Just Blabbing :-)

Would be staying up late tonight again so I could finish the tasks assigned to me or else they would expire tomorrow. I know it is bad for my health to stay up late, but I have no choice. Anyway, this doesn't happen all the time....a little bit at a time would not be that bad :-); plus I need extra money for our trip to the Philippines next year. I also need to send the BalikBayan box....I don't want to procrastinate it anymore. They have been waiting for the box for months now and I don't want to disappoint them again. Anyway, just blabbing up here before I phone my parents tonight :-). Ta ta for now!

Want Some Cake?

Since my son's six birthday is coming very soon, I decided to make cupcakes instead of the normal cakes. I am sure he would like to have chocolate cupcakes for that is his favorite. I noticed every time I attend a birthday party, more and more people don't care about cake anymore and so, cupcakes would be perfect for it is a small portion and guest who are on a diet would be very happy.

We all know that the summer is big on festivities. Here are some fool-proof suggestions to slice and dice the crowning piece of any party—the cake.

Dental floss: This works best for sheet cakes. Take a string of (non-flavored) dental floss, about six inches longer than the cake on each side. Push the floss through the width of cake and then the length of the cake. Continue to do so until you have as many slices as you need.

Round cakes: Cut a smaller circle in the middle of the cake. Give the outer pieces to the frosting lovers, and the inside pieces to the cake lovers.

A side of ice cream: Ice cream is a great complement to a slice of cake, but it is no fun for the person scooping it! Try this: buy a cardboard container of ice cream and leave it out to soften somewhat. Remove the packaging and cut the ice cream into slices. If the container is a cylinder, before removing the ice cream from packaging, cut it in half length-wise, so it becomes two half-circles, and then slice.

Nostalgia: Jake In front of Christ Statue

This picture was taken when Jacob was three year old. He was seating in front of Christus at the visitor's center in Salt Lake City. It was our first trip to my fave place in the whole world. I am being Nostalgic when I look at this and wish we could go back there someday soon. It was winter of 2008....very cold; we didn't get the chance to enjoy our visit. Next time, we will make sure that we go there on summertime when the weather in great to enjoy the whole city of Salt Lake where Mormon church headquarter is located and its neighboring city. Yup, we are members of LDS church and we are proud of it.

Anyway, for more nostalgic entries, head on to Rose's Nostalgic Marveling blog.

Nostalgic: Jake's First Time Swimming

These photos are taken during Jake's first time to enter the swimming pool. He had so much fun! Now, I am feeling nostalgic because that time, he was no fear on swimming pool. He loves water. It's different now, he is the opposite...he is scared and doesn't want to swim unless we let him hang on with our arms. That is the reason why we plan to enroll him to swimming lesson this summer. Hope he would gain his confidence back.

He was nearly 1 year old in these pictures...

and Jesse (my BIL) was with him....

Feeling Nostalgic? Then, head on to Rose's Nostalgic Marveling.

Nostalgia: My Grandmother and Her Posterity

First, I would like to greet the creator of this meme "Nostalgic" Rose of Nostalgic Marveling a very Happy Birthday. May you have more candles to blow, and happiness always. Thanks for being a good friend.

I didn't join the meme last week because I couldn't find and think of something Nostalgic to share. This week, I made sure that I have something on mind that is worth sharing :-), and here it is.

In this pictures was my mother (on the left), my Lola (who passed away a little over a year ago), my son, Jake seating on my Mom's lap and of course, yours truly. Anyway, This was taken summer of 2007 when Jake and I visited my family and relatives for the first time after six years since I left Philippines to marry my ex-bf (now my husband)... and Jake's first. It was very memorable because that was the last time I saw my Lola alive. I miss her so much! I will never forget her for he took care of me when I was still a baby. Why not my mother, you asked? Because my Moms suffered from postpartum depression and couldn't take care of me. My Grandma and Grandpa stepped in to help. My Lola is a hard working person and a strict one, too! But she is the opposite of my Lola and I am spoiled with him. Would you believe if I tell you that he and I have the same birth date!? Yes, and I was so sad when he died, I was 7 year old then. I just hoped Jake met him before he passed away.

I was very closed to my Lola and that is why when she passed away, I didn't think twice, I flew over just to pay my last respect for her. She is greatly missed by her family especially her grandchildren who grew up under her care....and there are many of them including me and my youngest brother. I can still remember when I was still single living with her. Every single suitor I had became very close to her. She would always introduce me to them starting from when I was still a baby to the present and I was very embarrassed...but glad at the same time :-). Unfortunately, she and my husband never met. But am happy that she is finally happy and reunited with Lolo at last!