Thursday Favorites: My Mom

Dear Mom,

 Here I am, almost 3 weeks as a new mother. As I adjust to my new life taking care of a new life, I catch myself thinking about you a lot. I just keep thinking how amazing you are as a mother. Growing up, I always had your love embracing me no matter how much of a brat I was being. You always had my best interest at heart and you guided me through some very difficult times in my life. On top of all that hard stuff, you ALWAYS had a warm, delicious meal on the table, a clean house, and kept a full time job to provide for me and Kuya. HOW did you do all that? I stare at Baby Joaquin and just pray that I can care for him and love him like you did with me. I pray that I can build a home where my son will feel safe and surrounded by pure love. I'm trying to channel everything you ever taught me so I can be half the woman you are. You are truly a blessing to me and everyone you meet.

I have to mention that I'm also grateful for the genes you passed down to me. You not only passed the cooking, cleaning, and organizing gene to me, but you also passed on the.....hmmm what should I call it...the sexy gene! Hear me out. I have the youthful glow of a teenager and Sergio will always look like he's dating a younger gal. Score for the both of us! You also passed on the gene of bouncing back after pregnancy. 2 weeks in and I've already dropped 25 pounds. Thanks to you, my pregnancy didn't leave a trace on me. Thanks to you, I will always look young and fit. Right? :)

In all seriousness, I love you. When you see me loving my new baby, just remember that you instilled in me that ability to love. I'm perpetuating that cycle that you started. Thank you.

Love,

Joanna



Good Bye Vacation. You Were SO Good to Me.

Alas, my winter vacation is over. I enjoyed every little drop of it.
Some of my favorite moments:

Seeing my Grandma. She was very ill and came here from the Philippines for medical care. I'm so happy to report that she is strong and doing well. She was doing so well, she asked me A MILLION times if I'm pregnant and if not... why? Then she proceeded to COMMAND Hubby and I to start trying immediately. I love her.

Baby fever in full effect. For now, I will practice holding other people's cute babies.

Hiking with friends. I only went twice, but that is two times more than I have been in the past six months. Winning! I went to Claremont Wilderness Park with some of my yoga/teacher buddies and then I went for a REAL hike with Hubby and his co-workers. I say "REAL" because this one required climbing, getting duuurty, seeing a coyote, and almost dying of butt cramps. I believe that constitutes as a real hike, no? We also brought Sonic along and he actually made it out alive!

We quickly recovered from our long hike with a couple of good eats! Can't get any better than that!

And tired puppy Sonic recovered with a long nap on the car ride home...or was that me? I don't recall.

Experimenting with new recipes! I've been in the kitchen making my very own recipes. I feel like a mad scientist in my kitchen except I'm not mad, but extremely content. Isn't it weird how food can make you feel like that? I can't wait to share them with you. I have 2 that I will post asap! Get ready to cook some delicious meals!

Stay tuned, friends!

Drizzle of Gobble Gobble

T minus two days, my friends! Thanksgiving is almost here! The day where we remember all the blessings we have in our lives, spend time with our loved ones, and see how many plates of food we can shovel into our mouths before we KO. I'm excited and so is my belly.

Hubs and I already decided which of our families we will be seeing because you know that's a HUGE deal for newly married couples. We will have to spend many hours in the car, but it'll be so worth it in the end. Plus, two trips mean two different kinds of Thanksgiving meals! WHOO HOO!

I've already picked my outfit... something stretchy...leggings perhaps?

But, one thing I've had to put a lot of thought into before finally committing is what to COOK! Luckily I only have to bring a side dish or a dessert. I've decided I don't want to try something new. I don't want to stress out about whether it'll be good or not. Instead, I went through my recipes and found.....

Cheesy (Crack) Potatoes


via

SOOOOO addicting and delicious. This is a dish that is sooo good, yet so bad. It's ok, Holidays are meant for indulgences! I got this recipe in college from a friend (Hi Theresa!) and I was in loved right away! It's so extremely easy, too!
Ingredients:
1(30oz) bag of hash browns
1 can of cream of chicken
1 pint of sour cream
1 stick of butter
3+ cups of shredded cheddar

1. Mix together all ingredients. Pour into a casserole dish. Top with cheese.
2. Bake at 350 for 1 hour. Eat. Repeat. Eat. Repeat.

See how easy that is? I really don't want a dish that's fussy and this is perfect!

Now what should I bring as a dessert? Let's recap Project Wifey Wife!

Maybe I should make my mini apple puffs?

Or how about my Bajan Coconut Kisses?

My Carrot Cake Cookies would be perfect....

I'll have to think about that more.... dessert is very serious, you know.

• What are you making for Thanksgiving?

Project Wifey Wife Back in Action

Ok, let me explain myself. I've been busy. Like, really, really busy. Not my "I'm really on the couch and taking a nap" busy, but "I've been doing things" busy. I guess turning 28 comes with responsibilities. Why was I not informed of this? Who do I complain to?

I'm sad to report that my summer vacation has come to an end. I lived, I laughed, I loved....it was the best summer of my life. Sike. It was a good summer though, filled with food, friends, pool time, and a grand total of ONE beach trip. I can't complain. I feel well rested. I start back at school this Friday... EEKS! So much to do still!

This week I moved into my new classroom, put up my bulletin boards, and got my curriculum. More on that next week. I also hosted my first Pampered Chef Party with my favorite PTA mom, Minda. More on that when I get my order in. Holy checkbooks! I got $300 worth of free stuff!! Can't waaaait to show you! I had to really whip the house into shape because I was expecting about 20 family members and friends to come!!

I need to snuggle back into my routine of cooking, bloggin, living, and being a productive member of society again. So, here I give to you the easiest recipe that I made this summer. I literally threw it together in no time at all! You're welcome. Hubby went bonkers for this one!

Project Wifey Wife Week #19: The Savory
Breaded Lemon Curry Chicken

Ingredients:
4-5 chicken breasts (no skin)
2-3 cups of breadcrumbs
2 whisked eggs
1 Tbs of curry powder
2 Tsp of salt
2 Tbs of Olive oil
juice of one lemon (use to your liking)

About 5-7 minutes on each side depending on thickness

I paired it with coconut rice and some veggies. HOLY MOLY! Delicious.

If you've never tried curry, I encourage you to step out of your comfort box and try it. It's not as powerful as you may think it is. C'mon now!

• Are you a curry fan?
• I missed you.

Quick Fix Dinner: Lasagna Roll-Ups

Happy Wednesday! I hope your week is going well and if it's not...you're half way done! WHOO HOO!

I hate to make people jealous, but I'm on break and loving every minute of it! I know, you want to shoot all the teachers out there right now, but walk a mile in our uncomfortable high heel shoes and you'll be begging for a summer vacation, too! Am I right Fellow Teachers?

I've been getting a lot done in the house:
-laundry up the wahzoo...done.
-organize closet monster...killed it
-read to my hearts content...Bang-a-rang Peter!
-train for my next race... Hellz to the Yeeah
-sleep up a storm... get that umbrella ella ella A
Ahhhh! Feels nice.
**To all my friends close by, I do house calls for dinner. Hard day at work? Request a meal and I'll bring it to ya! :) Serious!**

Turns out that when you're on break, your lazy bone starts to grow a little bit. Instead of making complicated meals, I find myself making the easier kind...but still just as equally delicious. I have a month of break left so I still have time for some challenges.

Until then, I give you a dinner so easy and fun to make, that even a teacher who is on break and whose lazy bone prevents her from showering sometimes, can make, half awake from a 7 hour nap.

Project Wifey Wife Week #18-
Spinach Ricotta Roll Ups

Ingredients:
-pack of frozen spinach, thawed
-16 oz tub of part skim Ricotta Cheese
-1/2 Tbs of garlic salt
-pepper to taste
-your favorite pasta sauce
-10-12 lasagna noodles, cooked
-2-3 cups of Swiss cheese; shredded
-1 cup of breadcrumbs
-drizzle of olive oil

I used my FAVORITE German Bolognese mix that my Auntie Irene brought from Germany. Even though I was born in Germany and lived there most of my childhood, I do not speak a lick of it.

Thank God for pictures!

Moving right along.....

So organized and beautiful, no?

 Now I got-stah get my butt up and make dinner! Do you think I need to take a shower before Hubby gets home from work? I mean we're married now so he can't really leave me. Ok, I'll shower.

• What's the easiest dinner you can make? Link it to me!
• If you were on break, how would you spend your lazy days?

Thursday Favorites! Look Ma, I Can Read!

Summer reading was never my thing. Heck, reading was never my thing, which is ironic since I am a teacher and all. I always envied those teachers who talk about how they just finished their 3rd book this week. It takes me SOOOO long to finish just one.

Let the record show that I am not a slow reader, I am quite fast actually. It's just I get so distracted. I watch a copious amount of stupid stuff on the boob tube, I love to do anything that doesn't require moving, and really...I've always been more of a magazine person...ooooh prudy pictures! I never wanted to admit any of this because now you probably think I'm an illiterate lazy bumhole. Illiterate...no. Lazy bumhole...mayhaps.

But this summer year has been quite different for me. I've been lucky in love at the bookstore. I'm reading actual books and not magazines!! And there are no prizes or ice cream parties at the end of this journey, I'm very much enjoying the feeling of getting lost in books. It feels good since it was in fact, part of my New Year's Resolution.

Here are some books I finished at truly enjoyed! (all images from Amazon.com)

       

1. This book was so intense. Very graphic in nature, suspenseful, and exciting. I really enjoyed it and was quite disturbed at the same time. You really have to get past the first half (which was full of lawyer jargon) to really get into the "good stuff" but I thought it was a great book.

2. If I had to describe this book it would be the same description I give to a Gummy Bear. This book is filled with a handful of sweet and delightfully funny stories. It's about the author's experience moving to Whitter, California as a young child in the 70's. It's very cute and it was a fast read.

3. This book is now my all time favorite book. First off, this book is NOTHING LIKE THE MOVIE! Sure, it has snippets of the cooking and Julie breaking down and how she was inspired by Julia Child, but the movie left out Julie's crude humor (she curses like a sailor and I LIKE IT!), 100 more recipes that she has funny little adventures trying, and a crap load of weird characters that are her friends. In a nutshell, this book is about a girl who uses blogging and cooking to relieve herself from her crazy job with the support of her patient hubby. THIS IS ME!!!

4. This is my second time reading this book. I read it when I graduated college (Almost 7 years ago! WOW) and for some reason I couldn't get into it. Reading it again has given me a different perspective and I think I'm reading it in a good time in my life. It's about chasing your dreams and finding your passions. I'm diggin' it!



5. One word: HILARIOUS! The first half is about her childhood, about her teenhood, and her personal life. The second half is mostly about SNL and 30 Rock. Both halves made me laugh out loud and read it to my hubby. I LOVED IT!

6. More on this later because I'm only a quarter through it. So far, it's eye-opening and life altering. I don't want to accept the fact that I've been abusing my insides with all the butter, cookies, and burgers I've been consuming, but this is really going to help me feel better about myself. I can feel it already.

7 & 8. I purchased these two and look forward to reading them! Can't wait! I'll let you know how that goes.

I understand that these books aren't going to make me any smarter (DARN!) or make me look any smarter (Double DARN!!) but they make me happy and that's all that matters to me.

• Have you read any of these books?
• What's on your summer reading list?

Sunshiney Day

Happy Friday! YIPEEEE!

Smiling is my favorite sport. My childhood nickname was Sunshine because I smiled so much. I'm working on bringing back the old me. And when I say old me, I mean the 2 year old me...minus the peeing in my parents' bed and trying to buy gum with buttons. (Both are true stories.)

This week, there were some awesomely awesome changes that made my days Sunshiney.
1. This bowl from TJ MAXX.... not because it was cheap and it's pretty....

but because when the sun shines through the window,  it turns my living room into a disco club every morning. (Sonic goes cray cray )

2. Trying something new. I rarely paint my fingernails. One, because I'm lazy and two, because I'm lazy. But I somehow had enough energy to paint my nails all purdy. I'm glad I did because every time I look down... it makes me giggle. Don't you just love polka dots?

I blame this new obsession on Katwina. There was a sale at Ulta and we agreed that it was too good to pass up. Buy 2 ($5 each) and get 2 FREE! I mean...if that's not a steal, I don't know what is. Free things make me smile! Why is this her fault? Because it sure wasn't mine.

3. Baby Bumps EVERYWHERE! I'm at that age where everyone around me is getting preggos. That makes me smile. I'm having slight  strong baby fever so I'm trying to remedy it by living vicariously through them. ( I know I'm not truly ready for one myself) I'm one of those weirdos that rub their bellies every time they walk by me. ( I always make sure to ask first) OOoooo wook at the widdle bewwy!

My Bunco pal Jilly is preggos...yesterday was her BABY BUNCO!

Her baby boy got SOOOOO excited that he decided to come out a month early. Her water broke the day before her baby shower. Don't you love unexpected surprises!? How can that not make you smile?

Welcome to the world Wesley Joshua!! Remember me? I was the one who rubbed your mommy's belly ALL THE TIME! You're going to be so loved, Baby!

Because Jilly couldn't make it to her own baby shower, we Video chatted ourselves opening her gifts so she can watch them while she was waiting for her baby to come! Technology is a beautiful thing!

Now, I'm off to go to Vegas until Wednesday! I have a Teacher Conference to attend (yes, in Vegas). Pictures and yummy dinners Vegas style to come!

Have a wonderful weekend!

• What are you doing this weekend?
• Tell me one thing that made you smile this week.

Mother's Day Weekend Recap

Oh Mondays. How I loathe thee. No offense, but you are not so popular in my book. I think you should give into the peer pressure and become part of the weekend. I'm just sayin'....people would love you a lot more. I sure would.

This weekend was jam and jelly packed! Saturday was all about cleaning. There were weeds in our yard taller than me... how embarrassing. My neighbors were beginning to think that A.) We are lazy sums-a-bitches. B.) We died inside our homes and need assistance C.)We jumped ship. Lucky for them, and for me, I have a Hubby who is willing to do the weed pulling. ::le swoon::

After our cleaning sesh, we moseyed on up to the High Desert to spend time with my beautiful Madre. We spent the night and Hubs, Kuya, Katwina, and I woke up bright and early to make a nice breakfast.

I woke up first (I win)  and started my breakfast casserole. It began with a pack of bacon.... and in my opinion, a recipe that begins with a whole package of bacon is pretty much bomb cot com from the start.

There was also green peppers, onion, a carton worth of eggs, milk, and CHEEESE involved.

While I was on casserole duty, Katwina was busy cutting strawberries for our strawberry scones.

Hubs was busy washing dishes.

And Kuya was busy pretending to cut his fingers off while cutting the fruit for the fruit salad.

Our hard work paid off and our breakfast was fit for the Queen.

Breakfast is served Mama Bear.

Excuse the poor lighting...

I'm happy that the picture was dark. You can't see the sweatpants from HS I'm wearing or my eye-boogers and drool stains. Whew...close one.

Mom also opened her gifts...

Remember Mommy, you have another one coming in the mail!

After breakfast, my mom shared family stories...like the time my brother rolled off the bed when he was days old...or the time when I peed in my parents' bed when I was 2. Ahhh memories.

And then there was this Beautiful Story.

My Great Grandpa was one of the first Filipino immigrants brought over to Hawaii to work in the sugar cane fields. When he was able to finally return home, he brought his daughter, my grandma, a Gold Coin. Figuring she couldn't really do much with a Coin except stare at it, he skillfully made them into a pair of earrings. It's passed through the hands of all my Aunts and my mother....and now it's my turn to have it. I'm HONORED.

Thanks Mom, I love you with all my heart. You're the greatest friend a daughter could ever have.

In the afternoon, we visited Hubs side and silly me, forgot to take pictures of our beautiful day at the park, and the fun visit at Grandma's house. ::hand slap:: BAD BLOGGER! BAD BLOGGER!

I did manage to snap one picture of our family and one of Hub's dearest childhood friends.

Such a Wonderful Weekend!

Tell me readers!

• Tell me one thing you did this weekend.
• Let's kick it into high gear. What's one goal you have for this week?