to offer. So attend I did and boy! Was I impressed! They were very thorough in explaining what to expect and what they expected from us. They also explained in detail their grading system. Almost everything that we, as parents, wanted to know was discussed. So much so, that by the end of the session, only a few parents asked questions about items that needed clarification. Now that the platform has been laid, I feel that it is not only my husband and I who will benefit from having a scholar. It is our son who will benefit more from it all! And I, particularly, am happy that this is so. Getting everything free is just a bonus! What is more beneficial is what he will be learning as he progresses in the program. They used to have 11 subjects, this is because they have additional science and math subjects (so that’s 2 sciences and 2 mathematics). This year they added 2 English subjects in the curriculum. So that’s a total of 13 subjects that the scholars have to prepare for every quarter, not to mention the Performance tasks that they have to complete before the quarter ends. I know the competition will be stiff since these scholars are the cream of the crop of their former schools, most of them Valedictorians, if not one of the top 5 in class rank.

Anyway, after the orientation as my son and I were going home, I told him about what was discussed. I advised him that he should do his best as the school has a Retention program. Meaning to say that as expected, the scholars has to meet a certain criterion when it comes to their grades. Otherwise, if they do not pass the set grade requirement, then they will not be allowed to progress to the next grade level. I know my son can do it but just the same I wanted him to feel that getting into the program is no joke and that he’d have to work doubly hard if he wanted to remain a scholar. His reply? Gosh! It was priceless. He said “Mommy don’t worry, I am excited and I am very determined!”

So here’s wishing you the best my son! Don’t sit on your laurels! Go grab the gold and be an inspiration to your siblings and to your friends! We are already inspired by you!

Whimsical Wednesday

My daughter can say the most outrageous things! I have only two words for you, my only girl, "Dream on!!!" 😂😂😂

legend: BAON = allowance, HUGOT = what the heck! I could not think of an english word for this. Google it! : 😂