It's a baby boy for Juday and Ryan

After four months, the celebrity couple finally learned about the gender of their baby. The reports say, “Muntik nang tumalon ni Juday sa tuwa after the ultrasound, kaya lang bawal kasi nga she’s into her fourth month of pregnancy.”



Judy Ann Santos is expecting to give birth sometime in October or November this year. The couple tied the knot through a private ceremony in an old church in San Juan, Batangas April of last year. It was attended by their relatives and closest friends only. A couple of months ago, Ryan excitedly announced through Eat Bulaga that Juday was already two months pregnant.

The couple is yet to choose the boy’s name. They didn't even decide yet whether Juday will give birth by C-section or the normal way.

A Healthy Mango Smoothie

It is steaming hot outdoors. The best activity that fits the season is swimming. However, too much sun exposure is not advisable because of its harmful effects on skin. So what else do you need to beat the scorching heat, but a glass of very cold smoothie?



Guess whose glass is the pink one? :)


This summer treat is best for each member of the family. No sugar added. Only natural sweeteners plus some healthy bacteria. Enjoy!

You will need:
2 medium yellow mangoes
1/2 cup plain yogurt
1/2 cup evaporated milk
2 tablespoons pure honey
1 cup crushed ice

Here's how:
Peel the mangoes and cut into bite pieces. Pour the ice in the blender and the rest of the ingredients. Blend well until smooth. Serve using tall glasses.






*This is my 28th entry for the "I ♥ PINK" meme. To be a part of the pink fever, click the button shown at the sidebar.

Turning 30

Edited: May 26, 2010

I will be celebrating my 30th birthday next month. Because of that, I'm planning to have a series of giveaways from the month of June until the year ends. I will be posting random topics together with a gift (or gifts) for you ladies.



Followers and readers of this blog may all have the chance to be a winner. Joining will be very easy. I will require only a single comment to qualify. For those who don't have a blogger account, you may just copy the url or link of the giveaway, then post it to your twitter or facebook account.

Already excited? Please wait for a few weeks more and you'll see. I promise.. we'll have so much fun this time.

How to Spot a Fake Bvlgari Jewelry

It is easy to spot an imitation bag, but how about jewelry? Look at this fake Bvlgari TONDO "Sun" pendant. The story behind these photos is a little frustrating so, I won't share it anymore. What's important is that I proved its inauthenticity before anyone could purchase it.



This is the authentic TONDO "Sun" big pendant. 1.70" (4.30cm) diameter. Made from 18 karat yellow gold and steel. Available at BVLGARI.COM for $1,550.



Spotting the Difference Between a Fake Bvlgari Jewelry & the Original One

1. Check the logo. Noticed any difference in size of the letters?
2. Inspect the material used. Does it look like real gold? Not tarnished?
3. Check the size and weight of the jewelry. It might be smaller or lighter.
4. Packaging. Does it come with a box or papers to verify its authenticity?
5. Ask for the price. Fake ones are usually cheaper.





*Some of these tips came from the salesmen of BVLGARI-Greenbelt in Makati.

Cupcake Liners

Cupcake liners are used for easy removal of cooked cupcakes or muffins from baking pans. Before, they were available in white thin sheets of paper only. These days, cupcake liners come in different forms, colors, and sizes.


Don't you think baking is exciting? :)


I found these very cute cupcake liners from Bakers Depot last Mother's Day. They have lots of liners to choose from, so I was able to go home with three designs. Aside from the liners, I also bought a pack of wheat flour, chocolate chips in three different colors and flavors, and some plain cake paper liners.

I have to use these cupcake liners soon. I am now hunting for the yummiest mango cupcake and vanilla cupcake recipe. I also need a very nice vanilla frosting. My packet of colorful sprinkles are waiting, so I have to work it.







*This is my 25th entry for the "I ♥ PINK" meme. To be a part of the pink fever, click the button shown at the sidebar.

Banana Mold

Early this year, I posted the pink version of this gelatin dessert. Today, let me introduce you to its green relative. Enjoy!



You will need:
24 grams red gelatin powder
750 ml evaporated milk
300 ml condensed milk
1 tsp vanilla extract
200 ml heavy cream
2 cups of ripe banana slices
1/2 cup sugar
1/3 cup water

Here's how:
In a saucepan, caramelize sugar with water. Add the banana slices and stir until it becomes a thick paste. Set aside.

Mix the evaporated and condensed milk together. Gradually sprinkle the gelatin powder to the milk mixture. Add vanilla extract. Cook over medium heat while stirring constantly until cooked.

Pour the cooked gelatin into glass molders, leaving an inch empty to the brim. When it sets, cover the gelatin with heavy cream and top with the sweet banana paste. Chill and serve.

Toddler Shoes

Shoes for kids can be pretty cheap here in the Philippines. During the sale season, tags even drop up to 75% off. I'm not talking about locally made shoes alone, but quality imported shoes too!



She is wearing all of these..


I shop for toddler shoes every now and then. My daughter is growing pretty quick, so like other wise moms, I also don't invest on expensive shoes. Never that I bought a pair of shoes more than P500 ($10) for my daughter. Look the photo of her shoe collection up there, then check the following price list.

1. Pink cow slippers, below P200
2. Red panda doll shoes, below P350
3. Purple doll shoes, around P400
4. Pink squeaky shoes, below P250
5. Pink sneakers, around P250
6. Dora plastic shoes (NEW!), below P400
7. Red sandals (NEW!), given by a family friend
8. Dora rubber slippers, around P350
9. Purple sandals (NEW!), below P400
10. White shoes (NEW!), around P350

Now you know why it's easy to make my little one a little Imeldific.

My Celebration of the Mother's Day

I had my first happy Mother's Day celebration over the weekend. Hubby and I ate the yummiest "shawarma" from SSC, bought grocery from our favorite mart, enjoyed shopping for baking products from Bakers Depot, and finished the holiday with chocolate marjolane from Red Ribbon.



And oh, I should not forget. Aside from new wedges, jeans, and Ensemble shirt (the one I'm wearing in the photo), hubby also bought me the cutiest gift. A white Nokia E63 cellphone. This serves as a replacement to my white K550i from Sony Ericsson. Now you know that white is my number one favorite color. I just love pink because of my daughter (wink).



Seniseviyorum bebeğim. Thank you so much for making the Mother's Day special for me. Muah!

A Visit to the Manila Ocean Park

Located at the back of the Quirino Grandstand, about 45-minute drive from our place in Mandaluyong, is the Manila Ocean Park. Known to be the Philippines’ first state-of-the-art Oceanarium, this park are visited by both local and foreign tourists. Two weeks ago, my family visited the place for the first time.



We came around 11 in the morning, so before getting our tickets, we first took a quick lunch at Gerry's Grill. Good thing they have the aquariums, boutiques, and restaurants all in one roof. It was convenient to dine before running for the shows.


I did not like queuing for the Oceanarium tickets, though. We waited for almost an hour to get them 'cause the park is normally crowded with people in summer and on weekends. Another complain is regarding the admission fee. They are charging P350 for kids 4.5 feet and below. Only infants below 2 feet are free. And when you say infants below 2 feet, they are the ones who cannot walk yet. Urgh!

Anyway, the whole experience wasn't really memorable for me. I think, those giant aquariums are only for kids. My little one enjoyed a lot from seeing the different fishes and aquatic animals. Next time in an off peak season, we'll try to be back to see the Open Marine Habitat and the evening shows. Hope they'll meet my expectation. For the meantime, here's a film strip for more photos.


What Aşkım wore:
Pink and white polka dotted dress from Landmark
Purple 1 inch sandals from SM Kids
Purple & white bunny clip from Buttons & Bows






*This is my 24th entry for the "I ♥ PINK" meme. To be a part of the pink fever, click the button shown at the sidebar.

Stella Wedges

Wedges never go out of style. They are famous during summer or spring. Hollywood celebrities like the Fil-am actress Vanessa Hudgens love wearing wedges. They add height to those who wear them minus the pain. Like slippers, wedges are usually comfortable to wear.


SM Megamall had a 3-Day Sale last weekend and hubby took us there for shopping. Look at these lovely 4 inches Parisian wedges that I lifted from the shelf. We got this pair with 20% discount from the original price. The name of this design is Stella.


I already have 2 pairs of Parisian wedges-- white and yellow. The white pair was my favorite, but it already gave up after 3 years of use. This new pair is my replacement. I'm sure they will match the maxi dress which I'm planning to wear on a certain event next month.

Do you love shopping for cheap yet comfortable shoes? How many pairs of wedges do you have?

Happy Mother's Day!

It's the 2nd Sunday of the month of May, so HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY to all the mothers that I know. Let us all celebrate the joy of being a mother. Cheers everyone!

I also want to say Happy Mother's Day to my mom. Oh no, I feel like crying again, but I missed her so much. I sometimes wondered how my life could have been if she didn't leave us so soon.

In my experience, growing up is not easy without a mother. There are always tiny sad moments, wishing you have a mother to take care of you, hug you, and laugh with you. If you still have a mother, you must be very lucky so hug and kiss her now. Tell them her how much you care and love her. It is the sweetest thing in the world.

I love being a mother as much as I love being a woman. I was very happy when I learned that I was pregnant with my little one in 2008. I was happy and excited, but a little worried-- worried that I won't become a good mother to her. Looking at my daughter now, I realize that I don't have to worry anymore. God chose me to be her mother, so I think I am good enough for her.

---
My dear little one,

I am so much grateful that you are my daughter. I can't wait to have fun with you in the kitchen. Plus, we'll do a lot of shopping together. I promise that you'll not miss all the love and attention that mommy missed when she was young.

Seni seviyorum..

Chicken Embutido with Sausages

I am a stay-at-home mom, so I basically cook my family's everyday meal. One advantage of being the queen of your own kitchen is being able to improve the taste and appearance of your family's favorite recipes as you cook them over and again.




This should look familiar to you if you saw my recipe HERE. For improvements, I added chicken sausages and I did not peel off the aluminum foil before pan-frying. They look more appetizing this time, right?

Summer Means Swimming!

To beat the summer heat, my daughter and I go for a swim. Good thing that the condominium where we moved has a podium deck where there is recreation area. They have amenities like children's playground, gym, billiards and bowling, lawn tennis court, adult and kiddie pools there.

Here are photos of my little one taken two weeks ago during one of her swimming sessions. She loves the water so much esp. these days that the temperature is rising. Sometimes, it is a little hard to make her stop once she got into the water and started splashing here and there.


In her swimsuit, with Korean friends Sheena & Yona before swimming..



Using her pool float for the first time..



A pose before going home to take a quick shower :)




Baby Pool Safety Tips (from American Academy of Pediatrics)

1. Never leave your baby alone in or around the pool.
2. Put up a baby pool safety fence.
3. Don't trust your baby's life with air-filled floatation devices as they are not a substitute for approved life vests and can unnecessarily put your baby's life at danger.
4. Anyone watching young children or babies around a pool should be CPR-certified.
5. All toys should be removed from the pool after use. Toys in the pool will always tempt children towards the pool.

Dalagang Maanghot

Commonly known as lantana or shrub verbenas, this flower grows in tropical and subtropical regions like the South East, Australia, the Pacific, and some parts of Africa and America. In the Philippines, lantanas just overgrow in the wild and they are even considered as weed. Its stinky smell make people avoid to touch them, so it is less likely to be present among gardens.


How many colors can you see?



Did you see tiny bows?



Multi-colored cluster of flowers in one shrub :)



They appear really inviting with its colorful florets, but keep your distance if you wish not to bring its foul odor with you. In my province, we call this flower dalagang maanghot which translates to "smelly maiden".

Fruits will later grow from its florets which is another interesting characteristic of this flower. The fruits will look like berries which are green when unripe and dark blue when already ripe. While bees feast on its flowers for honey, birds eat the berries as snack. The latter contributes to the dispersion of its seeds.






*This is my 23rd entry for the "I ♥ PINK" meme. To be a part of the pink fever, click the button shown at the sidebar.

Black and White Wedding Theme

It is uncommon for a Filipino bride to choose black and white as a wedding theme or motif. The color black means sadness or the color of mourning. For most of us, it is something that we'll only wear to a funeral, never on weddings. However, trends keep on changing and people become more open-minded as time passes by.


Last month, I attended a black and white-themed Wedding. I was excited because I've never been to wedding with such a theme. In the above photo, you can see the gift that I gave the newlyweds which I personally wrapped. Included in the collage are photos of the cocktail ring, pearl jewelry, white pumps, and white handbag that I used for the wedding. See the very cute wedding invitation? Perhaps one can keep that as a souvenir, right?


The wedding ceremony took place at the Iglesia ni Cristo in Cubao. The reception followed at the Oasis- The Pavilion in San Juan. It was attended by the couples families, friends, and other relatives.


Yes, the bride added some touch of red to the theme, so it won't be boring. Black and white plus red was just fabulous!


My friends and I had so much fun posing at the photo booth. We took a lot of funny and wacky photos, but this one is the coolest.


And.. here's my favorite picture of the couple which I edited through Picasa. The bride's hand-tied bouquet is the highlight of this photo. Very beautiful. Made me wish to march the aisle again. Hello Istanbul! Haha.







Welcome to married life Ish :)