Heart of Rachel

Aloha Friday #76

2009-07-10T08:46:00.003+08:00

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.

When you want a dose of sugar rush, what is the first thing that comes to your mind?

I usually think of a piece of chocolate. A slice of cake would be great as well. If all things fail, a glass of coke would do. Ha ha!

Weekend Snapshot #80 - Ice Age 3 Happy Meal

2009-07-06T09:00:00.002+08:00

To join this weekly meme, click here.

My son is looking forward to watching Ice Age 3: Dawn of the Dinosaurs. Hubby and I promised to take him to the movie theater soon. Yohan was glad to dropped by McDonald's to take advantage of the current Happy Meal featuring characters from the said movie.

McDonald's Twister Fries

Yohan's first three choices are Manny, Diego and Momma Dino. He also recently acquired Sid and Ruby (not included in the photo). He needs three more to complete the set.

Happy 4th of July

2009-07-04T17:48:00.003+08:00

Happy 4th of July to my friends in the US. I decorated my yard (in Pet Society game) in honor of this special occasion. :)

Photo Hunt :: Pink

2009-07-04T15:26:00.004+08:00

Come and join the hunt here

I gave this gift to my SIL on her recent birthday. I decorated a miniature "Chinese take out style" box with pink flowers. I put a pink cologne inside.

Here's an empty pink heart-shaped container I found at home.

Aloha Friday #75

2009-07-03T16:59:00.003+08:00

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.

Is there something you're sorry about?

I would like to take this opportunity to say sorry to my blog friends who have recently tagged me with meme and awards. I'm sorry if I failed to do recent tags because I've been a little preoccupied. I'm afraid I lost track of some tags already and hope you won't take it against me. I hope I can make it up to you next time.

Cord Blood Banking

2009-06-29T23:53:00.006+08:00

Planning a family and having a child is a big responsibility. There are many important things to consider when you're having a new baby. Good health is a top priority of parents all over the world. Cord blood service is a revolutionary health procedure that can save someone you love in the future. It is vital to take the initial step today in order to protect the future of the people you love and cherish. Cryo-Cell service can provide safe collection and preservation of your newborn's stem cells. It is amazing how this process can treat over 75 different diseases. In fact, records show that over 12,000 umbilical cord blood stem cell transplants have taken place in different parts of the globe.

If you are thinking of storing your baby's cord blood, you can take advantage of this limited offer. You have the option to enroll by midnight of June 28th, in order to enjoy a great special price for cryo-cell. This is a special offer for expectant families. Cryo-Cell is a leader in the industry of cord blood banking with an impressive record of over 175,000 clients. Clients can be assured of Cryo-Cell's dependability because it has more accreditations than any other private cord blood bank.

Weekend Snapshot #79 - Bratz Party

2009-06-29T08:39:00.016+08:00

To join this weekly meme, click here.

My family and I attended the 7th birthday party of my niece, Alex last Saturday. It was a Bratz theme party. We all had a wonderful time especially Yohan.

The host of the party did a magnificent job providing the entertainment. He was a funny comedian, a great balloon twister, a great game master and a terrific magician.

Yohan joined a lot of games and he won many prizes. Below is a fun game of "chef on the go". The kids were grouped into two. The kids took turn wearing the chef hat and holding the frying spatula with a toy egg. Each participant had to run around a chair before handing out the props to the next kid. Yohan (wearing the printed blue shirt) is on the move in this shot.

Even the adults had a great time participating in some of the games. Below you can see my cousin (wearing green) and hubby (wearing gray) participating in the "guess the title of the movie". The host played songs from random movies and the participant who hit the buzzer first got the chance to make a guess. Each correct answer gave the corresponding group 1 point. When I took this shot, the score was 2-4 (in favor of hubby's group). Hubby and his group mates won this game.

Here is Alex's lovely Bratz cake with matching Bratz cookies. For party favors, mini back packs with fun goodies inside were given away (pink for girls and blue for boys).

Yohan got one Bratz cookie and gave it to me. We brought home these chocolate giveaways too. It was a great and fun party. We gave the birthday celebrant a cute Bratz magic eight ball (unfortunately I wasn't able to take a picture of the present).

Aloha Friday #74

2009-06-27T00:57:00.005+08:00

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.

Have you ever watched Michael Jackson in concert?

It's sad to think that the King of Pop is now gone. Michael Jackson will always be one of my favorite 80's icons.

I watched Michael Jackson in concert back in December 1996 when he went to the Philippines. That was around three months after my college graduation. I watched the concert with my best friend, Chary. The concert was held at The Reclamation Area in Pasay City. During that time, it was a vast vacant, open land area.

I remember the huge crowd, the deafening scream of fans and Michael Jackson's superb performance. There was a point when it became quite difficult to properly see Michael on stage because people were standing up. I still remember the cute couple near us. The guy carried his girlfriend on his shoulders so she could have a better view of the stage.

Another thing that made that night unforgettable was my unfortunate experience after the concert. There was a lot of soil and dust particles in the air that triggered some sort of skin allergy. I developed rashes all over my body and I had fever for around 2 days. Despite getting sick, I still have fond memories of that momentous concert.

Yohanism #33 - Yohan in Prep

2009-06-23T09:07:00.005+08:00

My son is now in Prep. It warms my heart to see him grow up. Here's a photo of Yohan in his uniform which I took yesterday before the school service picked him up from the house. He said good bye to his back pack and started using his big school bag with wheels. He now has more subjects in school so he needs a bigger bag to carry his books and notebooks.

This year, the school changed the boys' uniform for preschool. It used to be plain blue shorts. Now it's checkered shorts, similar to the girls' skirt.

This is the second week of school. The house still feels unusually quiet and lonely in the morning when my son is in school. I'm always eager to welcome him home when he arrives.

It's funny because there was a time I must have kissed him a hundred times when he arrived from school because he told me,"Mom that is enough kisses for the day." Ha ha!

Ley Luck Gifts and Souvenirs

2009-06-23T08:38:00.010+08:00

Special Plug: If you're looking for gifts and souvenirs with a distinct Filipino touch, I suggest you check out Ley Luck's Site. It specializes in products from the province of Bicol. The site offers products made from fine abaca hand-woven to perfection such as: placemats and runners; and soft-cotton napkins with beaded holders. These items are perfect giveaways for events like weddings, anniversaries, birthdays and other special occasions.

Below are just some examples of Ley Luck products:

Napkins with beaded holders

Olive green set with beige cotton napkins and matching green beaded holders.

Products:

Placemats + Napkins w/ holder (Big box) – Set of (6)
Placemats (Plastic) – Set of (6)
Napkins w/ holder (Small box) – Set of (6)
Table Runner – (1)

Please feel free to browse http://leyluck.multiply.com/ and choose your own motif and style.

You may contact Myrna Malilay, Business Owner
0905-3282006/0922-8528625

Places of Interest in Singapore

2009-06-23T06:32:00.008+08:00

Singapore, also known as the Lion City is one of the cities that I would like to visit. I have a lot of relatives and friends who have been there and they all praise the city for its beautiful sites. Another great thing about Singapore is its proximity to the Philippines. It would only take me around 2 hours and 58 minutes from Manila, Philippines to Singapore.

I already have a planned itinerary in my mind if I get the chance to visit Singapore with my family. I think an ideal stay would be 4 days and 3 nights. I would like to stay in a hotel where my family and I can have easy access to the heart of the city. An ideal hotel would be Grand Mercure Roxy Hotel because it's near Parkway Parade and East Coast Park. They say Singapore is a great place to shop 'til you drop. I think the first thing we would do is visit the big suburban mall called Parkway Parade. I'm sure we would enjoy checking out the great shopping establishments . After shopping, it would be great to try out some authentic Singaporean cuisine.

My family and I would probably spend the rest of the days touring Singapore. The Singapore Zoo, Night Safari, Jurong Bird Park, Kent Ridge Park are also among the top places in Singapore that I would like to visit with my family. On our last day, we would like to have the chance to ride the much talked about Singapore Flyer.

Interested to go to Singapore? Check out the great but limited time offer at Accor Hotels City Super Sale. Take advantage of this amazing Super City Sale to great destinations such as Singapore, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, Hanoi, Manila, Mumbai, Sydney and Auckland.

Weekend Snapshot #78 - Creamy Baked Dory

2009-06-22T12:43:00.010+08:00

To join this weekly meme, click here.

Happy Monday! Sorry wasn't able to take pictures last weekend. I hope it's OK if I share photos taken several weeks ago.

Hubby made Creamy Baked Dory for lunch; inspired by the baked fish he ate at the restaurant. He tried to replicate that dish at home and I think he did well. Here is hubby's recipe:

1. Preheat oven. Put fish fillet in a baking dish/pan. Season fish fillet with salt and pepper.

2. Heat 2 tbsp. butter in a saucepan at low heat; then add 2 tbsp. flour. Whisk thoroughly. When the mixture attains a paste-like consistency, add cream gradually while whisking to avoid lumps. Add grated cheese until it melts. Season to taste. Set aside.

3. Arrange spinach leaves on top of the fish fillet.

4. Get the mixture previously prepared and pour it on top of the fish and spinach.

5. Add some grated cheese on top. If you have mozzarella, the better.

6. Bake the fish around 25 - 30 minutes.

7. Serve the dish as is or with side dish(es) of your choice.

Enjoy the meal. :)

Happy Father's Day

2009-06-21T21:03:00.004+08:00

Thank you to my Dad and husband for the love, support, understanding, kindness, respect, inspiration and strength. I want to wish my Dad, my husband and all the great fathers out there a wonderful Father's Day. I would like to share my son's Father's Day card.

Photo Hunt :: Creamy

2009-06-20T16:47:00.002+08:00

Come and join the hunt here

Last night, hubby cooked creamy spirelli, carbonara style.

Aloha Friday #73

2009-06-19T20:37:00.012+08:00

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 kind of cuisine are you fond of?

I'm fond of Japanese food. My family always make it a point to eat at Japanese restaurants. Last Thursday, hubby and I had lunch at Teriyaki Boy, a casual dining Japanese restaurant. We ordered the following:

California Maki

Ebi Tempura Bento Box (includes miso soup, 3 pcs ebi tempura, rice, bean sprouts, kani salad, coffee jelly and iced tea)

Teriyaki Boy Bento Box (includes miso soup, Teriyaki Boy chicken, rice, bean sprouts, kani salad, coffee jelly and iced tea)

After lunch, we went to New Hatchin Japanese Grocery in Makati to buy some ingredients for hubby's culinary class this coming Sunday. Their theme this Sunday is Japanese cuisine. I personally recommend this Japanese grocery because they carry a wide variety of authentic Japanese products. They also have friendly and very accomodating staff.

Located at 7602 Sacred Heart St. cor Metropolitan Ave ., San Antonio village Makati City

Assorted Japanese goods

Yohanism #32

2009-06-18T22:16:00.003+08:00

* These are separate incidents.*

Incident 1

I laughed so hard when I saw Yohan trying to coerce the computer to load an online game faster. He was making actions with his hands pretending to be a wizard putting a spell on someone.

Yohan: " You are under my spell. I command you to load. I command you to load."

He had no idea I was watching him. When he noticed me, we both burst into laughter.

Incident 2

Yohan was on the computer while I was watching TV. He suddenly complains ...

Yohan: " Mom, why does your mouse have a mind of its own?"

Ha ha! Apparently, he was having a little difficulty controlling the mouse at that time.

Wordless Wednesday #64

2009-06-17T17:42:00.002+08:00

I have always been fond of this rich and yellow custard filled log cake. I had a slice of this delicious cake for dessert. Please visit my Wordless Wednesday #64 entry at my other blog to see what cake I'm referring to. :)

Improve Vision Through Lasik

2009-06-16T23:40:00.004+08:00

LASIK is an effective and safe eye procedure available in this modern time. It can remarkably improve one's eyesight by using a specialized laser. This procedure aims to treat poor vision. Lasik helps eliminate the need to wear contact lenses.

The time calls for wise decision making. Many Americans have realized that choosing the best vision care procedure like Lasik can actually result to bigger savings. Below is an actual testimonial about Lasik:

"For me, iLASIK will pay for itself in seven years by eliminating the ongoing cost of glasses, contact lenses and solutions," said Stefanie Fujinami, who had the iLASIK procedure this year with Los Angeles-based ophthalmologist Dr. Robert Maloney. "The next morning I had 20/20 vision -- I could even read the fine print on the toothpaste!"

The iLASIK procedure is safe and will save you more money in the long run. It combines Wavefront mapping technology with two lasers making it a safe and tailor-made procedure. People can even take advantage of most health savings accounts, offering a tax deductible way to pay for improved eyesight. Take for example a 25 year old person wearing contacts. Chances are that person will spend more than $20,000 to maintain his contacts during a lifetime. On the other hand, modern LASIK will improve your vision and give you bigger savings. Find out how you can effectively calculate your lifetime costs of wearing contacts by visiting the site.

Back To School

2009-06-15T23:10:00.003+08:00

Yohan was supposed to go back to school last Monday but the school announced the postponement of classes as a precautionary measure against A(H1N1) virus. It gave students, who just got home from their overseas vacation, time to take self quarantine.

Classes opened today. It's a brand new school year. My son is now in Prep. Amazing how time flies. It's ironic, because I was the one who felt a wave of separation anxiety when Yohan boarded the school service this morning. I was not worried because yaya was with him but I still had a heavy feeling when he left. The house was suddenly dull, quiet and lonely. I realized how much I missed my son while he was in school. The moment Yohan got home, the house became alive again.

Students are not yet required to wear school uniform this week so I wasn't able to take a photo. I'll take a picture of him next week wearing his uniform.

Weekend Snapshot #77

2009-06-15T12:40:00.004+08:00

To join this weekly meme, click here.

These are snails or locally known as golden kuhol. Hubby bought some at the market for his culinary class.

Below is the final product - Escargot (just one of the dishes hubby and classmates made for their French Cuisine theme).

Photo Hunt :: Lock

2009-06-13T14:32:00.003+08:00

Come and join the hunt here

My mom gave me this trinket box a few years ago. It has a key but sadly I lost the lock.

Aloha Friday #72

2009-06-12T17:31:00.004+08:00

Watching the sunset.
Lighting a scented candle.
Reading a good book.
Watching the fish swim in the aquarium.
Drinking hot chocolate on a rainy day.
Playing Farm Town (on Facebook).
Spending a laid back weekend at home with the family.

Weekend Snapshot #76

2009-06-08T12:44:00.005+08:00

To join this weekly meme, click here.

Last Saturday, Hubby and I attended the Luau Birthday party of Yana (our friend's daughter). Sadly we weren't able to bring Yohan because it was raining really hard that day. Yohan just recovered from cough and colds so we thought it best not to bring him along. He had a Hawaiian shirt ready for the occasion but we just didn't want to risk him getting sick again. We missed Yohan the whole time we were there.

Yana's Lilo and Stitch cake and cupcakes.

The lovely 3D cake up close.

I love the cute 3D cupcakes.

Chanda (the celebrant's mom) gave me a Stitch cupcake to bring home to Yohan.

Top 10 Facebook Games

2009-06-07T20:23:00.011+08:00

I watched the Ang Pinaka show earlier on QTV. This week's topic is Ang Pinaka: Patok na Facebook Games. The show featured the top ten Facebook games based on monthly active users.

Here's a rundown of the top ten Facebook games. I actively participate in 3 games namely Pet Society, Restaurant City and Farm Town.

10. My Farm - "Design, grow and maintain your farm and send gifts to friends."

9. Kidnap - "Kidnap your unsuspecting friends, and make sure nobody else kidnaps them from you. Earn money by selling your hostages to others, and then buy their hostages. Once someone kidnaps you, you'll have to buy yourself free from them."

8. Vampire Wars - "Start a Clan of Vampires with your friends, do missions, buy powerful abilities, and fight!"

7. Restaurant City - a game that lets you create and run your own virtual restaurant. You are free to decorate your restaurant as you please. You can hire your Facebook friends to work for you. Enjoy earning new ingredients to expand your menu.

the exterior of my restaurant

inside my restaurant

6. (Lil) Green Patch - "By planting fruit with your friends you can help the world become a greener place. The sponsors contribute money to save the Rainforests."

5. YoVille - "is a game that allows users to create personal avatars that live in custom decorated homes. YoVillians, can chat, play mini-games, attend live events, and interact with real friends leaving them messages and gifts."

4. Farm Town - an interactive game that lets you design, grow and maintain your own virtual farm. You can send and receive gifts (trees and farm animals) from your farmer friends. Plant seeds and earn coins when you have your crops harvested. Hire others to harvest for you. You can earn extra by finding work at the market. It's a progressive games that allows you to unlock new seeds, buildings and other farm accessories as you level up. You start with a small land and you can expand your farm lot as your level increases.

my house at the farm

3. Pet Society - Create your own pet and decorate your pet's house with lovely furniture and fixtures. Watch your pet's house expand from one to several rooms. Visit neighbors and discover fun places in the community. Remember that you have to be responsible for your pet's grooming, health and happiness.

my pet Anya

2. Mafia Wars - "Start a Mafia family with your friends, run a criminal empire and fight to be the most powerful family."

1. Texas Hold'Em Poker - most popular game according to QTV

Do you play any of these games?

Photo Hunt :: Advertisement

2009-06-06T00:51:00.012+08:00

Come and join the hunt here

I think one great form of advertisement is word of mouth. When my MIL asked if I knew any new restaurant in Tagaytay where she could have lunch with her friends, I told her about Pamana Restaurant. I've heard good things about this restaurant from fellow bloggers which I shared with my MIL. She took my suggestion and had lunch there with her college friends. Below are some photos of the place. The restaurant has a vintage interior.