Arts. Eats.

Free!

Arts. Eats. — Fri, 18 May 2012 03:49:12 +0000

Aside from work and pleasure, the Internet has let me win some really cool and free stuff online. I have been lucky in some online contests and raffles I’ve joined in the past. I won some stuff given out in blog contests and on Facebook too. There were some cash, a Kate Spade cosmetic bag, cosmetics, books and others. Recently, I won a pair of earrings from Purple Luggage on Facebook. I just left a comment on her post on Facebook and surprisingly, my name was one of those she picked as winners! I will post about the said earrings soon.

So I thank you, WWW for all the nice things you provide. You certainly make life better!

Craving

Arts. Eats. — Sat, 12 May 2012 15:44:39 +0000

They say that you are what you eat. Thus, I am sticking with chocolates, pastries, ice creams and cakes! Hahaha! And tonight, I am craving for Krispy Kreme donuts. Tomorrow being Mother’s Day, I am sure that the Husband will give in to my (reasonable) request, like pink cordless blinds for our room, a new pair of shoes, a gallon of my favorite ice cream that I won’t share plus a box of the yummy donuts. Unfortunately, we are miles and miles away from each other so I just have to keep my list and present it to him once I get to see him again in two weeks’ time. For the mean time, I just have to be contented with this old photo:

It is a box of Krispy Kreme donuts that we bought some months back. The Toblerone variety is one of my many favorites and I will surely have a box for our late Mother’s Day celebration before the month ends.

Tutorial: Mocking Jay Pin Using Polymer Clay

Arts. Eats. — Sat, 12 May 2012 15:33:35 +0000

This summer has been extremely hot compared to the previous ones that we had. It is a good thing that we are on a trip and in this place, the weather is colder, thanks to the regular downpour every afternoon. The indoor outdoor ceiling fans get to rest and the electricity bill does not get too expensive. But the downside of being here is I can’t regularly go online and work since the Internet connection is erratic (aside from the fact that I have been going out frequently!).

Moreover, I do not have with me my materials for polymer clay creating as they’re far too heavy and bulky to carry! Think of pasta maker, oven and others. Thus, my creating these days is limited to just browsing the Net for tutorials. One of my recent finds is this tutorial on how to create mocking jay pin or charm using polymer clay. This is from the famous novel turned movie, The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. Take a look:

image source

Disney Princesses Chibi Dolls by Clay Thinz

Arts. Eats. — Fri, 04 May 2012 14:21:59 +0000

During those good old days when DVDs, flat screen TVs and flat panel TV stands were unheard of, I have watched and loved Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Belle and the rest of the princesses with our gigantic TV and betamax player. Sure, there are recent additions but the original ones are quite memorable. I have not owned a doll nor a book of the Princesses but we sure had betamax tapes of all those childhood favorites. I am a mom now and I am happy to share my love for the Disney Princesses with my daughter. She watched the movies over and over again and when she was younger, she have read the stories countless times.

Speaking of Disney Princesses, may I just share with you this photo courtesy of Clay Thinz:

I have been trying my hand on polymer clay. One thing that I absolutely love about this craft is meeting new friends who are ready to help and inspire. One of them is Clay Thinz and you can really say that this girl got talent! Those chibi dolls inspired by the Disney Princess (plus her other creations) prove that she is a gifted crafter. These miniature dolls are all handmade using polymer clay. I have tried making one chibi and believe, it is not that easy!

What I felt the first time I saw this photo is the same feeling I get every time I chance upon Clay Thinz’s Facebook page. Her amazing talent is truly impressive! Looking at her miniature creations can really lift one’s spirit up.

See more of her chibi dolls made of polymer at Clay Thinz’s Facebook Page. Enjoy!

Winnie the Pooh Nail Art

Arts. Eats. — Fri, 04 May 2012 13:24:14 +0000

Winnie the Pooh is my daughter’s first cartoon character favorite. Her first birthday’s theme was, you guessed it correctly, Winnie the Pooh! And here’s an ingenious nail art by Leslie of Polish Art Addiction featuring the silly old bear and his wonderful set of friends:

image source

Pochero Love

Arts. Eats. — Thu, 03 May 2012 07:13:12 +0000

Maybe it was the weather or the load of work that I have to face daily or the fact that I do get lazy at times. I seem to have lost the interest or drive to cook. My go-to dishes these past weeks have been fried – pork, fish, chicken, shrimps. And then last May 1, the husband agreed to a trip to the market. I planned on making a list prior to leaving but as I was perusing through my collection of cookbooks, I can’t find any particular dish that I wanted to prepare. Then the husband reminded me of pochero, the very humble dish that I have been planning to try my hands on for like three months now. Anyway, that surely sparked my interest so after a short breakfast, we donned our usual streetwear and off we went. We bought the ingredients needed for my pochero plus other stuff like rice, vegetables and young coconut (which is a favorite of mine). I realized how I like having the husband around when marketing. Aside from having a pair of extra hand to help me carry the load, I also like that we get to do a chore together.

Anyway, an hour or two later, here is my finished product:

I used pork and omitted chickpeas from my pochero, along with the chorizo. The husband is not fan of the former while we forgot to stock on the latter. I added the usual potatoes plus carrots, pechay, spinach and cabbage. Others fry the bananas prior to adding them but in my case, I like it adding it straight to the pot. I used tomato sauce and a little bit of tomato catsup.

The verdict was A-OK. My audience a.k.a the Husband and Daughter liked it. My daughter even suggested that I cook another batch this weekend. Personally, I wondered why I have put off cooking pochero for a long time. I like that the ingredients are very easy to find. Moreover, it is a complete meal on its own – complete with meat, vegetable and fruit! I am also a fan of any tomato sauce-based dish and this one goes right on top of my list!

Cakes for Music-Themed Parties

Arts. Eats. — Wed, 02 May 2012 05:29:22 +0000

Nowadays, a cake is not only something that our taste buds feast on during an occasion. These days, cakes are designed to fit the event’s theme. It does not matter if it’s a birthday, a wedding or anniversary, cake decorators are loaded with skills, tools and creativity that can make your dream cake come alive. Holding a cartoon character themed party? You will have a plenty of options from Minnie Mouse, Elmo, Disney Princesses and even the recent favorite – Angry Birds. You can even have your hammond organ be made into an edible creation, if you are a music fanatic. I did a quick online search online and found some really cool cake designs for music-themed parties. Here is one that caught my fancy:

image by Variedades Dalila on Flickr

The cake being one of the highlights of a party, must tell you what the party is all about. It must highlight the party’s theme. A rock star or music-themed party will require invitations, decorations, costumes, activities and yes, cake (or cakes) that jive with the theme, which of course, fits the taste, preference and personality of the celebrant.

Guava Jelly and Macapuno Preserve from Kablon Farms

Arts. Eats. — Tue, 01 May 2012 03:53:00 +0000

I grew up liking guava jelly more than cheese spread for my sandwiches. I had a preferred brand too, Lady’s Choice guava jelly, but it seems that the company has stopped manufacturing the said product for a long time now. I tried other new brands but they don’t seem to have that guava-ish taste. Too commercialized, too sweet, I guess. And then we found Kablon’s Guava Jelly – the best guava jelly brand in the Philippines if you ask me!

It is processed in Tupi, South Cotabato and made with organically grown fruits. We discovered this product while were still living in Cotabato City and used to buy our supply from a small grocery store there. Imagine my joy when we found rows of Kablon Guava Jelly jars and more in a shelf of a big supermarket chain here in the metro. We bought a jar during our last trip to the grocery plus a jar of macapuno preserve which is another favorite.

Each jar costs around P83 which is a good buy. It is organic and made by our local farmers. A good way to satisfy one’s sweet cravings while supporting our local producers.

Top 12 Mother’s Day Gift Ideas for Kitchen-Savvy Moms

Arts. Eats. — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 06:35:58 +0000

Mother’s Day is just around the corner. If you are looking for that perfect gift for the most wonderful woman in your life, let me share with you my top 10 mother’s day gifts from the Personal Creations website. These gifts are for the kitchen-savvy moms out there who never fail to fill and nourish us not only with their love but with their great cooking as well.

I like shopping at the Personal Creations website as I can easily customized the designs to fit the recipients’ taste and personality. Moreover, the vast collection of gift ideas give me more options to choose from on varied occasions.

5 Simple Tips on How to Stay Cool When It’s Really Hot

Arts. Eats. — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 06:13:46 +0000

The weather around here has been really hot and dry and people can’t help but complain about it incessantly. This weather condition can cause serious health problems. It is important then, that we all take precautionary measures in order to prevent health problems resulting from extreme heat and humidity. Here are some tips to stay cool when it’s really hot:

Hydrate. Drink a lot of fluids like water, fresh fruit juices and smoothies and iced herbal teas. Avoid dehydrating beverages such as coffee and alcohol.

Eat frequently but with smaller portions. Small meals are easy to digest, thus, the body is not stressed further with a sluggish stomach, especially when the weather is hot.

Dress lightly. Choose clothing which are made of light materials like cotton. Also, go for white or light color clothing which do not absorb the heat.

Slow down. Avoid excessive physical activities but if you must, slow don your pace. If you must exercise, choose that time of day when it is coolest.

Avoid the outdoors. If you must go outdoors, avoid going out when it is very hot. Also, stay on the ground floor since upper floors are usually hotter.

Based on what I learned from the news yesterday, this type of weather will last until the end of May. It is bearable, if you ask me, as long as I have a steady supply of this: