Merry Christmas!

(L) Christmas tree at my grandparents' and (R) an origami Santa

Ronjie taught me how to fold an origami Santa! Learn how, too, here! (Origami lesson starts at 46:18.)

meet Mimi

Tita Gigi's mini pinscher :)

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We "fed" it pomelo peelings. :D

It's December!

"It's the most wonderful time of the year!"

And the week is halfway done! :)

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Countdowns start today!

How are you feeling today? Ngiti naman dyan!

How are you feeling today?

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Ronjie and I have enjoyed this video^ thoroughly. (Subukan niyo siya gayahin while on a Skype-date... HAHAHA!) Super funny - mega-laughter talaga EVERY TIME we watch it, walang kasawa-sawa! This komikero guy is the best!

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Sir Steve of one of our Carmen Planas branches sent us some chestnuts... and pineapple got to enjoy some of them. :D Balat nga lang.

I can smell Christmas! It's the most wonderful time of the year! :)

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looking forward to Tuesday!

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I finally cooked adobo!

One item crossed off my bucket list! I used Connie Veneracion's pork, mushrooms and green beans adobo recipe but made some adjustments. Instead of baby portobello mushrooms, I used canned button mushrooms. Couldn't find baby portobello mushrooms (or even normal-sized portobello mushrooms) in the grocery. I also used just 2/3 of the recipe's amount of string beans. Parang ang dami na kasi ng 3 cups of sitaw for just 150 grams of pork.

It came out good naman! (Hooray for my first adobo!) The meat was still kinda tough though. Next time, papalambutin ko muna. :)

In other news... someone got a tattoo! It's still a bit fresh. Pretty cool design.

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mush

Marian exhibit at Our Lady of Consolation Parish Church

L-R: Virgin of Cambodia, Our Lady of Dong Liu, Our Lady of Vannu, Our Lady of Montserrat

Mary at Calvary

Our Lady of the Assumption

Mary Help of Christians & Mary Queen of the Family

L-R: Our Lady of EDSA, Our Lady of the Poor, Immaculate Conception Gesu

Our Lady of Consolation

Happy Halloween!

One reason my mom is happy during Halloween season: she can finally bring out this hand towel again! At this very moment, it is already hanging by the toilet sink. Oh joy! =)

Happy Halloween!

church-hopping on Halloween

Nuestra Senora de Gracia Parish Church, Guadalupe, Makati

Christ the King Parish Church, Green Meadows, Quezon City

Our Lady of Pentecost Parish Church, Loyola Heights, Quezon City

Nuestra Senora de Gracia Parish Church again

at 5:28 p.m.

Our Lady of Consolation Parish Church, Tandang Sora, Quezon City

I had one thing to finish today, which entailed visiting one church. I ended up having to church-hop, and in the end, still was not able to get the document I needed. We'll see pa after a week. Haay.

Was tired and got a bit stressed after all the driving and waiting for nothing, so when I got home I beheaded and ate a chocolate bunny. :D Treat!

random October food

hard, biscocho-like multi-grain bread which my officemate gets for free in the gas station he goes to

ampalaya (bitter gourd) with egg

peanuts from our household help - her family grows them in Masbate

dinakdakan in Panggo's

breakfast in Atsugi: homemade sausage and cheese "pizza"

ice cream mochi

ramen dinner in Asakusa

takoyaki balls in Yoyogi Park

DL 172 breakfast: sausage, eggs & potatoes
DL173 dinner: beef teriyaki

back home in Manila! tinolang manok with malunggay leaves

merienda of Good Shepherd ube jam (Thanks, Erica!) and milk

I ♥ chocolate! I ♥ IKEA!

(also love how Swedish words are so fun to pronounce)
Pasalubong from Ronjie - bilis naubos nito! I think I finished all three in a week!

instant noodles (from Japan) for merienda

hotcakes and tsokolate :)
(with orange marmalade or raspberry jam)

P.S. Right after I uploaded this post, I snacked on toasted wheat bread with cheese. :D

quoting

from 'Lost in Translation':

"The more you know who you are and what you want, the less you let things upset you."

pineapple update!

household tips

(from a forwarded e-mail)

For ant problems: Ants hate cucumbers. Keep the skin of cucumbers near the place or ant hole.

To get pure and clean ice: Boil water first before freezing.

To make the mirror shine: Clean with spirit.

To remove chewing gum from clothes: Keep the cloth in the freezer for an hour.

To whiten white clothes: Soak white clothes in hot water with a slice of lemon for 10 minutes.

To give shine to hair: Add one teaspoon of vinegar to hair, then wash.

To get maximum juice out of lemons: Soak lemons in hot water for an hour, then juice them.

To avoid tears while cutting onions: Chew gum.

To remove ink from clothes: Put toothpaste on the ink spots generously and let it dry completely, then wash.

To skin sweet potatoes quickly: soak in cold water immediately after boiling.

To get rid of mice or rats: Sprinkle black pepper in places where you find them. They will run away.

:(

I recently came from Tokyo, where I visited the Ueno Zoo, hoping to see a panda. But this was what welcomed me when I got there:

And so I settled for this photo:

Lessons learned:
1. Quit encouraging animals in captivity by not promoting or going to zoos. Haay. Tigas kasi ng ulo. (Related blog post here.)
2. Do better research; don't rely on just one (obviously outdated) brochure/ travel guidebook. Researching well pays.