Lockdown.

Hello WORLD.

It is precisely more than a month’s time into this new normalcy we have been already familiarized with. 

It may sound strange, but I am truly having a good time at home.

I do miss going to my Mama’s house and doing the common grocery runs, the afternoon paseo, the Sunday breakfast at Papa’s, morning strolls and the going all-the-way to another municipality to check on our new store which I very miss a lot.  

Early morning strolls.

I may have gained a few pounds, but my heart and soul has grown fonder as I write this note.

The first week was by far the hardest, the settling in the new norm was practically overplaying. But then being over reacting meant being safe and protected (I’ve realized that by now). 

After all, we simply have this life, ONE life to live. 

I have become appreciative now on what used to be long hours, days and weeks after that horrid first week.

The joy that Netflix brings is by far amazing. 

source: Google photos

I began watching Outlander and still am enamored how all came to be. 

I have a few friends who are watching now as well. I remain anticipating on the new episodes weekly. By this time, I’ve learned relatively well that patience is a virtue. 

My laundry chores have been the most relaxing one to date. I purposely hang pieces to dry by color just because it looks pretty to my eyes. It’s also a serious workout, nonetheless. 

This is me prior to hanging clothes under the sun.

This was such a great buy for P88 at DAISO almost 2 years ago.

It was particularly windy this day. and I love how the wind blew the sheets of white back and forth.

The obsessive-compulsive in me started to hang them by color.

I started baking again. There was one particular week that I did a full throttle battling with yeast and flour in the kitchen. I wanted to perfect a certain bread recipe. And so I did by week 3. 

I was seriously in search for the perfect pandesal.

Also, by week 3, I felt the need to plant my feet on the ground just because I missed the beach so much at this time of the year. What I did was water the plants in barefoot. It was grounding, humbling and it felt familiar. Sort of mimicking how the sand feels on the toes one hot summer day. 

And I discovered a new hobby, watering the plants. 

Then came gardening. Our little corner for the indoor plants looked very crowded and gloomy. And so, by week 4, there was light and a tad bit of facing in that little corner. And I had to re-pot some and trim a few too. Also, by week 4, I placed indoor plants back inside the house. The house felt homey and beautiful. And since I have so much time, I offered these houseplants a new guise by wiping the leaves with expired Avocado Oil from the kitchen to make it look polished and bursting with life (a life hack brought to you by Tita Jenet). It takes time and patience too, but, by week 4, patience is like icing on the cake already. 

 My funny Tita Jenet uses Baby oil to prettify her plants.
Because, I am her follower and there is so much time, I did the same thing, only, with a different oil.

Even my dresser is well decorated. 

By week 5, 24 hours is merely not enough to fulfill everything. I am not complaining at all. 

The entire stretch of being quarantined in your own home has felt like giving back to nature, to mother earth and to our body and soul.

We felt being anchored to the house just because we basically needed a quick charge.

It has taught us to ease our minds, to clear our thoughts, to discover new meaning and appreciate the endless possibilities of being at home. To be one with nature again, to humbly plant our feet on the ground to make us all realize that there is a higher being who is in control of our lives. Lastly, to be one with God in good times and in bad, such as this pandemic which affects everyone.

My prayer time by week 6 has remained perpetual. It has made me sleep at night better because I worry less, entrusting all to God as I bid him goodnight each time. 

Lord, we believe, we adore, we trust and love you. We pray for those who do not believe, do not adore, do not trust and do not love you.

By week 6, my girls have established their routine too. They also have tasks, they play and go out in the garden, they get some sun and have worksheets to fill up before the day ends. 

A little picnic by the garden.

All is well. 

I wish I could say the same thing for the whole world. But I cannot. 

The Sunset is forever an afternoon delight. 

I urge you to take time and get some sun, sing in the bathroom, relive whatever hobby you may have put aside, read a book under a tree and enjoy the beautiful things that we are blessed with - while we still can.

And lastly, I pray for all of this to end soon. Like a bad nightmare, this, too, shall pass. 

"In our brokenness, we find Jesus in our strength."
Wisdom by Father Gani Petilos from his 3rd Sunday of Easter homily.  
It is worth reflecting.

We will have better days.

Of flowers and sentiments.

I come rushing to our bedroom full of flowers, just a day after Valentine’s Day to pick up my glasses. I stop momentarily to enjoy how wonderful it smells. 

I always manage to unscramble the pretty tied bouquets to fill those vases – big and small with all the flowers the gentlemen brings.

I wish it were Valentine’s Day everyday…

A lady is eternally smiling from ear to ear with the sight of any piece of Valentine present from her partner.

There’s a certain scent that a flower brings. It smells like a little piece of heaven. It calms the soul and certainly is a feast for the eyes. It crafts a sentiment too, that only the body can muster. Oh how lovely it is to have flowers everyday!

I also got artworks from my girls.

They are so thoughtful and sweet. And I hope and pray that they would never tire in doing so. Just because.

I pray that they would grow up like me, fond of simple pleasures and the like. I wish they would master the art of drying flowers too. 

 It catches me in a corny mood thinking how many bouquets they will have to untangle to fill their vases, just like mine. The happiness they will feel when one finally gets her first bunch. 

Will there hands turn ice-cold like mine? Or will they wary away and hide all the pretty blooms like I did?

Oh… I am getting way too sentimental here.

Lentejas ala Pittie.

Sharing some love through the comforts of a warm lentil soup brought to the dinner table. 

Lentejas ala Pittie

By Angelica Martinez-Gana

From the cookbook, Vamos a Comer

Serves 4 to 6

Prep Time 20 minutes

Cooking time 1 hour 15 minutes 

Ingredients:

500 grams Pork Belly

4 medium White Onions, (2 quartered and 2 chopped finely)

1 Pork Bouillon cube

250 grams bacon strips, sliced into bite-sized pieces

2 pieces El Rey Chorizo, sliced

1/2 head garlic, chopped finely

1 (250-gram) pack Tomato Sauce 

Salt and Pepper

400 grams Lentils 

Olive oil

Procedure: 

1. Place pork belly, 1 1/2 liters water, quartered onions, bouillon cubes, salt and pepper in a pot. 

Cover and boil for 20 minutes.

Remove pork from pot and slice into bite-sized pieces. Set aside.

2. In the same pot with the pork broth, cook lentils until soft. Set aside.

3. Heat 5 tablespoons oil in a wok over medium heat. Saute pork for 10 minutes. Set aside.

4. In the same work, saute bacon for 10 minutes; set aside. Saute chorizo for 10 minutes; set aside. Saute chopped onions and garlic until fragrant.

5. Add tomato sauce, lower heat, and simmer for 10 minutes.

6. Add pork, bacon, and chorizo to the wok, about 2 minutes apart, and continue simmering.

7. Add lentils and pork broth and mix. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

French Dimped Rolls

From The World Encyclopedia of Bread and Bread Making 

400 Bread Flour

1 1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp White Sugar

15 grams Fresh Yeast

120 ml lukewarm milk

175 ml lukewarm water 

Makes 10 rolls

1. Lightly grease 2 baking sheets. Sift the flour and salt into a large bowl. Stir in the sugar and make a well in the center.

2. Cream the yeast with the milk until dissolved, then pour into the center of the flour mixture. Sprinkle over a little of the flour from around the edge.  Leave at room temperature for 20 minutes, or until the mixture starts to bubble. 

3. Add the water and gradually mix in the flour to form a fairly moist, soft dough. Turn out on to a lightly floured surface and knead for 8 to 10 minutes until smooth and elastic. Place in a lightly oiled bowl, cover with lightly oiled clear film and leave to rise for about 1 and 1/2 hours. 

4. Turn out to a lightly floured surface and knock back. Re cover and leave to rest for 5 minutes.  Divide the dough into 10 pieces.  Shape into balls br rolling the dough under a cupped hand, then roll until oval. Lightly flour the tops. Space well apart on baking sheets, cover and leave to rise for about 30 minutes. 

5. Lightly oil the side of your hand and press the center of each roll to make a deep split. Leave to rest for 15 minutes. Meanwhile, place a roasting tin in the bottom of the oven and pre heat the oven to 450°F.

Pour 250 ml of water into the roasting Tin and bake the rolls for 15 minutes until golden.

Don"t rush. Take your time. 

You'll thank me later as I am certain that everyone will love this.

What warms your heart?

We went out for a few hours to have dinner with family. When I opened the door and lights to our bedroom, I was simply smitten with the little piece of paper that our daughter, Julia, left for us. 

It softened my heart and I got so teary eyed. 

She is almost 7 years old and she is smart and beautiful. 

At times, I fear what tomorrow brings, when there are questions I can no longer answer, unkind gestures that I cannot shield away from and perhaps the tiny heartbreaks she must endure day to day. 

I can only hope and pray for the best and see her through. In her tiny world of make believe, I still am her greatest idol to date, and everyday is a reminder to enjoy her and her not-so-little sisters, to make memories while we can and to laugh out loud or sleep away our worries and fears because there is a higher being who makes us fear not.

With a little sigh on my heart, I call it a night.

Time to put away the woes of the day to make our bedtime just right.

As I bid my girls goodnight, I blow each one a gentle kiss that always warms the heart.

xoxo

December hullabaloo.

The Christmas holiday is undoubtedly the busiest days of my life, as always every year, I never learn.

This 2019, I swore to myself, that it would be different. As I plan to start my Christmas shopping as early as January which by the way – I completely did (90% done). And by March, start-wrapping presents so that I can fully embrace what December can bring.

Last December, I tortured myself with settling in my in-laws lovely ancestral home, holiday shopping, laundry, planning meals, running a household, adulting and most of all, accepting Christmas orders that lasted until mid-January. I am not complaining though. There is still so much to be thankful for. But there are times that the body couldn’t simply achieve what the mind dictates for it to be. A lot of busy Mamas out there can very well relate to this.  Sometimes we wish there are more days to our week.

The buttery smell I can endure, it is what I long for as I watch the days go by recipe after recipe not knowing when to stop nor when to take a break just because I simply enjoy what I do.

I thought I could be superwoman but NO. I can certainly not be her.

My all time best seller, Moist Cheese Cupcakes. 

It lives up to its name. Perfectly moist and tasty.

                                          
I think I probably made almost 3,000 pieces of this sweet treat during the Holiday season.


My husband Jules would sneak recipe after recipe when he is around the kitchen. The good old fashioned Oatmeal and Chocolate Chip Cookies never disappoint anybody, young or old.



Every December, it’s forever the same hullabaloo but I never learn. So that is basically why I am waddling up things a bit so that once December arrives, I can relish that cup of coffee whilst cozying up as the sun sets with my cookie leftovers.

Rica

Oh hello there.

Oh hello there.

My last post was last year, June to be exact. 

I cannot believe that I have this tiny space still doing wonders as I read the few posts there was.

Where was I?

Life happened to me.

I got so caught up with it that my little corner here got slammed away, totally hidden from life's adventures.

Stay with me as I am trying to NOT make that happen anymore.

I have so much to tell and so much to share.

Let me begin by saying that FINALLY, we came back to the house that we left 5 years ago, now fully functional, clean and comfortable as it can be.

This is my current view and how can I not love it?

I have more stories soon.

xoxo

Mama's Day off.

Hello world!

I feel like 20 years has passed but in reality, it’s been just a couple of years, months maybe that I have this time for myself. 

Just one complete day of absolutely doing nothing other than staring at the sea holding a paper cup that holds my all-time favorite drink-Jack and Coke. 

The last time I ever did this was many years ago. To be exact, it was 2009 in the lovely island of Guam where I mostly enjoyed moments like this. Just me, the ocean and Jack. 

Fast forward to 2018, 9 years after, 3 daughters and many pounds heavier, I heartily come back to where my soul finds solace. And damn, pardon my language, but it feels surreal and dreamy to be in this side of the world.

A 6-hour drive from my hometown is a hidden paradise called home to most surfing enthusiast. It’s probably a half mile road that collect memories from hundreds of happy feet that comes and goes. 

Cali-coan Island in Samar was our destination. 

With me were cousins and very close friends who were up for an adventure. But for Mama’s like me, it was my day off. 

The cure for anything they say is salt water - sweat, tears or the sea.

At times, when the world seems to feel so small because, well, life happened, I find myself wanting to break free. I know that some Mamas out there will understand my thoughts and what my heart is pouring out at the moment. We just need a day or two or three to refresh and get the groove going. We are not just housewives who tidy up things and take care of our children. We are the one that makes the house full of life as we carry the heart of the home. Never think that just because you are a stay at home Mom, you are too small because as a matter of fact, we rule the world, we rule our children’s little world of make believe and magic.

So, do not think less of yourselves any longer. Take a break from whatever beautiful chaos you are in just because you deserve it, once in a while. Take time to read a nice book, get some tan, have a little Jack and Coke and wear those swimsuit that used to make you feel sexy. Let’s embrace our curves and imperfections and have a great time, since time is fleeting so let us not waste it.

Thank you Dear God for your beautiful creation and all the wonders it has done for us!

xoxo