Weekend Snapshot #67

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My Birthday Dinner

I turned 36 yesterday. I'm not thrilled about getting another year older but it is inevitable. Ha ha! Kidding aside, I'm grateful for all the blessings I've received and I'm looking forward to more promising opportunities in life.

My hubby, son and I went to Paseo de Sta. Rosa to celebrate my birthday. There are many nice restaurants in the area to choose from. It's funny because the three of us had different choices. I wanted to try Umenoya Japanese Restaurant while hubby felt like having Mexican cuisine at Poquito Mas. Our little boy had something else in mind. The bright green establishment below caught his interest ...

Yohan's choice of restaurant - Big 30 Pizza, Pasta and Steak

Hubby and I couldn't say no to our little boy so that's where we had dinner. The restaurant is called Big 30 because it's best known for its 30" pizza. The place has affordable food and friendly staff. Yohan noticed the cool iced tea tower at the other table and requested if we could order the same thing. I think it's a cool and unique way of serving drinks. This tower serves around 8 glasses of iced tea. Even though we weren't sure if could finish it, we ordered it anyway. :)

Lemonade Iced Tea Tower (P148)
You can choose between lemon iced tea or green tea.

My pasta choice: Carbonara (P128)
This is good for one.

Yohan's choice: Chicken and Chips (198)

Hubby's order: Super Steak (P148)
He likes his steak medium rare.

Supreme 10" Ground Beef (P358)

Satisfied customers :)

After our dinner, we had dessert in a nice and cozy cake shop. More on that on my next post.

Big 30 Pizza, Pasta and Steak
Paseo de Sta. Rosa, Don Jose
Sta. Rosa, Laguna
(049) 544-2030

A Year Older

Today I turned

Thank you to everyone who sent birthday messages through email, SMS, Plurk, Facebook, Friendster and my blog. I appreciate it very much.

I just got home. I had dinner with my family. I will share photos tomorrow. I'm very tired so I'll say goodnight now.

Fun Earth Hour 2009

Earth Hour (Philippines)

This year my family and I decided to take an active role in Earth Hour. At exactly 8:30 p.m. we turned off the power at home, lighted some candles and enjoyed chocolate fondue in the lanai. :) I'm pleased that some of our neighbors also switched off their lights to Vote for Earth.


We had a wonderful time. My hubby taught Yohan how to make shadow animals. Yohan learned how to make shadows of a dog, bird, bat, snake and a goat. He was impressed when his Dad made a shadow of an elephant. We laughed when Yohan asked his Dad if he can make a star fish. Ha! Ha!

Here's a short video of Yohan's way of celebrating Earth Hour.

We switched the power back on at 9:30 p.m. I'm happy that my family took part of this momentous global event.


edited: March 29, 2009 (11:22 a.m.):

You can read about other bloggers' take on this by visiting Bloggers Care For The Earth Link Love Chain.

Renny - Norway
EastCoastLife - Singapore
A Changing Life - France
Bill - Arizona, USA
Heart of Rachel - Philippines
Life Ramblings - KL, Malaysia
Marzie - KL, Malaysia
Jean Chia - KL, Malaysia
LifeCruiser - Stockholm, Sweden
Henny - Indonesia
Teacher Julie - Philippines
Alice - Malaysia
Jade- Singapore
Jane - Philippines
Noemi - Philippines

Vote Earth!

PHILIPPINES

I've been meaning to post about this. Tonight is the much anticipated date and my family and I are voting for earth; along with the rest of the world.

It's going to be a fun night for us. After turning off the lights, we're going to light candles and have chocolate fondue at the lanai. :) Our village will also take part of this important event.

VOTE EARTH by simply switching off your lights for one hour, and join the world for Earth Hour.

Saturday, March 28, 8:30-9:30pm.

edited: 2:57 P.M.

If you have a blog post about it, please share it on Bloggers Care For The Earth Link Love Chain

Photo Hunt :: Hands

Come and join the hunt here

This week's theme is all about hands. Below is our picture wall. On the lower right side corner, you can see a frame of my son's hand print which was created when he was only a few months old.

Our picture wall at home.

It's made of plaster of Paris and mounted on a wooden frame.

My family loves eating in Japanese restaurants. Yohan loves the challenge of using chopsticks.

My son's hand is a little wobbly as he tries his best to hold the chopsticks.

Modern Day Art

I saw this captivating image online and found out that it's the work of Ford Smith. I love the blend of colors. The bright orange stands out in the blue surroundings. The image reminds me of different emotions; each fighting to be more dominant than the other. I found out that the tile of this contemporary piece is Twilight Embrace. Ford Smith Art features beautiful giclees on canvas. I got curious about this form of art and upon reading more about it I learned that giclees are images generated from high resolution digital scans. The images are printed using special light-fast inks resulting to modern day works of art.

Aloha Friday #64

Rules: Post any question on your blog on a Friday, share your answer and sign Kailani's Mr. Linky. Then have fun answering the questions of fellow participants by visiting their blogs.

What local snack do you enjoy eating?


I like eating banana cue, a popular Filipino snack that are commonly sold in the streets). Banana cue is made by deep frying brown sugar coated semi-ripe bananas (Saba variety) in hot oil. The caramelized bananas are skewered on bamboo sticks like barbecue thus the name banana cue. Freshly cooked banana cue is simple delicious.


Related Posts:
Sorbetes
Buko Pie
Halo Halo
Suman at Manga
Ube
Sumang Magkayakap

Advantage of Having Water Filter at Home

Drinking enough water everyday is essential to the body's health. Every person needs to drink at least eight glasses of water a day. During summer, people consume more water because of the heat. Now that summer is here, I noticed that we buy 20-25 gallons of purified water each week. The water in our village is potable according to the developers but I do not want to risk my family's health by drinking water straight from the tap. My husband and I have been checking out water filters ideal for our home. I think that we can save more money investing on an undersink water filter than buying several gallons of purified water every week.

Upcoming School Enrollment

School is out and kids are now enjoying their summer break. Most kids have 2 long months of worry-free vacation. While kids are busy having a wonderful time, most parents are already thinking of the new school year this coming June 2009. Many parents are already preparing for enrollment fees. Majority of the school have increased tuition fees for the coming school year which adds to the family’s financial obligation for the year. Aside from the tuition fees, parents are also expected to buy new uniform, shoes, school bag, school supplies and books. Parents with more than one child are faced with heavier financial obligation. Parents who need to get a cash advance for the coming school year expenses can consider applying for fast cash payday loans. The loan application can easily be done in the comfort of your own home.

3 Word Thursdays #20

meme rules:
*photo must have 3 words in it
*post your photo on your site with a link
back to Ma Vie Folle (or grab button)

I love how Crayola name their crayons. Take this one for instance ...

I think Tropical Rain Forest is a cool way to name a particular shade of green. Crayola even has a crayon called Macaroni and Cheese. :) The miniature guy in the photo is Ben 10 just in case you're wondering.

Summer Cash

Summer is one of my favorite times of the year. School is out and summer vacation is here. I love summer because of the perfect sunny weather ideal for some outdoor fun like going to the beach, hiking and traveling. Summer is an exciting time for the whole family, however, it can also be a strain to one's budget.

There are so many possible summer activities which can be a burden on one’s normal expenses. Traveling to new places is one way to make your summer fun and exciting. Where’s your dream summer destination? If you have trouble finalizing summer travel plans, you can get a quick cash loan. Hope you will have a memorable summer escapade.

First Days of Summer

I realized I haven't updated my blog since Monday. I've taken the time off to enjoy the first few days of summer vacation. I'm sorry for my late visits. I'll be returning your visits soon.

What have I been doing lately?

• Extending Zzz - I love summer. No need to wake up to the sound of the alarm clock. I can sleep late and wake up late as I please.
  

• Watching DVDs - I enjoyed watching a few DVDs at home like Australia and Bride Wars.
  

• 

• Reading - I finally had time to read Breaking Dawn (the last book of the Twilight Saga).

"You and me. That’s the only thing that matters. The only thing you’re allowed to think about now. Do you hear me?"
Bella Cullen, Breaking Dawn, Chapter 4, p.69

• Malling - The mall is a good place to go to escape the summer heat with the family. We've been to TriNoma last weekend where we had some delicious ice cream cakes. We also went to Glorietta recently where hubby and I bought Yohan a foldable mattress. We're gradually training Yohan to sleep on his own bed. He has been sleeping on his own (beside our bed) for three days now. So far so good.
  

• Going to the Movie - I watched Race To Witch Mountain with my family. We enjoyed this Disney movie starring Dwayne Johnson, Anna Sophia Robb, Alexander Ludwig and Carla Gugino. I like Dwayne Johnson. He easily makes me laugh.

The movie was great but I certainly did not appreciate a group of teenagers coming late inside the theater and making irritating noises as they went to their seats; not to mention blocking our view. I think they were totally rude. Noisy movie goers is one of my pet peeves.

Weekend Snapshot #66 - Five Cows Resto and Ice Cream Bar

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Fulfilling My Ice Cream Cake Craving

I mentioned in one of my older posts how much I crave for Ice Cream Cake. I think the last time I had Ice Cream Cake was back in early grade school. My friend, Teacher Julie, mentioned about Five Cows Resto and Ice Cream Bar in TriNoma which I kept in mind.

Last Saturday, I finally fulfilled that craving when my family and I had a last minute change of plans. We were supposed to go to ATC (the mall we always frequent) but on the way there, Yohan mentioned that he wanted to ride a train someday. Hubby suggested that we go to Glorietta, park the car there and take the MRT (Metro Rail Transit) to TriNoma. We got excited about the spur of the moment idea. We thought of it as an adventure since we've never been on the MRT and it was going to be our first time to visit TriNoma as well. So off we went.

The MRT experience was exciting at first. Yohan had a big smile as he took his first step inside the MRT. He enjoyed looking out the window as the train progressed. The trip back was not so pleasant because the train was packed with people. It was terribly hot and the smell wasn't exactly something to smile about. Oh well, at least Yohan got his wish to ride a train. I don't think we'll be riding the MRT again any time soon.

TriNoma is a nice mall but it seemed so hot inside. Perhaps the summer heat and the large number of people inside easily defeated the mall's a/c. We went straight to have lunch at Five Cows Resto and Ice Cream Bar. Here are the dishes and desserts we ordered (I included the price to give those who want to try the resto an idea) ...

Hubby's choice: Baked Fish Spinach (P295)
Creamy fish dish with mozzarella and spinach. Hubby enjoyed his meal.

My Choice: Chicken Steak (P275)
The chicken fillet was alright but the mashed potatoes were dry and bland. Adding some gravy helped a little but I wasn't able to finish it.

Yohan's Choice: Chicken Fingers and Fries (P195)
I forgot to take a picture. It's a typical chicken fingers dish with French fries and honey mustard dip.


Ultimate Chocolate Milkshake (P165)
My son was happy with his smooth, thick & creamy rich blend of chocolate ice cream.

I borrowed the waiter's hat with a cow stuffed toy for the left shot. Too bad the cow couldn't be seen well but believe me it's cute. :)

Five Cows newest best seller:
Swiss Banana Pie Slice (P180)
Hubby and I enjoyed this one very much. Yummy!

Yohan's choice: S'mores Cake (P95)
Yohan enjoyed every mouthful of this chocolate ice-cream in
graham-butter cookie crust with toasted mallows.


Dessert Lovers

Drinks: Bottomless Iced Tea (P75)
Mineral Water (P35)

Five Cows
4th Level (near the cinema)
TriNoma Mall
EDSA cor. North Ave.
Quezon, Metro Manila

Photo Hunt :: Yellow

Come and join the hunt here

I've shared this photo on my blog some time last year but not as a PH entry. I decided to post it again because it fits the theme perfectly.

I love sunflowers because of its huge and bright yellow blooms. In fact, I have a small collection of sunflower items. It's my dream to see a field of sunflowers someday. My hubby surprised me with three sunflowers last year.

Aloha Friday #63: Preschool Summer Tokens

Rules: Post any question on your blog on a Friday, share your answer and sign Kailani's Mr. Linky. Then have fun answering the questions of fellow participants by visiting their blogs.

(edited: 6:29 P.M.: I decided to make this post as my Aloha Friday entry for this week.)

When was the last time you made a personalized card or gift for someone special?

I helped my son create some simple and easy to make 'summer tokens' or giveaways for his classmates and teachers. He gave away these decorated sticks last Wednesday which happened to be the last day of exams. It was my son's way of saying good bye to his classmates and welcoming the much anticipated summer break. Yohan gave his boy classmates the sun while he gave the butterflies to the girls. He also gave butterflies to his teachers.

Yohan's 'Summer Tokens' for his classmates and teachers.

Materials:

• cut-outs of sun
  
• cut-outs of butterfly
• Popsicle sticks
  
• colored markers/pens
• colored fuzzy wires
• glue

Procedure:

1. Prepare some cute computer cut-outs. My son chose sun and butterflies.


2. Glue the sun on the Popsicle stick. Make as many as you want (depending on the number of recipients).
   


3. Glue the butterfly on the Popsicle stick. For the butterfly antenna, use fuzzy wires. Simply twist the fuzzy wire into an antenna shape and glue it to the butterfly's head. Make as many as desired.
   


4. You can personalize it by writing the recipient's name on the stick.


5. Add a note at the back like "Have a fun summer vacation" and let your child sign his/her name.

Related Posts:

• Bear Valentine Cards
• Halloween Giveaways
• Winnie the Pooh Birthday Giveaways
• Teacher's Day Note Cards
  

Get a Chance To Win a Wii & Wii Fit

I love intereactive computer games. It's something that you and your whole family can enjoy. If you're not familiar with Wii, let me tell you that it's a revolutionary gaming system. Perhaps, you've experienced playing with older games with all sorts of cords plugged between the console and your television. Nintendo Wii has removed the need for these cords. You can now enjoy games the wireless way. It's an amazing and modern way of playing computer games.

I'm very interested in the Wii Fit. I find it so cool that one product combines both fun and fitness. Nintendo has made this possible through Wii. Just imagine keeping in shape but having loads of fun at the same time.

Do you like freebies, contests and giveaways? If yes, then I have good news for you. You can click on the link and you might just get the chance to Win A Wii & Wii Fit From LeapFish. This cool prize will be given to a lucky winner on March 23, 2009 so you still have time to head on to the site to join. Take advantage of this cool contest and you might just bring home a brand new Wii & Wii Fit.


** Courtesy of benbehrouzi.org. **

3 Word Thursdays #19

meme rules:
*photo must have 3 words in it
*post your photo on your site with a link
back to Ma Vie Folle (or grab button)

Decorative plates on our wall.

• Home - Fill your home with love, laughter and happiness.
  


• Memories - Cherish the memories. They will be one of your greatest treasures as you grow older.
  


• Thanks - Be thankful for every blessing you receive, both big and small.
  

Investing on Quality Cutlery

Cutlery is a term often associated with flatware or things used for cutting, preparing and eating food. The most common forms of cutlery are forks, spoons and knives. My husband, who has a passion for cooking is very particular about cutlery.

My husband, who has a passion for cooking is very particular about cutlery. My husband is the one who often cooks the meals at home. He personally chooses kitchen tools and equipment. In fact, when we go to the mall, he loves going to the home and kitchen section. My husband likes to invest on quality cooking utensils, particularly knives. He believes that a good knife is a big advantage in the kitchen. A quality knife makes cutting and chopping ingredients faster and a lot easier. A quality knife is durable and last longer. Remember to take good care of quality knives by storing them in an appropriate place like a hardwood block. Storing them properly will protect not only the knives but will also help prevent accidents in the kitchen. If you want quality cutlery, you can check out Arthur Price. The company is proud of its 100 years' expertise in top quality cutlery, tableware and beautiful gifts.

Wordless Wednesday #56

It's been two days since my last blog entry. In just two days, I missed a lot of blog visiting. I have a lot of catching up to do.

Today is my son's last day of exams. Yippee for summer break! Tomorrow is the school's family day. We're looking forward to a fun day with other families. If you have time, I would like to share my Wordless Wednesday #56 entry. It somehow reflects my son's enthusiasm for summer.

Camera Critters #37

My dog Bruno is very playful but it's so hard to make him look at the camera. I think he may be camera shy. Please come on over and visit my Camera Critters #37 at my other blog if you have time.

Hope you had a nice weekend.