Half-Baking

I'm a frustrated baker.  One, because I don't even have an oven at home.  Two, because I do not have the discerning taste that the usual chefs have (well, for now! haha!)

However, lately, I have discovered making goodies using the oven toaster, thanks to The Maya Kitchen website, so I'm starting to relive my dream of becoming a pastry chef.  The first product I was able to surprisingly successfully do was the banana cake.  Here's how it looked:

From my instagram photos.  I know I have to learn to take better food photos.

It was very easy to do.  You basically just have to mash bananas, beat eggs, mix them all together with the cake mix, and voila!  Banana cake in no time!  I just melted some Toblerone white in the microwave and put those crunchies on top.  Like I said, I was surprised that Jax loved it. :)

Last week, the trying-hard baker in me made something else - white chocolate butter cookies.  This time, I tried doing something that's not pre-mixed.  The steps are similar to how the banana cake is done - basically, just a lot of mixing!

Ready to put inside the pre-heated oven toaster!

Finished product

 These weren't bad at all! *insert high five here*

The challenge I encountered was in ensuring that the temperature in the oven is consistent throughout and that it was pre-heated properly.  I'll just post the exact recipe once I have perfected the texture and repeatability.  Soo happy that the taste was fine!  For now, I will just have to continue on with my "experiments" until the hubby buys me a real oven (which he said he will, once he sees me really passionate about this! yeyyy!)


Oh and I have to mention, I had a small dream come true from all these - packing home-made cookies for my little dude's baon.  So proud!!! :)

Montessori Di Maria Bambinella

About a year ago, I saw a "coming soon" sign for a montessori school in Solenad 2, Nuvali - the Montessori Di Maria Bambinella.  Being fond of the montessori method of teaching (I'm a proud alumnus of OB Montessori), I got a little giddy and thought I'd enroll Marcus there.  However, when he turned two and we were seriously looking for a toddler school, we had to consider proximity.  Sure this is five minutes away from home by car, but nobody will drive him to and from school everyday since Jax and I both have work unless of course we teach yaya how to drive.  Hahaha!

Now, MDMB is finally open! 

I was in the area late in the evening already so photos (aside from being taken using my handy dandy camera phone) aren't so clear.  I only managed to get these information for the sake of those who are looking for a toddler school within Sta. Rosa.  I wasn't able to get hold of the fees though, but at least contact information are here. :)

So True About Marriage

Just a repost from one of my favorite bloggers, the ever pretty bride to be, Patty Laurel.  This is actually a text from Joy Farney of the Grace Full Mama blog.

20 Things I Want to Tell Engaged Women

1. Marriage is made up of two good forgivers. Because every marriage is made up of two sinners. (Romans 3:23)

2. At some point, you will have to learn that life isn’t all about you. (Philippians 2:3)

3. Don’t listen to women that tell you that passion fades…it doesn’t have to! (um…all of Song of Solomon)

4. Don’t give up. Love never fails. (1 Cor. 13)

5. He wants a kind wife, not a maid or another mother. Be nice. (Galatians 5:22-23)

6. Give your husband the gift of your respect.  He needs it more than you know. (Ephesians 5:33)

7. Be mindful of your expectations.

8. Honor the Lord above all things. Colossians 3: 17

9. Find your worth and security in the Lord, and don’t look to your husband to meet all of your needs.

10. Be very careful about reading romance novels, they set you up for an unrealistic view of romance.

11. Real romance is finding that one spot in the crook of his arm to snuggle into, that shared look over the dinner table when the kids are acting crazy, and the way he fixes the leaky sink when he is dog-tired after work.

12. Love is about relationship.  The more I love my husband, and seek a relationship with him, the less critical and duty-bound I become.  It is similar to my relationship with God.

13. Be thankful for the husband you have. Accept him as he is, not for what you want him to be.

14. Don’t compare!! Don’t buy into the game of comparing him with anyone else’s husband.

15.The Biblically “normal” marriage is filled with joy, connection, laughter, and peace.  It’s not free of hurt feelings and conflict, but they know how to process their pain with one another so that they live more often in a meadow than at the scene of a train wreck.  This is not the average marriage, but it normal – -because it is a visible display of Jesus’ relationship with His bride (Ephesians 5:22-33).

16. Your marriage is a testimony! 

17. Pray for your marriage. Pray hard.

18.I’ve heard that is gets better with age.  I have to say in my short {13 year} experience, that is so true.

19. Where there is God, there is always hope. Even for the most broken marriages. “With God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26)

20.Marriage is commitment and sacrifice. But it’s also the best, most wild ride you will ever have with your best friend.

Current Fave Photo

I randomly take photos of the little dude every now and then, in an effort to capture all of his milestones (as if that's possible). This, however, has got to top my list of Marcus' favorite pictures. 

Taken yesterday morning (using my ever reliable HTC phone, instagrammed with the Lo-Fi filter) when he just woke up. Look at that boy-next-door smile!

Muy gwapito! (yes, you can tell I'm the proud mom!)  I cannot help but smile whenever I look at this picture in my mobile phone.

With this, I decided I'll be making regular posts of my current fave photos of from now on.  Ciao!

Small Miracles

Yesterday, I went to church with little dude.  There was this guy who gave a talk on how he is at a low point in his life, his voice was shaking the entire time.  He shared that his family is going through a financial difficulty and that earlier that morning, he and his wife prayed.  They started their prayer by giving thanks and in the process realized there's so much to be thankful for!  Amidst their troubles, he concluded that, in fact, he was actually spoiled by God! What a wonderful reflection!  He ended up praying for the entire church (in between stifled sobs) to experience this same blessing from Above - to feel that God IS a giving God and that He WILL give more than what we could ever ask for.  I was wiping my tears too as he finished his sharing.

This made me think.  The past few weeks, I've been feeling really low.  In fact, yesterday, I suddenly burst into tears and hugged the hubby tightly as I sobbed.  But recalling what I learned from the Sunday service, nahiya naman daw ako bigla.  Here I am, feeling like I have the most pathetic life, when in fact, I am so blessed!

I have two miracles today:

1. Opening Jax's office bag and finding a mobile phone he won from a raffle last week.  Perfect since my Galaxy tab broke down and I need another phone to be used for official business. Can God be any more knowing of what I need?
2. Comfortable commute becoming an eye-opener.  As I drove out of our office parking lot, I saw two of our assistants on their way out too so I asked them if they wanted to hitch a ride.  When I dropped them off, one of them said, "Thank you, ma'am.  Naka-swerte pa kaming nakasabay sa inyo."  Who am I to complain when I've been living a relatively easy life?

Sometimes, all it really takes is to believe that you are blessed and favored by God. Now I feel a lot better.  :)

A Reflection

I must admit.. I haven't been as faithful as I'd hoped to be lately.  I guess that explains why I constantly felt restless and confused and seem to be lost in direction.  I needed peace of mind that I didn't know where to get from.  I knew I just needed to be with God again but somehow I didn't have the "strength" to go to Him and surrender.

Today, surprisingly, I felt calm - after saying my little prayer, that is.  Thank you, Lord, for planting a seed of desire in my heart to come to you.

Saturday Mornings and Taho

It's recently becoming a ritual for the three of us to wake up early on Saturdays to have some simple family bonding time over bike rides and taho.  Let me walk you through how we do it, like today...

We went outside to take photos of Roxy the race car.  I'm so proud of my little boy who kept on pointing out letters and "reading" it aloud.

He must've missed going out! After all, it's been raining all week! After we're done with the car, Jax and I went for a walk while Marcus rode his bike.  I am happy to announce that he can finally pedal on his own! No more pushing for us or walk-while-on-the-bike for him.  The day he learned this deserves a separate post. :) 

Finally, we reached the gate to our village where Manong Taho can be found.  Hubby and I had two cups each while Marcus finished a smaller-sized cup.  He loves his ta-wo!

I love weekends.  Sigh.  For working parents, these are precious times we could only wish to savor every second of.