Ricky Martin is GAY?

I always thought of Ricky Martin as a gay person. I think from the very start of his Livin' La Vida Loca career, people already knew he was some kind of queer. His music and his dance moves tell it so. I mean, who would sing and dance in the tune of She Bangs aside from William Hung?


Ricky and another hot guy

I first heard about this news yesterday through a local TV station. My first reaction was like, "I knew it!" I was not surprised at all, but I'm happy for Ricky Martin because he is finally free. He must have took a lot of courage before finally admitting that he was "proud to say" he was "a fortunate homosexual man". I can just imagine how hard it was to keep his sexuality hidden all through this year just because his advisers had told him that coming out could hurt his career.

BBC News writes, Martin, who fathered two children with a surrogate mother two years ago, said his decision to write his memoirs had helped him to free "things that were too heavy to keep inside".

"Not sharing with the world my entire truth" about his sexuality, he continued, had become "a self-fulfilling prophecy of sabotage".

Becoming a father, he went on, had convinced him "enough [was] enough" and that things "had to change".

"To keep living as I did... would be to indirectly diminish the glow that my kids were born with," he said in a posting written in both English and Spanish.






Photo Source:
vivirlatino.com

Blueberry Muffins

I made these muffins for my hubby and his friend to enjoy in a weekend tea meeting. These muffins are blueberry-filled, so they are moist and sweet. Notice the sugar and cinnamon crystals on top? Yum!




Ingredients:

1 stick unsalted butter, softened at room temperature
3/4 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 cups flour
1 cup Smucker's Blueberry Preserves
1/2 cup evaporated milk
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
2 teaspoon sugar

Directions:

Cream the butter until smooth. Beat in the eggs, vanilla, and milk. Gradually add flour, baking powder, and salt. Mix the batter thoroughly to avoid lumps. With a large spoon, fill only 1/4 part of the muffin cups, then put a spoonful of blueberry preserves. Cover with another spoonful of batter. Sprinkle the top with a cinnamon-sugar mixture. Bake until golden brown in 25 to 30 minutes. Let cool. Serve.





*This recipe makes approximately 12 muffins.

Infant Swimsuit

It's summer again. Time to hit the stores to buy a new pair of bikini for yourself and your kiddo, but if you are going for a week of beach vacay, then you should buy more than a pair of swimwear. Check these lovely pieces that I saw while doing my usual online window shopping. I think, they will look good both for babies and ladies. Do you agree?



Juicy Couture Ruffled Swimsuit




Kate Mack Skirted Bikini




Baby Phat Girls 2 pc Ruffle Bikini




Daisy May Hula Star Swimsuit


Ahhh, too bad they're not available in bigger sizes. Tsk! tsk! tsk!

Turning 18

How did you celebrate your 18th birthday? I mean, eighteenth month birthday. Ah, I know.. You don't remember it right? Of course, how could you remember 'cos you just turned one and a half years old! Haha.


Anyway, I made this post, so my daughter will have something to read in the future and know how we celebrated her 18 month birthday. Hope blogging will remain hip until that time, though.



Happy 18th Aşkım!

Here's a film strip of her photos. I baked some chocolate cupcakes, frosted with cooked vanilla icing, then topped with M&M's, assorted sprinkles and chocolate cookie. The frosting was a bit of disaster because it did not hold properly, but the taste was really nice. I also prepared a Fruity Chocolate Cream Cake topped with kiwi, grapes (instead of strawberries), and other fruits. I am yet to improve both my chocolate cake and cooked vanilla icing, so I'll keep the recipe a secret. For the meantime, enjoy!









*This is my 18th entry for the "I ♥ PINK" meme. To be a part of the pink fever, click the button shown at the sidebar.

Citibank's Free Movie Passes is Back!

I've read about this information from a big billboard somewhere in North EDSA. I thought I was mistaken, so I visited the Citibank's website to research and the nearest participating cinema to confirm. Yes, it's true. Free movie passes are back, started March 1, 2010, and it'll stay all year!




Get FREE Movie Passes for the following transactions:

Minimum single-receipt purchase of P1,500 - Get 1 Free Movie Pass
Minimum single-receipt purchase of P5,000 - Get 2 Free Movie Passes
Minimum single-receipt purchase of 20,000 - Get 4 Free Movie Passes
For every new approved account enrolled into Citi One Bill - Get 4 Free Movie Passes

Each Free Movie Pass is worth P100. Free Movie Passes may be redeemed within 30 days from the date of purchase.

Only purchases in Philippine currency are qualified.



Simply present your Citi Card and surrender your valid charge slip at the following participating cinemas:



For more details, please click HERE.

Jewelry For Sale

The photos are mine, but not those pearls and diamonds. If you are interested, just call the person whose name and number appears below.



14K White Gold Ring with Diamonds - P55,000



14K White Gold Earrings & Ring Set with Gray South Sea Pearls - P75,000



14K Yellow Gold Earrings & Ring Set with White South Sea Pearls & Baquet Cut Diamonds - P85,000



14K White Gold Earrings, Ring & Pendant Set with Bronze South Sea Pearls and Round-Cut Diamonds- P75,000


14K Yellow Gold Earrings & Ring Set with Gray South Sea Pearls - P30,000



Tissot Women Watch - P15,000



Longines Women Watch - P30,000



VILMA +639228505063

Baby Sliding with Gelatine

This is a video of my little one taken one week ago. She confidently slides down the tallest slide while holding her tiny cup of gelatine. She even did reverse sliding, but disaster happened and her gelatine fell.



Actually, her first encounter of slides was at My Playroom in Megamall. She was too scared back then that she cried everytime we left her at the top. After moving to our new condo unit here in Mandaluyong, she quickly learned how to slide alone in a matter of days.

There was no children's playground in G.A. Tower, the condominuim where we used to live, so she learned all the tricks here. She started with the smallest slide, got tired of them, then explored the tallest one where big kids usually play. Kidding and boasting aside, she is currently the youngest to slide here yet at the age of 1.5!

Arts and Crafts Materials

I believe I am a little creative and artistic. I love making DIY projects like handmade cards, drawing and painting, cutting papers, and sometimes, making something out of garbage or recycling.




I have been keeping a box and plastics of scrapbooking and crafting materials since college. The plastics are so messy, so today, I'm showing you the box alone. This is my small collection of pens and other coloring materials like oil pastel, color pens, and water color pencils. I also have a pair of scissors, pinking shears and a snap-off blade, different kinds of crafting papers, and some stampers. Plus, a bottle of paper glue, glitter glue, assorted glitters, yarn and ribbons, and a couple of pencil cases underneath all of them.

Hey, did you notice that most of my arts and crafts materials are in pink, including the paper glue?





*This is my 17th entry for the "I ♥ PINK" meme. To be a part of the pink fever, click the button shown at the sidebar.

Baking 101

Living with my grandparents made me grew up doing most of the work in the kitchen. Well, not because I'm very good at it, but because I am the only girl among three siblings.


orange muffins ready for the oven


In high school, I took a Food Trade subject which gave me the advantage of learning how to cook different meals, baking, preserving foods, and the like. Plus, I also get tips and tricks from considered 'great cooks' of our family, cooking shows, and reading food magazines, recipe books and food blogs.

At this age, I think I learned a lot from my experiences. I know, there is more to discover and learn, more sharing and exchanging recipes to do, so for the meantime, let me share a few.


10 Simple Baking Tips that I Learned

1. Wash hands thoroughly before and after cooking time.
2. Always sift flour before measuring to avoid lumps.
3. Pack brown sugar, but not white sugar.
4. Make sure all cold ingredients are in room temperature before use.
5. This is a green tip: No need to preheat the oven. (I think I learned this from one of my favorite cooking shows.)
6. Fill all your baking tins only half full.
7. Freeze mixing bowl, wire whisk or beaters before using to come up with the best frosting.
8. Let the cake cool down for 10 minutes of more. Then unmold or cover with frosting.
9. For a rounded or uneven cake, use a knife to level it off before frosting.
10. To get a clean cake look, frost the cake thinly then refrigerate to seal in the crumbs. When the first layer of frosting is already set, you may now apply the final layer.

Judy Ann Santos is two months pregnant?

We saw this lovely celebrity couple, Judy Ann Santos and Ryan Agoncillo, as they plan their wedding, and eventually, tie the knot. Today, Ryan Agoncillo announced through Eat Bulaga that Juday is already two months preggy.




They just got the confirmation this morning, so Ryan was like, “Medyo natagalan lang po ang pag-announce dahil hinintay namin ’yung totoong confirmation dahil noong unang lumabas ’yung mga bali-balita, pregnancy test pa lang po.” he added. Proudly showing off their baby’s ultrasound printed copy, he exclaimed, “Diyos ko, baka bukas ng umaga, hindi ako makabangon. Lasing ako mamayang gabi! Nakakatuwa, nakakatuwa.”

In a live phone call, Juday said that they have no gender preference. They are wishing nothing but a healthy baby. “Siyempre, ang tagal naman din naming hinintay to, ’di ba? Masyado naman yatang selfish kung mamimili pa kami ng kasarian.”

Judy Ann was told by her doctor to be very careful at work, though. She is currently craving for mangosteen, macaroni soup, and an Italian dessert called "panna cotta".

Children Biking Safety

The sun was up and shining. It looked like a perfect day to go out for my little one and have fun with her friends at the park. So, I made her wear her pink tights, pink socks, pink sneakers, and pink hat. Then, I grabbed her pink baby bicycle which baba bought two weeks ago.


Her bike has two smaller wheels for support, so she's safe no matter how much pushing she does on the pedals. She doesn't have any cycling gears yet, but I already have a list of things that she must learn when she's old enough to bike alone. They are the following.


12 Important Rules to Teach Kids for Biking Safety:
1. Ask a permission from a parent or guardian before going out.
2. Wear comfortable clothing.
3. Wear a helmet and other safety gears.
4. Always two hands on the handlebars if possible.
5. Obey all traffic signs and signals.
6. If there's a bicycle pathway in your area, use that lane alone.
7. Do not race with other riders to avoid accidents.
8. Do not ride on busy streets.
9. Do not ride at night.
10. Stop and look before crossing a roadway or intersection.
11. Keep right. Never ever ride against traffic.
12. Watch out for road humps and holes.




*This is my 16th entry for the "I ♥ PINK" meme. To be a part of the pink fever, click the button shown at the sidebar.

I Love Being a Woman

Being a woman is not an easy job. Aside from being a daughter and sister, you'll most likely to become a wife and a mother, too! That doesn't stop there because women can play endless roles in the society just as men do. But tough as it is, I still love being a woman.


Here's a poem that I wrote to send my hubby (then boyfriend) four years ago. It talks about how lucky a woman is, because someone special values and loves her.

Lucky Woman

Lucky is this woman. You treat her as your honey.
Lucky is the honey. It is the favorite of bees.
Lucky are the bees. They own the garden with red roses.
Lucky are those roses. They are nourished by the sun.
Lucky is the sun. It has its own place in the sky.
Lucky is the sky. At night, it is more beautiful with the bright stars.
Lucky are the stars. They are higher than the mountains.
Lucky are the mountains. They are being kissed by the clouds.
Lucky are the clouds. They can pour out a heavy rain.
Lucky is the rain. It is the joy of growing trees.
Lucky are the trees. They have huge bodies like a river.
Lucky is the river. It leads to the blue ocean.
Lucky is the ocean. It can grow beautiful pearls.
Lucky are the pearls. They are made into jewelry to please a woman.
Lucky is this woman. She is being loved by you.



Let's all celebrate the International Women's Day. Hugs to all women that I know.

The Baby is Now.. a Lady?

At 17 months old, my darling little Aşkım Amelita is now acting like a lady. I know it's too soon, but I think it's a part of her growth and development.


Wearing mommy's sunglasses, halter top, and pearl jewelry.
Last Wednesday, we went to her pediatrician for her 2nd shot of PCV (Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine). While waiting for our turn, she met Donna, a little girl just 2 months older than her. Donna was wearing a pair of crocs and sundress, while Aşkım was on her favorite Guess dress and pink shoes that day. Talking to Donna's mom and watching the girls dance, play, and ran around together, she noticed that Aşkım was acting more girlish than her daughter. She mumbled something like, "Your girl is so feminine. Mine is looking boyish and acting like one." I didn't know what to say. I was amazed because it's true. Donna was tougher, running and spinning like a boy. My Aşkım? Completely opposite!



Aşkım and Donna together. See the difference?

Some more noticeable girly things from her:

-If I'm wearing a dress, she would stare at me from head to toe until I'll feel guilty and put her in a pretty dress, too.

-When already wearing a dress, she would turn around and say "Dandaaaaah!"

-She specially likes long hair. She watches lots of shampoo ads.

-She loves dancing a lot.

-Put alcohol or cologne in her palm. She'll rub her hands, then pat some to her face after.
-Open the vanity cabinet and she'll grab and try my lipstick, make-up, powder etc.
-She knows how to use deodorant and perfume with finesse.
-I even saw her twice trying my strappy wedges!
-And lots of times, grabbing one of my bags, trying them in front of the mirror.
-Her latest discovery is my new pair of sunglasses. The one she's wearing up there.

Fried Dumplings

Hey ladies! I think, you've seen me cooking a special siomai recipe for my hubby here. Guess what I've discovered lately. I realized that making dumplings is just as easy as making siomai and adding sesame oil to my dim sum recipe is not bad at all! Thanks goodness I finally tried it. Check my special dumpling recipe below.


Ingredients:
- 200 grams of ground chicken
- 1 medium potato, peeled & finely grated
- 1 small onion, finely minced
- 2 cloves garlic, finely minced
- 1 thumb-sized ginger, peeled & grated
- 3 stalks of spring onion, finely chopped
- 1 small nappa cabbage, finely chopped
- 1/2 cup bread crumbs
- 1 small egg, beaten
- 1 tbsp sesame oil
- 1 tbsp soy sauce
- salt and pepper to taste
- dumpling wrappers

For the Sauce:
- 3 tbsps soy sauce
- 1 tbsp calamansi juice
- 1 tsp chilli paste


Cooking Procedure:
- Mix all the ingredients together.
- Place a teaspoonful of the mixture the center of a wrapper.
- Fold the dough over the filling, making it shape like a half moon.
- Wet the edges with water, then pinch them together to seal.
- Repeat the same process with the remaining mixture.
- Deep fry until golden brown.
- Serve with a mixture of soy sauce, calamansi juice, and chilli paste.

Notes:
- The authentic Chinese recipe uses water chestnuts. They are seldom available here, so I used potato as substitue.
- For healthier dumplings, steam the dumplings instead of deep frying.
- This recipe makes 20 pieces of dumplings.

Wanna Go to Boracay for FREE?

WOW Philippines Travel Agency, Inc. is celebrating it's 5th year in business during July of 2010, and we would like you to have a chance to celebrate with us, so we have decided to give-away a FREE Boracay Package complete with 5 Star accommodations at the luxurious Le Soleil de Boracay Hotel on Boracay Island. The lucky winner will win the following Boracay vacation package.

Vacation Package Inclusions:
- 5 Days / 4 Nights Luxury 5 Star Accommodations at the Le Soleil de Boracay Hotel
- Flights to Boracay from Manila to Caticlan Airport on Philippine Airlines
- Island Transfers - Door-to-Door from Manila to the resort and back to Manila
- Three (3) Meals each day, Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
- Boracay Activities - Horseback Riding, Island Hopping, Glass Bottom Boat
- PLUS - 5,000 peso Spending Cash