Meiji Amino Collagen and Otsuka Collagen Jelly C (Product Review)

I wasn't paid in doing this review. I just have the privilege of having a co-parent at my children's school who uses and sells authentic Japan beauty goodies and I managed to personally try some. I have heard so much of these Japan whitening, skin-firming, collagen, placenta and a lot more few years back but wasn't convinced. So when I met this seller who is now a friend (because I now became a fan, hehe), I asked her so many questions and (honestly) asked for recommendations since she's been taking beauty supplements from Japan for many years now. I even searched on the internet for reviews and articles that tell and sort out details about these Japan-raved skin and beauty goodies. I had a hard time looking for reliable resources because what I want to read was a review coming from a user of a product and not just because they were paid to do it or they were recently given samples to test and try to support a ''positive review''. I want a review coming from an actual user of a certain product I'm looking for and maybe a long time user's testimonial would be much much better.

Allow me first to give an introduction about my skin condition. I have a very sensitive skin prone to blackheads and whiteheads and pimples. I got large facial pores which I got from my father's side though my fair complexion was said to be from my mother's. Pimples started to appear on my face at the age of 13 when I had my first menstrual period and continued until my first pregnancy and giving birth to my twin boys year 2005; but recurred after conceiving my daughter. Since then my adventure in looking for a great product to ease my skin problems began. I don't use make-up. I only have pressed powder and a lip gloss or lip balm including a mirror and comb in my (kikay) kit plus alcohol, hand soap, mint rub for insect bites and a liniment oil (talk about being a Mama). 

I really don't care if my face looks pale and without colors, what's important to me is a clean face! For more than five years (my daughter's now aged 7) my skin condition had been my dilemma. External products: cleanser, toners and creams didn't and maybe really won't work for me at all! What made it more complicated, we transferred from Davao City after living there for more than two years as a family (my husband had lived there longer for more than five years since he studied at Ateneo de Davao University College of Law) to Polomolok, South Cotabato and lived there for more than three years then later on moved to its nearby city General Santos. Thus, causing so much plight on my skin - a change in weather and water adding the pollution and humidity of the surrounding. Those years were really a nightmare to my face - hands up I'd say!

Now, here comes my review. Enter now the dragon. My ''beauty counsel'' recommended the very famous Meiji Amino Collagen. She said if it will work for me then the rest of its kind will follow. I noticed on the first three days after mixing a scoop of the collagen powder to my drinks (coffee, Milo) and even yogurt anytime of the day (at least once a day) the skin on my face near my nose got firm and lifted. My facial pores got smaller and the blemishes becoming lighter. Blackheads and whiteheads - GONE! The skin on my arms, hands and legs got tighter and firmer too. It didn't make me whiter but it did make my skin toned, supple and smooth. I also noticed my hair don't have split ends anymore in a week's time! When my menstruation arrived, my back and abdomen cramps lessened. My teeth that were slightly yellowish became lighter in shade. The powder is tasteless but has a fishy smell but when mixed into Milo, yogurt our soup the smell can't be traced. Meiji Amino Collagen is my collagen supplement until now and it's working well for me. The downside is that my face looks full or should I say I now have chubby cheeks. I might try another collagen that would do the wonders of Meiji yet won't as if add a kilogram to my facial flesh. (*sigh*) No, it won't make you fat, maybe because of the toning and lifting effect of the collagen that's why my face enjoyed it's back to youthful glow as promised by Meiji. (*another sigh*)

Enter the second dragon. I wanted my husband to take collagen too. His skin condition is much worse than mine (more pimples on his back, neck, shoulder and arms) but he disliked the thought of mixing the collagen powder in his coffee and surprisingly his nose could smell the fishy-fishy thing so I sought for help from my counsel and there she was to the rescue with the Otsuka Collagen Jelly C in a box (31 single strips in sachets good for 31 days). With prayers, I let my husband tried one and to my joy he gave an approval. Like Meiji, it tightens the pores on his face and gives him a glow, his complexion is becoming even too. It doesn't make him chubby but it knocks him to sleep after minutes of ingestion which I dislike. But if we are travelling, I replace my Meiji with Otsuka since its single-packed jellies are easy to carry everywhere (minus the can and the scoop) and convenient to consume (without making any drink). My father, brothers and my aunt are also eating Otsuka Collagen because of my recommendation and it is working well for them for two months now. 

There are other collagen brands too like Orihiro, BB, Lotte, Shiseido, Asahi and more but I'm sticking to Meiji and Otsuka for the meantime. I have Orihiro collagen in stock, I might be trying it after my Meiji packs run out. 

For authentic Japan beauty loots and finds visit Kanna Japan Beauty Shoppe in Facebook (Ms. Tin). You can also find the legit shop in Lazada Philippines. Ms. Tin sources her items for sale directly from Japan, she goes to Japan almost every month just to get ''beauty produce'' fresh!

Online Buying/Shopping

I started selling online a few months after giving birth to my third child year 2009. I used Facebook and Sulit. By the following year I initiated buying simple stuff like clothing and shoes for myself. Months went by and I was already hooked! Selling, buying, selling, buying, buying, buying.. Hahaha! I usually buy my personal paraphernalia online, at least 60-70% of my clothes, shoes and bags. I even purchase some of our small kitchen appliances from an online shopping mall. Let me write in here three reasons why I kinda go for this shopping method instead of going to a physical store:

1. Convenience. I don't have to go outside the house, less the hours spent in taking a bath, dressing up and all which I sometimes dislike. There'd be days I'd jump into the car  hair uncombed. And there'd also be unlucky days when I can't locate my one and only pink Springmaid comb making our driver run to a nearest store to buy an alternative brush for my pitiful hair. So much for that hair, because I stay most of the time at home, in my husband's office and on the road, I do not have the luxury of staying inside a shopping center particularly if it'll be my personal things I'll be selecting. When online, when I see an item, I'll check, I'll ask for details from the seller or read the given info, if I like, then confirm. That's it. 

Okay. Wait. As many as the sellers and buyers flocking the world wide web today, I am fully aware that there are fakes, bogus and scams. I only transact with sellers whom I know and trust. I am a 'repeating' customer. I do not hop from one seller/shop to another. This also applies when I shop in a physical store. I am one of those who always carry a shoppers' loyalty card or whatever they call it. Hehe. 

2. Spending Less. When I shop online I do not have to bring a wallet or cash. And when I say I only have 1,000 php for today for buying a pair of sandals, a pair of trousers and a shirt, then I have to stick with it. It's because, I am the kind of woman who brings all of my belongings when I go out. Meaning, I have with me our ATM cards and my one-month's allowance plus the amount intended for food and house necessities. Honestly, I can't resist buying when I'm surrounded with so good things. I only think about an item twice. Ending, I'd be paying for unnecessary finds. I guess I should be thinking more than thrice - to a hundred. I do not have that kind of extended patience when shopping because the day would soon be over so what I see, I get. Unlike when I face my computer, browsing a thing to a thing, stuff to a different stuff to more, I'd have the time to compare and think, now this, more than twenty times. 

3. I Make Friends. True. Because I am a 'repeating' customer, the sellers become my virtual friends. I get to know them. Not only them but even their families, their spouses, kids, love life. Because when I transact with people, one of my interests is to make a connection, not just in terms of money or business but to make a bridge more on personal. Mostly, that makes me come back to that shop, to the seller,  because of the person.

Well, my online shopping mantra only applies when I buy things for myself as what I've written above. When it comes to my husband and our kiddos, I don't have a choice but to spend a day inside my favorite shopping mall, will make another post for it though.

My PhilHealth Membership's Up-to-Date

The first month of the first quarter of  2014 is nearly at its end. I flipped over my notepad last night and was reminded of my Philhealth contribution for this year. Before, when I was employed, my employer(s) would automatically deduct 50% of my Philhealth's premium contribution from my gross salary every pay day and the other 50% would come from their end. The last BPO company I worked for was paying me 8,000 Php every 15 days amounting to 16,000 Php in  a month that required me to pay 375 Php monthly by Philhealth as my contribution. Now that I am no longer working, I still continue paying for my membership voluntarily categorized under the Individually Paying Program. Year 2012, it was amended that the 100 Php paid monthly by individually paying members will be doubled and would start by the following year and counting; but Philhealth also offered a payment scheme privilege that if an individually paying member could pay on or before August 2012 his/her whole 2013's contribution in one payment only then he/she will only pay 1,200 Php instead of 2,400 Php to which I availed. Come 2014, I have to pay 200 Php monthly for my contribution.

Paid 200 Php x 6 months for the first two quarters of 2014

I keep on paying for my Philhealth contribution because I can see that my membership benefits are essential not only for myself but for my household as well. Our youngest child was admitted last year due to UTI and because I am a meticulous mom when it comes to my kids' wellness and hospitalizations, I will always opt for a private hospital, an exclusive room, the best pediatrician in the city and branded medicines to be applied to my children. My husband and I would not take any risks at all when it comes to our little ones. We do not mind about the amount we have to shell out when health and recovery is a must. Our hospital bill for three days at General Santos Doctor's Hospital amounted to 16, 000 Php + 7, 500 Php for the Doctor's Professional Fee. We only paid 4, 000 Php out of the whole bill. Aside from my Philhealth membership, my husband had his paid for by the school where he is teaching but we requested  to have it cut-off. Philhealth does not allow double membership since my husband is already one of my beneficiaries. What he is focusing to is his SunLife insurance and his SSS contributions.

For more of Philhealth's programs and details, you may visit them online at http://www.philhealth.gov.ph.

Good thing here is, the bank where we have our deposits is accepting Philhealth payments. I need not to wait for long hours inside the PhilHealth office in General Santos City which is always bursting with people.

Our 2014's PRAYERLIST

I just posted a few moments ago my super duper late 2013 Christmas wishlist. Hehe. I just can't help it after reading a few rants of the mommy-blogs I am following so I felt the urge to at least write mine even if it's awkwardly way tooooooo late! Anyway, last year brought a whole lot of baggage on me and my husband particularly in some areas of our lives (sssssshhhhhhh) but were overcome by blessings and provision unexpected - another area in life that conquers the trails of sacrifices. I will be forever grateful to God for He remained faithful in my marriage with Rex and He's making us both to grow steadfast and strong and loyal to each other. I hundred percent believe in the song, "Sweeter as the years go by, sweeter as the years go by.." Hehe. We have lots of things and plans unaccomplished last year for our family and as an individual too. Some because of procrastination, some just didn't push through, others due to lack of well-planning and funds intended were diverted to emergencies and an aftermath calamity support and maybe because those plans were not really meant for us. We do not have regrets though because we believe God has greater plans for my family and we are excited to see what He has in store for us this 2014! Whew! This will be another year of hard work, perseverance, thorough planning, teamwork, saving, investing and trusting and having a  firm faith to the Most High!

The prayers uttered in our family devotions for this year's list started last week of December 2013. Our list is so specific as of this time. Let me share to you my readers the desires of each member of our family and some details too. Heehe.

1. A BRAND NEW HOUSE

We acquired our home lot of 404 square meters two years ago and planned to start our house construction year 2013 but as of now we were only able to do some fencing around the area (not yet finished), planted trees and some herbs and placed a tiny Bahay Kubo (nipa hut) that serves as our abode upon visit. Well, we planned to start the construction but we didn't say we are aiming to have it finished same year. (laugh) So for this year 2014, we are praying to have our own house in Polomolok, South Cotabato.

This is the Cullen's House in Twilight Saga. The structure will serve as one of our inspirations as we go over our house plans. I like the concept of wood and glass and touch of concrete. We will have an open-house (literally), open as walls will be limited so air can move in and out freely. And another element I'd like to imitate from the Cullen's house is that they don't have beds. (wink) We will have rolled mats and sleeping foams/cushions for everybody then! The floor planning and design is ongoing with friends, one who's an engineer and the other just got his license as an architect - we praise God for this blessing of friendship and of people, who are willing to give us huge discounts!

2. FORD 2.2L RANGER XL 4x4 MT

Actually, one of Rex's desire (since he took oath as a Philippine lawyer) was to buy a Toyota Hilux 4x4. It all changed when a client handed to him a one-year old Trooper (Isuzu) as payment after election. Due to his profession, he travels almost daily around Sarangani, South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Davao City to Davao Oriental. After a few months of using the vehicle, we calculated how much we've shelled out for its fuel and what we came up with was not desirable in our pockets. The Isuzu Trooper is 3L 4x4 AT and Rex was doling out a minimum of 1,000 Php a day for its fuel only, driver's fee excluded, only for their errands Polomolok-Gensan-Polomolok. A no-no. So after almost five months, we decided to let go of it and go back to public vehicles for transport. Toyota Hilux pick-up trucks have the same engines with Isuzu Trooper. So that was a good sign for Rex to look for another truck which is "reasonable". 

Then came December last year a car unexpectedly arrived just two days before Christmas. It was a favor from God and a Christian client. We later learned that Honda Fit is 1.3L 4V which made me more happy. So tipid sa gasoline! Polomolok to Davao City costs us 500 Php only! We then used the car to bring my parents-in-law to Davao City when they visited us here in South Cotabato and when we spent our New Year with my parents in Bukidnon. Husband said I can have the car all by myself when his Ford Ranger arrives, anytime soon! Yeheeeeeeee! Here's what we're praying for.

3. KIDS' TOYS & GADGETS

As our children are growing up, I don't remember us buying them any gifts and toys amounting to 1,000 Php or more. First reason is that, we can't afford to splurge that amount just for toys or gadgets they whine about as what they see in TV and in YouTube. When we go shopping for toys in malls, I needed to tell them their specific budget and show them the price figure of the toys they are allowed to pull out from the shelves. But last December, each one said a special request during one of our devotions.

The twins Maki & Kiah wanted similar items: 

PSP (PlayStation Portable) - one each.

The youngest Reese requested for: 

A pink desktop computer where she can play girly online games like baking cookies and doing some make overs over a digital barbie, also so she can watch YouTube videos of Barbie movies, Korean kids making demos on how to make jellies and erasers, and videos of play dough procedures.

She said she is also praying for a pink bike with a carrier. Not just the typical plastic bike but the one that is made of soft metals with silver wheels. 

Just the three. We are giving much priority the first two as 2014 started its roll. We are entrusting everything to God. For all things are possible in His name! A fruitful and bountiful 2014 to everyone!

My Super Ever Late Christmas Wishlist

Tadaaaah! It's already 2014 and I'm still jotting down my 2013 Christmas list! (LAUGHING OUT LOUD!) Well, I'm not that busy as what you might be thinking. I'm not a full-time working mom either. I only have a few contracts for my write-ups and articles last year. It's just that I'm hands-on at home and is doing a sideline of travelling with my husband to attend his out of town court hearings and meetings. I sometimes assist him in his office and do the works of the secretary when papers are in tons. At home, I do not entrust to anyone the grocery shopping and the local farmers' market trips which I do once a week, the sorting and preparing of my husband's and kids' clothes and lots of personal things for my family I believe I'm the one doing and for personal touches of course.

Anyway, my list will be a 100% material thingy. Here it is:

1. Nikon Coolpix S3600

20.1 Effective Mega Pixels, 8x Optican Zoom and 16x* Dynamic Fine Zoom

4-Axis Hybrid VR for Movie Recording, with High Performance Nikkor Lenses, EXPEED C2 image-Processing System, Macro-shooting for as close as 2cm., One-touch HD 720p Movie Recording

Oh well, I still have my three-year-old Nikon Coolpix S3100 with 14.0 MP, 5x Zoom and my ever reliable Samsung Galaxy 3 from Globe that I use for capturing scenes and faces of my kids and a lot of 'selfies' (self-shots) too! (laugh) I admire DSLR cameras but I think they are not for me since I don't like bulky gadgets and I'm not a pro in photography. I remember one of my instructors in Bible College who happens to be one of General Santos' professional photographers telling us during one of our classroom chitchats, "If you are making photography as a living or as a source of income (main or sideline) then you ought to buy a DSLR camera. But if it's just for leisure like you want to have your face printed with views from places like your comfort rooms, then a point-and-shoot one will do." Elite bloggers earning thousands of bucks have been using DSLR cameras since it invaded the film market. I find cameras a must for bloggers most especially if one's theme is about travel, places, food, fashion and topics that need elaboration using photos - I mean almost-true photos. I'd settle with compact cameras for now. My old camera is getting a little fuzzy with it's lens' cover and LCD. 

2. Wooden Computer Table

Minus the CPU part since my all-in-1 PC doesn't have one, I'll have another set of drawers then.

My Samsung DP700A3D All-in-1 Desktop for almost a year now is contently nestling on top of a mono block table. I asked my husband if he can have our church mate who has a furniture shop to do the job for my precious tool. Rex already gave a go signal last year but I withheld the excitement since we had just paid for our 8-seat-dining table made from santol wood last quarter of 2013. So maybe I'd have a sturdy table this summer.

I guess, that's it. Just two and I guess, yes, I guess, my 2013's Christmas wishlist will be granted this new year - anytime this year! Hahaha! I'm not in a hurry besides these are not that necessary. That's why it's called wishlist. (laugh) Hooray for my new camera-to-be and my working table-to-be!

I Heart Lotus Cookie Butter!

It's been almost a year since I started hoarding jars of these oh so creamy yummy delectable cookie or biscuit spread or butter and yet I'm still oh so into them! In fact, I discovered more pallets for other spreads like Nocilla, Nutella, Cadbury and a whole lot of arrays! Because of my constant intake of these mouth-treats (threat!) I gained almost six kilograms by the last quarter of 2013! 

They are made to be spread on bread but I prefer to have them directly in my mouth using a spoon. (laugh) I just love how the taste of cinnamon (one of its ingredients) linger inside my mouth and how it could do wonders that would help me forget my anxieties and worries of the day and think about how would I get these cookie jars in boxes and carts (now that's the problem! haha!). I bought my 2013 batch of jars in bulk online, I gave out some as Christmas gifts, a few jars sold to friends and the 'many' to my fridge! Haha! I just found a London-based-supplier selling cookie butter and other European goodies in wholesale at very low prices but I have to shoulder the freight of my treasures of course. This will be for my coming 2014 store's soft opening. 

Meanwhile, I just found out that SM General Santos City has Lotus Caramelised Biscuit Spreads Creamy at 347 Php and Crunchy at 349 Php, they could be found inside their Supermakket, spreads section. I bought one each recently, Hehe. Forgive me, this is one of my happiness. Healthy Options' shops nationwide also carry Lotus Biscoff Spreads Creamy & Crunchy at 349 Php and Lotus Biscoff Biscuits at 245 Php per pack. 

FYI. Lotus Speculoos, Caramelised and Biscoff are all the same - same brand yet they differ in taste just a little (based on my taste buds since I have those three in a row). Speculoos and Caramelised almost taste the same (99.99%) while Biscoff has this distinct taste maybe because the cinnamon is much stronger than the other two. These three are manufactured in Europe. Speculoos is what they are fond of in Belgium, while Caramelised in UK and Biscoff is preferred by the Americans and being exclusively distributed by one of their Lotus Bakeries branch in California. But you can find them everywhere actually, some Europeans prefer Biscoff and some Americans like Speculoos. Here in the Philippines - I prefer Speculoos and Caramelised. Hehe.

Just a note, drink a lot of water after eating, swallowing, licking a lot of these sweet stuff. They can give you unwanted facial breakouts, tonsillitis and fattening bellies. Haha! Splurge and enjoy!

Submission & Faith

I was on the verge of reopening, rereading ang reviewing my daily devotional books and notes for the past three years when I came to this part, a page in Elizabeth George's A Woman After God's Own Heart Daily Devotional - which made me evaluate my self as a wife for the previous year 2013. 

Submit. Submission. Submissive wife. Allow me to go into the details of my marriage with Rex.

Fortunately, the heavens blessed me, good Lord, I married a man who has the same faith like mine and we are both Pastor's kids - reasons why we came to know each other. After we tied the knot, it was when we discovered we have a lot of things in common. We are both homebuddies and we can sustain long hours to days staying inside the house just lurking in bed and in the sofa, watching movies and drinking tea. We hoard books because we always find time to read and we love dogs. We like mountains, rivers and trees and we at most consume farm produce and fish. We always eat but we do not eat to be full. We are hooked with sleeping. I mean, we sleep a lot particularly on days where there's no work and the children's school declares a holiday or no class at all then we sleep and sleep and sleep. We love reading the Bible and we prefer quite times - apart! We do family devotions with the kids but we pray separately in bed. He prays for me and I too lay my hands on him head to feet.

Our roots came from the same places: Ilocos, Mountain Province and Benguet. That's why we didn't find it hard to get along with each other's families and relatives. We have almost similar home, culture and church upbringing and trainings when we were young and single that helped us big time dealing with our starting years in our God-and-man-blessed-matrimonial. But still, it wasn't that easy. 

Of all the many things we have in common, we too have numerous differences. I married a 100% choleric while I am only 50% out of it, 25% of me is sanguine and the other 25% is phlegmatic. So I have to deal with this one-word-man and he has to face 24/7 this woman hormoned by three personalities. When he talks, he talks a lot. But when he prefers to keep mum then he can do that all day. We discuss on things but he seldom talks so much about his opinions, ideas, plans and even his feelings - his emotions! There are times he'd do this, do that without my knowledge. I love details (yeah, right) and he is so generic! He is into furnitures and I dream of appliances! He gets dogs from his clients with or without breed and brings them at home and I ended up feeding them, giving them a weekly bath to cleaning their mess!  I tend to keep things at home in place and in order - clothes only, socks only, books only, mobile chargers only, keys only - but there's this one man who keeps on mixing all things and I can't just get rid of him because he owns the 50% of my house and my things and he's my husband! I married a man who's my almost 60% opposite! We're staying under one roof for more than five years now and somehow we managed to live peacefully (laugh). We wake up in the morning as a wife and a husband, as parents, as workers and we retire for the night in bed as lovers (wink). We do not sleep with heavy hearts, we talk and we pray.

Going back to the word submission. I may not be in the same situation where Sue is in (please see photo above), her partner is not a Christian and she sees it difficult to ask for his opinion about her life's direction because of that. But what did Elizabeth George told Sue? As long as her husband isn't telling her to go against the Word of God, then Sue has to submit to him because Sue is his husband's wife. And should I do it too? Of course! Not because my husband is a Christian. Not just because I am obliged and I needed to. But because it is written in the Bible and I am responsible for what will be the outcome if I will go hardheaded towards my husband. 

Fortunately again, heavens blessed me again, oh You really are a good Lord, Rex is a kind of husband who would ask me for a yes or a no when it comes to decision making that involves me, the kids and our family. I can only count using my fingers the major decisions he made without consulting me (let's even out from the major items the minor ones like bringing dogs without my consent and putting bats and snakes' meat inside my fridge!). If I tell Rex a 'no' he'd take it and that'll be a forever no to him even if I already changed my mind! No more backwards. Overall, when Rex says he can do it, he'd mean it and he would and I strongly believe he can right from the start. I am practicing the FAITH. The faith which comes from my Father to Abraham and to Moses, to David, to Jesus Christ, to my biological father and now the faith I have in God that whatever comes in our marriage, that the faith I have in my husband will be justified by the faith I anchored to my Saviour. 

Let me suggest wives to get daily devotional booklets/books from our local publishers like OMF Lit. Inc.  I always purchase a lot of them every mid year for December gift-givings. 

Tea Time is One of My Best Times

It's been five months already since we adapted drinking tea inside our home. My husband started the whole thing by picking leaves from our landlady's tea tree in the backyard. He took so much effort, air drying the leaves, washing/rinsing, cutting and crushing them to bits, storing them in air tight containers to looking for more plants, leaves and even flowers to do the whole process - pick, wash, dry, cut, crush, store and ways he can think of and to finally mix/blend them all inside a tea pot, pour in hot water, let it seep for three to four minutes and tadaaaaah! Home made tea from fresh leaves!

Will be posting more about this tea saga next week with photos.

How To Cook Imbao Soup

Ingredients:

Imbao Shells - 1/2 Kilo
Tanglad or Baraniw - 2-3 stems
Ripe Tomatoes (sliced lengthwise) - 2 pieces medium sized
Ginger - medium
Onion Leaves - 4 stems
Raddish (peeled and sliced crosswise around 1 inch thick) - 1 piece medium
Green Pechay - 2-3 leaves with stalk (cut in halves)
Saluyot tops - 4-6 pieces
Salt to taste



How to make:

*Thoroughly wash the shells until rinsing water is clear and run water over it for a finish. (Tip: When in the market, test the shells in fresh water in a basin. Bad ones float, good shells sink.)

*Prepare all the vegetables.

*Half fill a medium sized pot with water and bring to a boil. Put in tanglad leaves, tomatoes and ginger and simmer.

*Add the imbao shells and bring to a boil until shells open.

*Add raddish and season to taste with salt. (I do not use vetsin or MSG. I use Magic Sarap but seldom.)

*Add green pechay and saluyot and cook for 3-five minutes. Serve with rice.


 

I Now Cook! (^^,)

We don't have a house helper for more than a month and am now getting used to it. Though I seldom wake up as early as five in the morning, I see to it I get to finish my basic house chores before 10 a.m. like scrubbing and sweeping the floor, washing the dishes, arranging or rearranging my hoarded books for the nth time, checking my counters and containers for refills and maybe requiring me to do a run to the cheapest grocery store in town, wiping the window blades with wet cloths and segregating the laundry for my two-times-a-week washing schedule. Breakfasts are done in fast modes: almost fried - eggplant, eggs, potatoes, ripe bananas, ham, hotdogs, longganisa, chorizo, embutido, corned beef, chayote, simple hotcakes and so many more. Lunch sometimes sees my effort in cooking but the dinner or supper usually gets my supreme act of the kitchen. Hehe. I graduated my "Ms." name with just the knowledge of frying, sauteing, making dishes with sauces like fish escabeche and some vegetables, fish paksiw, simple chicken and pork adobo and to cook tinolang fish and chicken, sinigang pork and bulalo. Plainly basic. I don't even know how the shrimps, seashells, seafood and all other kinds of pork, beef, chicken and fish dishes which seemed to be so complicated in my eyes are to be made by my own hands. And now, I'm looking forward to learning so much of these complicated dishes as I've called. Some of them are not anymore that hard, hehe. I know now how to cook pork kare-kare, chicken afritada, sinigang na hipon sa miso, ginataang hipon, ginataang gulay (vegetables), rellenong pusit, sauteed oysters, clams and other kinds of seashells, binagoongang karne ng baboy, chicken cordon bleu, I even make my own version of sushi and maki rolls and a lot more recipes I scout online, in magazines and on tv. 

Here are just a few of my cooked dishes at home. I'm not a camera pro and I just used a cellphone to take the shots. 

My first ever pork kare-kare [pork (leg part) cooked in peanut butter sauce with  pechay leaves] paired by no other than alamang!

My husband enjoying his late lunch. He even posted these two-above photos on his Facebook wall. 

Sinigang na Hipon

Sauteed Tahong

More photos to follow!

Visting OMF Lit Bookshops, NATIONWIDE!

yours truly standing outside OMF Lit Bookshop at Robinsons Place, Cagayan de Oro City 

I AM SO INTO BOOKS! That's me. A part of myself that was nurtured and sparked by my devoted Mother since I learned to grasp things. Thank you, Mama for the inspiration. She was a high school teacher then but gave up her profession when she married a Minister of God. And so, her teaching skills were applied to her children in the long run and now towards her grandchildren, my kids. He he he.

I've been reading English pocketbooks during my high school years and was an addict of fairy tales & story books before. Comic series of Archie & a lot more were also my fave way back then. My reading blues changed when I became a wife and a mom. I turned to home magazines and just last year started my collection of Christian & leadership books, children books, Bibles & a whole lot of arrays! 

So much about my stuff, my source of Christian Literature is the Overseas Missionary Fellowship (OMF) Literature Inc. They have their shops located in the Philippines from Luzon to Mindanao and blessed me I have one here in General Santos City where I can run to when I need to find a refuge for my book cravings. 

Just last month I aimed to visit each OMF Lit Bookshops around the Philippines and to take a pose for my HALL of OMF Lit Wall. I want to pay tribute to this group of people for being a channel of blessing in proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus and promoting spiritual growth primarily among Filipinos through a publishing business.

I still have a long way to go! Of the OMF Lit's ten (10) bookshops, I visited only two (2). Eight (8) more to go! Pray for me! Pictures coming soon! Hurray! 

Life Simplified

Honestly, I am one of those people who want to survive in this world without the use of too much money. My husband is earning decently and he provides well for our family but as our household income rises each month, I noticed our monthly savings remained as it is wherein fact it must have doubled or tripled. When I extracted the root cause, I found out one of the things I dreaded – overspending. I’d like to quote the statement given by a well-known noontime tv show host about the kind of living Filipinos have, “Ang mga tao, kung maliit ang income, pinagkakasya. Dumating ang panahong mas lumaki ang kita, mas dumarami rin ang demands. Hindi na yung basic kundi yung mga bagay na gustong lang bilhin kahit di talaga kailangan – mas maraming pera na kasi ang pwedeng gastahin.” I was alarmed of the in-rush thought. Our children are all under the age of seven and it’s still a long way to go with regards to their education. We have no house and lot yet and we still lack 30% of the amount we intend to use for our first family car.

Honestly, we have debts and we owe less than 30, 000 Php. I once had a credit card for two years and did not anymore take guts to re-apply after its expiration date. It may be a help only if one uses it for emergency purposes. Financial and credit experts always have to tell that these plastic cards must be meant for outputs we need in urgent: sickness, accident and sudden events. But is the rage towards a bag or a gadget or a flat screen tv urgent? Unless, if you lost your cellphone inside the mall and you needed to purchase one immediately and you did not have cash in your wallet.

I just finished reading The Rewards of Simplicity by Pam & Chuck Pierce while my husband read Surviving Financial Meltdown by Ron Blue & Jeremy White. So many literatures we encountered, speakers we have heard talk all pointing to one thing – LIVE WITHIN YOUR MEANS. Indeed. But I’d like to amend one word, instead of ‘within’, why not LESS? Yes, I’d like to live less than our means, less than what we have. After all, we are eating three times a day, have good clothing, a house we rent at a low price per month, we are able to regularly pay for our utilities, our two house helpers at home and the kids’ tuition fees in school and we set aside a fixed part of our income for our tenth to the Lord and offerings we give at church. These are all we need. What more? Inch by inch, we are acquiring things at home that we believe we need: computers, camera, appliances and kitchen essentials. We use them to enhance and make our lives more easy but not complicated.

I just want to wake up every day without any bills overdue. I know I’m not spending wisely when after a purchase, I’d feel the pangs of ‘guilt’. Blessed me, I have a husband who trains me to tighten my grip when it comes to finances. If you receive 5, keep the 3. I am no expert when it comes to budgeting so I work together with my husband. He gives me the authority to equally designate amount to our payables and he, on the other hand is the one saving and making payments for our dream car, house and lot. I am learning to think ten times first before pulling any paper bill or coin out of my bag. I had also learned how to say no to any tempting ‘credit’ or ‘installment’ privileges offered by friends and relatives on things and particulars I believe I CAN LIVE WITHOUT. We do not travel or even avail promo airline fares on credit, we do not buy cellphones and cameras using bank credits, we do not do grocery on credit and of all the things, we do not use credit. We always use and pay in cash and the cash we use are not loaned or whatsoever. I can breathe freely thinking I don’t have any due date to cram up with.

Sorry, but am totally not for credit cards and post-dated checks. My husband has clients having troubles with these forms of payment thru. This is glued on my mind, “Credit is no good. Pay in cash.” And what does it have to do with this post’s title? Our economy is unstable. If you can’t afford to pay in cash for something, why opt the credit payment and pay for the interest you don’t deserve when on the very first place you deserve to be debt-free? Why spend money you (still) don’t have? One could not be hundred percent certain if money, salary, honorarium, donation, pension and financial support would arrive on the day expected. Even field and farm harvest, businesses and firms and any produce and source of income are 50-50 to life until the very minute you have the thousands and millions in your bank account, in your hands and in your bag. One can never put the future in his hands – this goes with everything.

When life is full of unwanted debts, interest loans and credit card overdue – house and lot even home appliances reach the point of foreclosure? Credit card companies, loan institutions and people are after us - what more can we give? Do we still have more to pay for our impulsive spending? 90-95% of whom I know have credit cards and have loans with cooperatives even with what the government offers did not live a peaceful life. How can life be simple, be simplified if we are facing so much of the troubles resulted by debt?

The word debt is mentioned in the Bible but it is not written in the Scriptures to conform its rate. It was however practiced in the Old Testament but given with clear and profound construction by King Solomon and more of its instructions during Jesus’ ministry. Debt is good when paid in time. Debt is good when the money borrowed is used wisely. Debt is ok in cases of emergency. I too could not state a final fact that on the days ahead, I might need the use of credit – when life is at stake. But to use payment thru just to please the flesh – why would I? The lust of the flesh is one of the three temptations Satan used to defile Jesus in His 40-day fasting.

Simplicity for me is not to abstain from money, from spending, from entertainment, enjoyment and buying of things. It is rather to live within or less within our means. True happiness can’t be found in worldly wealth. Real happiness is when you are living in accordance to the will of God to be worry-free and debt-free. We are redeemed from sinful debt when the Son of God died on the cross. Matthew 6:33 – “Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and ALL THESE THINGS shall be added unto you.” Knock and the door will be opened. Seek and you will find. Ask and you will receive.

What Do We Have For Christmas?

24 days before the day of the world-known-belief Jesus’ birth was the day I learned to breathe on my own outside my mother’s womb. I just turned 25 and I still have a hangover from the Halloween weeks ago. Days fly by like buzzing bees so eager to finish the time’s workload and off again for the next busy schedule. I need to count, less than 26 days from now the 2011 calendar will be out from every person’s sight. Actually, when the last two quarters of this year began, 2012 calendars already started to come out from printing machines. Here in our town, cooperatives, buildings and houses are now in full bloom every night with blinking Christmas lights, Disneyland and the manger landscaping themes and all. Whew! Christmas!

Our boys in the house

Just this November I had thought of decorating our rented house with something colorful that would remind me of the 'ber' months. Not glam or fab, I just wanted it purely simple. Luckily, I found a 3-foot green Christmas tree at only 99.75 Php that comes with a free golden star top and bought sets of red and golden Christmas bells and balls and some trinkets for hanging around the symbolic tree of the season. The familiar greetings in colored foils I found very cheap at 25 Php suited our brown plywood walls in our tiny living room. My husband’s starting collection of deer skulls and horns enhanced the effect so it’s already fine for us. We just added three red Christmas sacks (yes, sacks not socks) for our three kids where we put treats and goodies every morning before they get up from bed. I believe Christmas is the time to overeat sweets especially for children. Let them be. The rest of the year they still can fill their tummies with sugar but not on a regular basis. Hehe.

Our 2-yr old Reese hugging and kissing our first-ever Christmas tree!

Simple as it is! ^^,

My husband so proud of his deer skull collection. He's not for  the season. lol

For our friends, we have prepared books simply tied in red ribbons. Books. They make a lot of sense. Our two helpers at home will surely receive Christmas bonuses. The kids are excited of their coming Christmas party in school where I already bought Santa’s hats for the twins and a reindeer head suit for the youngest and only girl.

For myself, I am planning to have a hair rebond before December 20^th. My husband wants to have a weeklong rest in Bukidnon.

And, prayers. For people I won’t be able to see and greet personally this season, because of my limited resources, prayers will be my gift. Wishing you all a blessed life with your love ones and may you all grow well in the Lord. Merry Christmas!