It’s Almost Christmas

Eighteen days. That’s how long I’ve been out of the loop, that you have not heard anything from me.

A lot of things have happened since then. My brother is here after his short stay in Manila and from school in Singapore. I attended our neighborhood’s Christmas party, the husband celebrated his birthday, Chuck had his second adoption anniversary, and I shuffled in between banks to take care of finances because I want to welcome the year with fewer financial obligations to think of. I am still not eating any red meat, so most days I’m eating chicken (and still less on seafood). Soon I’ll get tired of it as well, and I’ll be a full-fledged pescetarian. Our small bakeshop is doing well, thank God.

Now I’m just waiting for Christmas to come. For the first time, I’ll be making cupcakes. Red velvet cupcakes, to be exact. I promised my sister they will be awesome, so I’m learning as much as I can about how to bake them and, well, baking in general.

Let me tell you another thing too. A number of my friends had commented about the artworks we have on our wall.

Artwork series at home

There are actually 4 panels, and I got them here: http://ananien.deviantart.com/. That’s Patet’s artwork page.

To say that she’s creative is an understatement. She graduated cum laude in Bachelor’s of Fine Arts major in Painting last 2007 and used to work with THE Kenneth Cobonpue as a graphic designer. Currently, she’s a student and working on her “baby,” Hinilawod Comics.

Patet’s talents were already evident since we were in high school. I remember we’d approach her to create illustrations for shirts. She was accommodating and truly generous of her time and skill–she still is.

I asked her a couple of days ago if she’s still open to printing her artworks for others. She said yes. So if you’re interested, let me know. Who knows, I might give it away as my Christmas present to you. 🙂

 

 

4 Reasons Why I Don’t Have a Printer–Yet

When you have a PC at home, you’re expected to have a printer. In fact, that’s a given. After all, majority of the computer shops these days sell their units as a bundle.

But I don’t have one–for the last 3 to 4 years. That doesn’t mean I don’t find myself wishing for Epson Stylus SX425W. Every time I feed on the idea, however, I’m always reminded of these:

It’s not a necessity. I don’t have Kinect, iPad, plasma TV, or DSLR even if I want to simply because I don’t find them too essential in my life. And a printer for me is not a basic need because . . .

My parents have one. I’ve been married for 4 years now, and still I spend almost all my weekends with my parents, which I really love. For the past few months, we’ve been eating out a lot, but if we’re at home, I now have the best time to print whatever I want.

It’s less spending. I know my expenses will not end once I buy a printer. Instead, it’s just the beginning. I now have to shell out cash for ink and paper, and mind you, over time they won’t come out cheap.

It’s more environment friendly. The fewer papers I use, the more trees I save. Well, that’s how I see it, anyway.

Then again, if the first reason doesn’t hold true anymore, my desk is always ready for a brand-new shiny printing machine.

My Farm

Nope, there isn’t anything yet, but I’m crossing my fingers that someday–or hopefully very soon–I’m going to have my own little farm with lots of free-range chickens that give delicious eggs, a cow for our ration of milk, and several plots of vegetable garden that I won’t need to spend a lot of money for only a few pieces of carrots, cucumbers, and tomatoes in department stores.

It’s going to be a farm that sits right up the mountain, where I won’t be bothered by the cares of the world. Instead, it’s just going to be me, the wind, that gorgeous sunrise and sunset, and the rest of nature all together. (And I sure wouldn’t mind a magnificent view of the nearby islands and seas.) It will be an inevitable retreat for friends and family who are tired of high-rises and too much technology.

It’s a farm where I can go back to the basics, because anything simple is always the best. It will remove me from unnecessary material things and enjoy real bliss and contentment.

It will be powered by the sun–or the wind–whichever nature wants me to use.

This will be the farm that promotes sustainability, that supports community, that feeds not just me but as many people as it can.

 

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Happy Independence Day!

So when was my last post? I stopped counting. I’ve been on and off blogging anyway, but I’m really crossing my fingers that I’m officially back.

I’ve got tons of stories, but I’ll set them aside for our country’s celebration tomorrow:

We’re free!

Independence Day!

Honestly, I think the celebration, as well as its essence, is somehow lost among a lot of people, but it shouldn’t be. Despite of the gazillion of problems our country is facing, we still enjoy so much liberty compared to other nations.

Our small household is definitely going to celebrate it tomorrow. Bernard and I will wake up early and head to the market, which is thankfully only a few minutes away from us. I’m thinking of doing Pampanga’s bringhe or Filipino-styled menudo (which has a tinge of sweetness), but I’m still open to suggestions. 🙂

Enjoy the holiday tomorrow!

 

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3 Best Food Network Kitchens

When I’m watching Food Network, my eyes go past the dishes they prepare. I sometimes stare at their kitchens until the show is over! That’s how much I’m enamored by their fabulous designs and awesome, awesome kitchen ware.

I’m not closing on the possibility I’ll have one of those in my lifetime, but I feel it will not be happening real soon. So in the meantime I’ll look at their photos and continue dreaming on.

This is Guy Fieri’s kitchen. He currently hosts Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives, which used to keep Bernard and me up until the early hours of the morning. He also has another show called Big Bite, and he uses this flashy kitchen for his demo.

There are so many things I love about this kitchen: the bold colors, the layout, the platform, the drumset, the huge wall-mounted TV screen, his refrigerator. I even thought of painting my refrigerator too until I realized the paint could chip and I would spend more just maintaining it.

One of my guilty pleasures is Alton Brown’s Good Eats. He doesn’t just cook. He lets you understand the principles behind everything–from the ingredients to your manner of cooking. His show gives so much value to your entire kitchen experience. Plus, he’s funny, smart, and has an incredibly huge kitchen. What you see here isn’t all of it. All his equipment and utensils definitely have their own space, making  his kitchen appear spic and span all the time.

This is Ina Garten’s (aka Barefoot Contessa) kitchen. Isn’t it so lovely–the charm of the wood, the growing foliage, and the sleek countertop. It speaks a lot about her style of cooking, which is simple but passionate and fresh. I do have a penchant for anything country, so it’s not difficult for me to fall in love with this.

There you have it. My most favorite Food Network kitchens. What’s yours?

 

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