A Different Birthday

@katiemitchellphotography

I'm celebrating my birthday a little differently this time. Bianca is currently abroad and won't be back until June. She left just a few days after New Year's and I've been missing her so much. I'm not used to not having her around and the house is awfully quiet without her. I depend on her for a lot of things, and it's hard to be without her.

2017 was a difficult year for me. I went through so many challenges and disappointments. Despite all my efforts to make things work in my favor, it seemed like everything I did put me on the wrong track. And as if I needed more stress, we were also busily moving house. But God always knows how to make it up to me. In the midst of all the strain and tension I was feeling came some good news. Bianca received word that she was a recipient of a scholarship grant from The French Embassy, and as a French government scholar, she is eligible to study in a university in France with benefits such as a living allowance and health insurance among others. We also ended up moving house in the same neighborhood instead of somewhere far, which was what was originally planned. God is good!

With all the house moving activities, numerous garage sales and preparations for Bianca's trip, I had forgotten about my annual birthday jumping shot. I only trust Bianca to do this for me, but since she's not around, I guess I'll just have to wait and content myself with looking through our old Paris photos.

I've ceased making birthday wishes to ask for material things as I've grown older through the years, but I'm thinking this time around, I will make a very specific wish. I so desperately wanted to accompany Bianca on her trip so I could help her settle in to her new apartment, to make sure that everything was in order and to help her with the initial adjustment of living away from home. It's the first time we are apart, so I wanted to make it easy for me too. But with the expenses of moving house, medications, and all the other bills that seem to never end, it was just not possible. I tried my best, but it was not to be.

So here's my birthday wish.... I wish that I would have the chance to visit Bianca this March, that my sister can accompany me because I cannot travel alone, and that I will be able to pick her up in June to bring her home safe.  It's a tall order, but I believe that God is longing to be good to all of us, and that He wants to give all of us the desires of our hearts. I'm claiming that now.

So, if all goes well, I'll be sharing my belated birthday jumping shot very soon, somewhere in Europe, no less. See you in a bit, Biancs. I can't wait!

- - -

Dear Mama,

I couldn't help but write you a short note after reading your annual birthday post. I don't say this enough, but thank you. Thank you for always looking out for me. Thank you for answering my late-night messages about laundry. Thank you for supporting me and teaching me to never give up. Thank you for being not just my mom, but my best friend. We are so lucky to have the relationship that we do and I am so blessed to have a mom like you. Even if you're not physically here with me, I still feel like you are always here in spirit and it means so much. 

Happy birthday, mama! I wish I was there to celebrate with you, but I hope you have a wonderful day nonetheless. See you in two months. Don't worry, God will grant us our wish(es)! 

I love you,

Bianca

Hello and A Birthday Post

Hello, dear friends! 

Yes, we are still here. Although it may have seemed that we had abandoned the blog due to the absence of posts, I don't think I will ever find it in my heart to say goodbye to this personal journal of ours. It has been a struggle for me to put my thoughts into written words, often drafting blog posts and writing out stories in my head, only to find excuses not to come through and hit the publish button. I also depend a lot on Bianca for the blog's visuals and photos, but starting college as well as pursuing her other interests has made it harder for me to pin her down. Of course, I understand that her studies come first, but I just felt lost without her. However, as always, at the start of each new year, I resolve to do things better. So, here I am again and I sincerely hope to make good of my resolutions this time around.

And what better way to start than with my annual birthday post! I feel a little rusty writing this now, but hopefully I get the hang of things again soon. 

Today, I celebrate my 24th birthday for the second time. I am not in denial or scared that I'll be turning 50 in just two years, I'm just feeling young at heart! My twenty something years were my carefree years. I had no worries or fears, I was in good health and everything just seemed right in my world. So, I'm channeling all those positive energies from the past and believing that my best years are still ahead of me.  

2016 had me going through more downs than ups. My PD symptoms are advancing steadily and I am coming to terms with the fact that I may need someone to care for me and help with my daily activities sooner than I expected.. I try my best to be as independent as I possibly can, and to work around my medication's "on" time. I carefully plan all my trips out of the house to ensure that I'm functioning properly whenever I'm out to do errands or meetings, or even something as simple as having dinner out with friends. Everything has to be timed and in sync with my medication. And it's the same way when we have guests come over at home because the main goal is that I would be able to sit still, converse and feed myself as best as I can. But sometimes the best laid plans don't always work out and my medications fail me. I used to get so frustrated when this happens, but I've learned to let go of things I don't have control of. It has happened that I've spent an hour getting ready, dressing myself to go out of the house, and maybe another hour in traffic to get to my destination, only to find out that I have to turn back home because I can't even get down from the car because my body decides to start shaking and trembling when it's not supposed to.

Of course I still get frustrated, agitated, or even depressed when these things happen, but I don't stay there for too long. I wallow in self pity for a minute or two, then pick myself right back up. I believe that I am able to do this not because I am strong or brave. I believe that God gives me the grace and the courage to go through life's setbacks and the peace that I am experiencing now is from Him alone. I have so much more to be thankful for. I have the love of my family, friends, and even complete strangers who go out of their way to be good to me and to Bianca. We do our best to give back  every chance we get.

I am sometimes hesitant to tell my stories about what I'm going through with my Parkinson's disease for fear of being judged or criticized but the desire to share and inspire others in similar situations is greater. To my dear friends who are reading this, please don''t hesitate to ask me out to lunch or dinner because I look forward to going out, and having the chance to spend time with you is worth all my trouble, really.

I end my birthday post as usual with my infamous jumping shot. I haven't gotten myself a trampoline yet, but I did manage a skip and a hop this year. I didn't hear any complaints from my photographer, so I think it's safe to say that she's pretty impressed.

With love, 

Cyn

Kitchen Stories: Cherry Almond Oatmeal

I've been trying to get Bianca to eat a proper breakfast at home before she leaves for an almost two hour trip to get to school everyday. But it's always impossible to make her sit down for a meal so early in the morning when she's in between being half asleep and rushing out the door. I've tried serving up her old favorites as well as new ones in the hopes of piquing her fancy but all I get is one bite or maybe two if I'm lucky, and that's it. I've tried sending her with a packed breakfast and lunch but she prefers hot food so it's a choice between the cafeteria or the fast food restaurants just outside her campus. Not really a good idea health and money wise.

I know she's 17 and all grown up now, but the mom in me will always see her as a baby. I always worry that she's not eating well or that she's not getting enough rest, I can almost hear her complaining and protesting as she reads this post. But I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one who feels this way. Right, fellow moms?!? Could I have a show of hands, please? Just so I can prove my point. Hahaha.

I made Cherry Almond Oatmeal over the weekend and she liked it enough to ask if she could bring some for breakfast in school. Success! It could have been the cherries, but since it's not exactly the type of fruit you can have every day, we'll experiment with other fruits that are in season and not as costly.

Although this doesn't really count as a recipe since it is pretty basic, I'm sharing the how-to with you just so you can keep this in mind for when you feel like giving your oatmeal some extra lovin'.

Cherry Almond Oatmeal

(makes 1 serving)

1/2 cup old fashioned oats

1 cup almond milk

pinch of salt

2 tablespoons brown sugar

1/8 teaspoon almond extract

1/3 cup fresh cherries, pitted and quartered

2 tablespoons slivered almonds, toasted

Combine oats, almond milk and a pinch of salt in a saucepan. Bring to a boil, then stir in the brown sugar. Continue to simmer for 5 minutes until oats are thick and creamy. Remove the saucepan from the heat and add almond extract and a little splash of almond milk. Mix well.

Pour into a bowl and top with cherries and almonds. You may use as much or as little fruit, nuts and sugar as you like, according to your preference. Enjoy!

Lately

It's been two weeks since school started again! After such a long holiday break, it's been challenging to adjust to homework and readings and long car rides, but I honestly really enjoy the college environment and it's good to be back.

I definitely learned a lot from the first few months I spent in college. Here's a couple things that really stuck with me:

1. There's no harm in trying. Joining organizations and auditioning for music groups and signing up for projects might be daunting tasks, but they're experiences that you shouldn't miss out on just because you're scared. There's always something to be gained from every risk you take!

2. Hang out with people who give you positive vibes. It's essential to spend time with people who inspire and motivate you to be better.

3. That being said, you also have to learn to work alone. Being independent and responsible without anyone telling you to do so is something you must learn how to do.

4. You actually have lots of free time, you're just not using it correctly. Don't procrastinate. Finish your work before your deadlines and don't leave anything to the very last minute.

5. Don't neglect your health and well-being. Eat balanced meals and get enough sleep.

I'm only just getting the hang of this whole college thing. I still have a lot to learn and a lot to improve on. But I know that my second semester will be even better and I'm really looking forward to the rest of it!

Love,  Bianca

Lucky Me

Every new year that comes around, I am reminded of how lucky I am that I get to celebrate the beginning of a new chapter as well as my birth month this January. Like most of you, it's the time that I reflect on the year that was, and the time I set goals of what I'd like to accomplish in the 12 months ahead.

I am very thankful for the past year even with all its challenges and difficulties. I had so many plans for 2015 that I couldn't get off the ground, which made me so frustrated. Despite the best of intentions, nothing seemed to work. Every day, I felt that God was testing me by letting me go through failures and heartaches. I prayed harder and more fervently each day, but I guess God wanted me to take a Master's Degree in Patience and Humility!

Looking back now, I believe that what I wanted to happen didn't happen because I still had lessons to learn and that not my plans but only God's plans will prevail. I am more than lucky because I had family and good friends to see me through it all. Life goes on, and I'm not giving up.

I am ready for a fresh new start this 2016. Every day is a new beginning to live life to the fullest. We all deserve to live a long, happy, healthy and abundant life.  So, let's all smile, laugh out loud, be kind, and have a heart so big that we become unstoppable.

Dear friends, thank you for always indulging me by reading my birthday post every year. And of course, I can't let all of you go without sharing a photo of my infamous jumping shot. I wanted to jump off from a ledge but Bianca wouldn't hear any of it. Oh well, maybe next year I'll use a trampoline ;)

First Monday

Today is the first Monday work day of the year! Although we are technically still on vacation until January 17th, I'd just like to start the year right by putting out one of our work goals for the blog.

As you know, we blogged less in the past year. Life kept us busy and got in the way of blogging, but we tried our best to share snippets of what we've been up to on Instagram and Facebook. We hope you're following us over there!

We are very grateful for brand collaborations that came our way during the last quarter that challenged our skills and creativity. It helped that the brands we worked with were familiar to us and we both worked hard on styling and editing the photos. Although we still have much to learn and there's lots of room for improvement, it is something we truly enjoyed doing as a team. Bianca and I are both thankful for the trust and support extended to us by The Blue Kitchen, Bungalow 300 and Bayo Clothing and look forward to more creative collaborations this 2016.

Happy Monday and Happy New Year!

*Photography by Bianca |  Styling by Cyn

Turning Three

Today, we celebrate our blog's third year! Thank you to you, our dear friends and readers, for continuing to follow us on our journey. We are grateful that although we blogged less this year, you all continued to visit the site  to back read our old posts. 2015 was a challenging year, but we made a conscious effort to dwell not on what we didn't have, but focused instead on our blessings. As we leave all the challenges and difficulties of the past behind, we hope you continue to join us as we look forward to a brighter and abundant new year!

With much love,
Cyn & Bianca

Kitchen Stories: Fresh Fruit Tarts

We love that we've been spending lots of the time in the kitchen this week. These past months have been awfully busy, most especially with Bianca's fully loaded college schedule. Breakfast is always rushed or on the go, and by the time we're both home for dinner, we just want to get it over with so we can turn in for the night or in her case, do homework.

I'm so grateful for this short break we're having now to bond over food and cooking at home. We actually argue a lot when we're in the kitchen about how certain things should be done. But it's all in good fun and we always have a good laugh about it afterwards!

One of our favorite things to make are desserts with all kinds of berries. These picture perfect Fresh Fruit Tarts can be made with your choice of fruits as well - we're just partial to strawberries and blueberries. The tart shells can be made in advance and can keep for a month in the freezer. You can also opt to use ready made tart shells, like we did.*

Fresh Fruit Tarts
makes 6

For the Crust:
(recipe by Arleen Sevilla-Agustin)

1 1/4 cup all purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon sugar
1/2 cup cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
1/4 cup vegetable shortening, room temperature
3-4 tablespoons cold water

Cut in butter and vegetable shortening into flour using a pastry blender or two knives until mixture resembles a coarse meal.

Sprinkle cold water all at once over mixture and stir to blend until pastry is moist enough to hold together. Gather with hand and shape into a ball. Flatten into a disc and wrap with plastic wrap, chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes.

Preheat oven to 400 F degrees. Roll out chilled dough and press evenly into mini tart pans. Prick the bottoms with a fork, then lay a piece of parchment paper on each tart and put in dried beans as weights.

Place pie tarts on a cookie sheet and bake for 15 minutes. Take out the paper with pie weights and return to oven for another 10 minutes, until golden brown. Cool crust completely.

For the Pastry Cream:

3 large egg yolks
1/2 cup sugar
2 tablespoons flour
2 tablespoons cornstarch
2 cups fresh whole milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the Fruit:

1 cup sliced strawberries
1 cup blueberries
apricot jam, warmed and strained (optional)

In a medium sized, heatproof bowl, mix egg yolks, sugar together. Add in flour and cornstarch, mixing until you get a thick,smooth paste.

Heat milk in a saucepan until almost boiling, just until you start to see wisps of steam. Remove from heat. Slowly pour a little of the hot milk into the egg mixture and whisk to combine. Continue pouring the milk in a thin stream into the eggs, whisking continuously.

When all the milk have been added to the mixture, pour everything back in the saucepan. Set the pan back to medium heat and cook until boiling, whisking constantly to prevent curdling. As soon as mixture thickens to a pudding like consistency, whisk for a few more seconds then immediately remove from heat. Stir in vanilla extract. 

Pour pastry cream into a bowl and cover with plastic wrap pressed right up against the surface of the cream.This will prevent the cream from forming a skin. Cool completely to room temperature then chill for at least 1 hour before using. Pastry cream will keep for about 3 days in refrigerator.

To assemble, fill tarts with cream and top with berries or fresh fruits of choice. Gently brush with apricot jam if desired.

Nothing inspires us to cook and to be more creative in the kitchen more than new tableware and props to play around with. We all "eat with our eyes" first, and our initial visual impression of food most certainly affects our sense of taste. So, no matter how simple a dish may be, we always find ways to serve it as appetizing and inviting as possible. Many thanks again to Bungalow 300 for helping us create our colorful and fun kitchen story for today!

Bungalow 300 items featured:
Bellini Tray in Teal
Danish Trays in Bamboo Green and Citrin Yellow
Shell Dipping Bowls
Cutlery Dinner Plate
Black Bird Plate
Chocolat Small Dish
Eleanor Bear Holiday Ornaments
Inabel Napkins and Hand Towels
Inabel Table Runner in Black & White

*tart shells were specially made for us by Arleen Sevilla-Agustin. Do check out her custom, made-to-order cakes, cupcakes and cookies at Arleen's Sweet Art.

Kitchen Stories: Baked Eggs with Spinach & Mushrooms

Baked eggs are great for brunch, and when served with a salad of leafy greens and some warm crusty bread, it's satisfying enough to double as dinner. They're cooked in individual ramekins so they're easy enough to be multiplied for a crowd. So perfect for entertaining! They can be dressed up in so many ways, with a lot of delicious flavor combinations. You can add bacon, sausages, cheese, tomatoes, potatoes and even quinoa, then just leave in the oven to cook! 

Baked Eggs with Spinach & Mushrooms
Serves 6

500 grams fresh baby spinach
1 small white onion, finely chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
4 tablespoons butter
350 grams fresh mushrooms, thinly sliced (we used baby portobello)
1/2 cup heavy cream
salt and pepper
6 large eggs
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Preheat oven to 350F.

Cut off thick stems from spinach and discard. Clean spinach leaves by soaking in a large bowl or basin with water to loosen any sand or dirt. Drain, then repeat soaking and draining until clean. Transfer directly to a heavy skillet set over medium-low heat, no need to dry. Cook spinach leaves, turning with tongs, until wilted about 30 seconds. Set aside. 

Wipe skillet  dry, then melt butter on medium heat. Cook onions and garlic until softened, about 2 to 3 minutes. Add sliced mushrooms and increase the heat to medium-high. Cook, stirring until mushrooms have softened and released liquid. Continue cooking until all the liquid has evaporated. This should take about 8 minutes.

Stir in the heavy cream, Parmesan cheese, cooked spinach and season with salt and pepper to taste. Remove skillet from heat and allow  mixture to cool.

Brush 6 ramekins or oven-safe bowls with a little butter. Fill each with spinach and mushrooms. Create wells or indentations by pushing the filling to the sides of the bowl, large enough to fit an egg. Crack 1 egg into each well and cook in oven until whites are firm and yolks are still runny, about 15-18 minutes.

I know we've been away for quite some time, but one look at these pretty tableware from furniture and home store, Bungalow 300 was enough to lure us back into the kitchen to start cooking again! View their Holiday Gift Catalogue here or catch their pop up store for beautiful gift ideas at the Corte de las Palmas in Alabang Town Center from November 20 to 25.

Bungalow 300 items featured:
Raffia Placemats in Zen Black & White and Pomelo
Bone Side Plate and Salad Plate
Wooden Plates

Hey, Hello, Hi!

Happy last day of August, friends!! : ) 

This August has been an adjustment period for me - I've been trying to get used to waking up at four in the morning so I can get to school on time. It has been a real struggle to stay alert enough for my seven-thirty AM classes, and to get around my college campus without getting horribly lost. Lots of things are continuing to change as I to learn to be independent in a huge new world where things are incredibly different. 

Time management has always been my number one issue. I've never been that girl who can juggle a million tasks at once, and be so focused that I can get everything done. I think it's because I don't like being forced into creating something. My work only comes out good when I'm happy to do that work. 

I've been finding it difficult to keep myself inspired, to keep finding something to write about or take photos of. During my long, five-month summer, I'll admit I was mostly at home or with friends, doing nothing particularly productive. I had a short stint doing some apprentice work in an advertising agency as I'm hoping to major in PR & Advertising. I gained lots of valuable insights during that time, but I was itching to do something more. I waited and waited for opportunities to come, but I didn't go looking for them. And I think that's why I've been in such a stagnant phase. 

So, in my resolve to shake off this uninspired and humdrum state I've been going through, I decided to challenge myself and sign up for a bunch of school organizations. They scare me, because being part of things means having more responsibilities, apart from the pressures of being a college freshie.  But I'm gonna do my best, guys. Wish me lots of luck this year! 

To mom - thanks for all the sacrifices you make for me. I don't know what I would do without you. Thanks for waking up even earlier than I do just to prepare my baon and help me get ready for the day, even if I know it's difficult. I love you! We're gonna achieve all our goals, I promise.

♡♡♡ Bianca

Starting Over

Hello! I'm back. And hopefully, for good this time. I have been missing in action on the blog for most of the summer. I wrote in a post earlier that the summer heat was difficult for me, and I'm just so glad that it's finally over! Having Parkinson's Disease, my body is always in motion. From fine hand tremors to bouts of whole body shaking, I'm constantly moving and breaking into a sweat, so the escalating temperatures were just too much for me to bear. I lost my appetite to eat, and  had little energy to do anything. I reserved my time for family, house chores (because they need to get done even if you don't want to) and for taking care of myself. It took a lot for someone to coax me to get out of the house. It was just too much trouble for me to get ready and dress up.

I was thankful when the heat started letting up in June. I had so many plans and a long to-do list that I put on hold and was eager to get a move on. I was already getting stressed and frustrated because I wanted to accomplish so many things. But, by some twist of fate, a much needed house repair which included a re-piping of our water lines (sigh and double sigh) needed my attention and supervision. Just looking at the chaos of construction materials, the diggings around the house, the dust and the whole mess of it all just made me sick all over again. Everyday, I would summon positive thoughts to reassure myself that after the repairs were done, everything will be beautiful and in order. At the tail end of all this, my sister, who helps take care of me and who is in charge of preparing our meals, was leaving for a two week trip abroad, so I had to prepare myself physically and mentally to manage the household alone.

And, yes, finally, all is quiet and back to normal in the house again, except for some bit of tidying up in the living room, which I will get to as soon as I catch my breath. Bianca's well into her first two weeks as a college freshman, and in between house repairs and what seemed liked a mad dash to get her ready with everything she needed for school, I had no time to feel sentimental that my one and only child was beginning what will be the last chapter in her life as a student. More on that soon.

Bianca on her first day in grade school. Where did time go?

I must admit that it took some time to get my groove back into blogging and writing again. It's always a challenge whenever you stop and re-start something. But although I was away from the blog these past months, my mind was constantly composing sentences and paragraphs for stories I wanted to share. I am very proud of myself that I was able to get through this very long hot summer, and more importantly, that I managed not to set the house on fire while the sister was away! It might seem trivial, but for someone who has limited mobility and compromised cognitive functions, it's an accomplishment. I always say that I started this blog as a journal for Bianca and I to look back on. It is and will always be our happy place and I'm pretty sure I will be glad that I wrote this post when I come across it years from now.

Dear Bianca,

Thank you for taking good care of me this summer. I know it was hard sometimes because I was short tempered due to stress. I will always be grateful for your patience and kindness. I love you!

We might not have accomplished our goal to get to London for your 17th birthday. It seemed like we were getting closer and then suddenly further from our dream. But you know I never give up. We shouldn't give up. I am positive that it will all happen in good time.....because all good things take time.

Always, 

Mama 

Kitchen Stories- Pan Grilled Sausages & Apples

Well, hello there! I'm so sorry we've been so quiet here on the blog. This summer heat has been particularly difficult for me, leaving me feeling sick and weak with little energy to do anything. All I wanted to do was stay in a cool, air conditioned space and never leave. But, life must go on and I'm relieved that the heat is slowly letting up and we're finally experiencing occasional rain. I've put Bianca in charge of our Instagram and Facebook page, and we hope you've been following and enjoying all the photos and updates she's been posting.

I'm slowly getting back into the kitchen - I've missed cooking and sharing our recipes with you! Here's one we made last week. It's quite simple, and you won't break a sweat, we promise! Do try it out soon!

Pan Grilled Sausages & Apples

8 Sweet or Hot Italian Sausages, or a combination of both
2 Apples, we used Fuji apples, but you can also use Granny Smith
2 Tablespoons butter
1 Tablespoon brown sugar

Core and slice apples into thin wedges and toss in a bowl with brown sugar, set aside. Put a non stick grill pan over medium heat, add sausages and cook until nice and brown, turning occasionally about 5 minutes. When sausages are cooked through, remove from heat and set aside.

Warm butter in a skillet, then stir in apples with brown sugar. Cook, stirring gently until caramelized, with still a little bit of crunch to it. Slice sausages as desired and mix in pan with apples. Serve with crusty bread or mashed potatoes.

Book Club

My love for stories started when I was in my mom's womb and she would read to me, and reading continues to be a huge part of my life. When I was younger, I had a book club with my neighbors and friends. That really encouraged me to read regularly. Books can transport you to different worlds, help you realize truths about living and following your dreams, and really good books can change your perspective and stay with you forever. These are a few of my childhood favorites, that, in my opinion, are timeless. I hope you get the chance to pick up some of these books - though they are written for children, I think that everyone can enjoy them! Happy reading! 

Ballet Shoes by Noel Streatfeild: Ballet Shoes is a story following three adopted girls who launch themselves into performing arts to support their poor family. It's taught me loads of lessons about growing up and balancing studying with my other responsibilities and interests. It was first published in 1936, a completely different era to the one we live in right now, but I quickly fell in love with it when I was just six years old - it was the very first book I read for my book club. It's both humorous and moving, and I'm pretty sure I've flipped through this tattered copy over a hundred times...this is a book I'd recommend to everyone!

Cornelia and the Audacious Escapades of the Somerset Sisters by Lesley M.M. Blume: When Virginia Somerset moves into the apartment next to eleven-year-old Cornelia Englehart, Cornelia becomes fascinated with the older woman's stories about her adventures all over the world.  I love this book because it fueled my love for traveling and seeing new places - and it was the first time I had ever come across the word 'audacious!' At its simplest, it's a tale about love, friendship, and crazy wonderful adventures. It's definitely a timeless story to me.

The Penderwicks by Jeanne Birdsall: One of the most charming stories I've ever read! This is the story of the Penderwick sisters' summer vacation in a rented cottage behind the sprawling Arundel Hall estate. These were girls that I immediately considered my friends, and as I continued on reading I naturally identified with them. It's been said before, but reading this book is like the literary equivalent of a summer day - easy-breezy, memorable, and laugh-out-loud funny.

Harriet the Spy by Louise Fitzhugh: O.K, so this book might've guided me into my most annoying phase as a tween - keeping a confidential spy notebook and writing down my inner ramblings as well as what I really thought about everyone I knew - but it taught me to be curious, and it taught me that it's okay to be myself, and it's okay to have bad days. Harriet is just a kid trying to figure herself out, and this book deals with rejection and loss. But it's also ridiculously hilarious and optimistic.

Chasing Vermeer by Blue Balliett: I've always been intrigued by mystery and suspense novels. It's a challenge to bury clues within text without giving the entire plot away. As young Petra Andalee and Calder Pillay solve the case of a stolen Vermeer painting, they uncover a chain of events intertwined with real-life art history. This book really makes you think and read between the lines. Plus, the illustrations are amazing!

The Places You'll Go

I am sure all parents feel an overwhelming sense of pride for every accomplishment and milestone our children go through. When I became a mom, I wholeheartedly embraced the joy and the responsibility of raising my daughter whose life I was entrusted with. I changed from dreaming for myself to dreaming for us both and visualizing a happy, fulfilled life for my daughter and myself.

Bianca recently graduated from high school, and in the morning of her graduation day I gifted her with this Dr. Seuss book which I bought way back in 2008. I meant to give it to her when she graduated from college, but I know in my heart that she is already going places and the timing couldn't be more perfect.

When I saw her go up on stage to receive her diploma, I was bursting with so much pride and joy. She's always been self motivated and responsible and never once gave me any reason to doubt that she can accomplish all that she is set out to achieve.

My Dearest Bianca,

Congratulations! I am so proud of you. My only wish for you is to be happy. Continue to dream big. Do not fear the future, because I always have your back. I am your biggest fan and supporter and I am with you through thick and thin.

So, go out and see the world as you have planned, and whenever possible, take me along with you?  :)

"Congratulations! 

Today is your day.

You're off to Great Places!

You're off and away!"

- Dr. Seuss

I had actually forgotten about buying this book. I wanted to give Bianca a meaningful graduation gift, and suddenly remembered that I had kept this book at the back of my closet all this time. I have always taught her to live with purpose and with intention, and this book perfectly sums up my hopes and dreams for her. ❤

Inspiration Board: Jetsetter

With traveling comes the challenge of packing your stuff. I hate feeling like I forgot something, so I tend to over-pack. I've learned the hard way that bringing way too much stuff is never a good thing. The best choice is to bring a lot of versatile pieces that can take you from day to night - I especially love this striped dress which I think can be dressy or casual. Plus, it's easy to layer on a coat or a pair of tights (or both!) if it gets chilly.

Being away from home means your skin gets really confused and can break out or get super dry. Mom has been a loyal Clinique user ever since she was a teen and she passed on the good stuff to me. We both have sensitive skin and this brand is honestly the only thing that works for us! 

I am also obsessed with this suitcase that's got a punchy floral design. It will surely stand out from all the others on the baggage carousel! : )

Traveling is one of our goals for the summer. We're keeping positive and we're hoping to experience new things and see lots of new places!

Ted Baker London Opulent Bloom Hard Shell Suitcase, Passport Holder & Luggage Tag, Zoe Karssen Day Dream Sweatshirt, One Kings Lane Linen Scarf, Illesteva Leonard II Sunglasses, Clinique 3-Step Skincare, Warehouse Stripe Dress, Michael Kors Stainless Steel Watch, Warehouse Swing Coat, Caudalie Beauty Elixir, Chiara Ferragni Hot Dog & Soda Slip-Ons, American Eagle Outfitters Crop Jeans

Kitchen Stories- Calamansi Muffins

She Said: Calamansi or Philippine lime can be used in a variety of dishes, both savory and sweet. I like using it in marinades for meat or as a dipping sauce for grilled fish. It's actually my first time to use calamansi juice in baking. These sweet and tart muffins turned out delicious, I'm already looking up other calamansi dessert recipes to try out!

she said: I've been taking advantage of my summer vacation to catch up on some sleep. On most mornings, I'm up late so I generally miss breakfast time. Good thing the English invented brunch! I love "brunching" with mom. These buttery muffins are just perfect when they're hot from the oven. Now I'm ready for some bacon and eggs. Yum!

Calamansi Muffins
(adapted from pepper.ph)

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, at room temperature, plus more for muffin tin

1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1/4 cup milk
1/4 cup calamansi juice

Preheat oven to 350F. Using a pastry brush, coat muffin pan with butter. This recipe makes 8 to 10 muffins depending on the size of your pan.

Sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.

In a bowl, beat the butter with an electric mixer on medium speed until light and creamy. Add in the sugar and continue to mix. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.

Combine calamansi juice and the milk- it will look curdled, but rest assured that it's alright.

With the mixer on low speed, add the flour mixture in three batches, alternating with two additions of the calamansi mixture.

Spoon the batter into prepared muffin pan, filling each cup about 3/4 full. Bake until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, 20 to 25 minutes. Serve warm.

This article also appears on PhilStar.com.

Kitchen Stories- Ricotta & Spinach Pasta with Grilled Chicken

Cooking during the summer can be a bit of a challenge. With the rising temperatures and the sweltering heat that is upon us right now, we all want to spend less time in the kitchen and get dinner to the table as quickly as possible.

Summertime meal preparation is all about fast, easy methods and with a little bit of planning, you can serve up an uncomplicated meal that's both satisfying and delicious. This recipe calls for grilled chicken which you can prepare and cook in advance.

She Said: One of our favorite things to make at home is grilled chicken fillets. We often cook more than what a recipe calls for and keep the rest for future meals. They keep well in the freezer! Just thaw and reheat to mix with salads, pasta dishes and as filling for sandwiches.

she said: To prepare the chicken, simply brush with a little olive oil, season with salt, pepper and  garlic powder. Cook over a charcoal grill or grill pan, about 5 minutes per side. We hope you get to try this creamy, cheesy pasta recipe with a zesty lemon flavor!

Ricotta & Spinach Pasta with Grilled Chicken
(adapted from cookingclassy.com)

4 large chicken breast fillets, grilled and sliced into strips
500 grams spaghetti or fettucine
1 bag fresh baby spinach, steamed until just wilted
1 cup reserved pasta water
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
2 cups ricotta cheese
1/2 cup grated parmesan
zest and juice of 1 lemon
coarse salt and freshly ground pepper

Directions:

1. Cut off the thick stems of the spinach and discard. Clean by filling a large bowl with water and soaking the spinach to loosen any dirt or sand. Drain the water and rinse the leaves, then repeat soaking and draining process once more. Set aside.

2. Cook pasta in salted water according to package directions, reserve 1 cup pasta water before draining. Place washed spinach in the bottom of a colander then pour out the pasta to drain. The boiling hot pasta water will cook the spinach until just wilted.

3. Return pasta and spinach into pot and set over medium heat. Add 1/2 cup pasta water, olive oil, ricotta, parmesan, lemon zest, lemon juice and toss to coat until ricotta is heated through. Add in more pasta water if needed, season with salt and pepper. Add in sliced chicken. Serve warm topped with more parmesan if desired.

This article also appears on PhilStar.com.

Goodbye, High School

I don't think I ever expected my graduation day to come so quickly. The thing about high school is everything happens in a little bubble. You've got permanent classmates, a set schedule, rules to follow - and you get used to the routine, to seeing the same faces every day, and you start figuring out the campus until you know it like the back of your hand. And then it's time to go, and it feels really weird because you're not going to see the same faces anymore. Everything is changing, and suddenly everyone expects you to be very responsible and grown-up because you're going to college. It's really overwhelming. A lot happened in the past four years, and I feel like Freshman Bianca and Graduate Bianca are two very similar yet very different people. #growingpains 

I'm definitely gonna miss the spots my friends and I used to hang out in, and how going to school every day had a certain familiarity to it. And I'm really going to miss having hot lunch sent to me every day. Shoutout to you, mom: You the best! Here's what my last lunch looked like - my favorite grilled chicken, roast potatoes, carrots and apples. My mom always cuts up my food (because in my mom's eyes, I'll always be her baby) and makes sure I have fresh fruit to munch on, too.

I will always be grateful for the friends I made and for the support system I had. There were days where I had work piled up in front of me and I just wasn't feeling up to it, and days where I accomplished a lot and felt really good about myself. Then there were those days when I couldn't stop crying, but there were also lots of days where I couldn't stop laughing.

Through all these moments, I will always remember how my friends and family stood by me and taught me what it really means to be there for someone. 

I'm not as sentimental or nostalgic as I thought I'd be. I'm happy because despite the ups and downs, I can say I've had an amazing four years. I'm positive that it gets better from here! Happy Easter everyone : )

Kitchen Stories- Sole with Lemon Butter Sauce

Here's a light and easy fish recipe for those meatless Fridays of Lent. The addition of lemon slices during cooking helps keep the fish moist and flavorful. A simple sauce made with a combination of white wine, butter and lemon juice is the perfect compliment for this dish.

Sole with Lemon Butter Sauce

(from marthastewart.com)

3/4 cup dry white wine

3 sole fillets (about 330 grams each)

coarse salt and fresh ground pepper

18 very thin lemon slices (from 2 lemons), seeds removed

3 tablespoons of lemon juice

4 tablespoons cold butter

fresh dill sprigs

1. Pour white wine in a large lidded skillet. Slice each sole fillet into 3 smaller pieces. Season with salt and pepper and arrange in the skillet. Lay two overlapping lemon slices on each piece of fish.

2. Bring the wine to a boil; reduce heat to medium low. Cover skillet with lid and simmer gently until the fish is opaque through-out, about 3-5 minutes. With a spatula, carefully transfer fish to serving plates.

3. Return the liquid in the skillet to a boil and cook until reduced to 1/2 cup. Remove from heat, then whisk in lemon juice and butter until smooth. Season with salt; strain if desired. Serve with the fish and garnish with fresh dill and freshly ground black pepper.

She Said: I love lemons and can't help but add a squeeze of lemon juice to just about everything! I have also taken up the habit of drinking warm lemon water in the morning, so you can be sure to find a regular supply of this tangy, sour and fresh smelling citrus in our kitchen.

she said: I was really surprised that this dish was really simple to make! This one's a keeper, because the recipe is so easy I can do it myself! : )


This article also appears on PhilStar.com

Kitchen Stories- Chicken in Mustard Cream Sauce

We've been cooking a lot of chicken dishes lately, particularly white chicken meat, which has a little less fat and fewer calories compared to dark meat. We are really trying our best to make healthier choices when it comes to our meals. Chicken breast meat has more protein and less cholesterol, so it's the better choice. We like adding it to our salads, or serving it with some roasted or steamed vegetables and we look forward to sharing our chicken recipes with you! 

She Said: Our New Year's resolution to eat healthier meals has been going well so far. We've been eating more fruits and vegetables and we're slowly choosing lean meats over fatty cuts.

she said: Now, we only hope to be successful when it comes to desserts! We both have a weakness for all things sweet and can't resist chocolates, cakes and cookies, but we're really trying our best most especially for the Lenten season.

This recipe calls for skinless chicken breast fillets. The accompanying sauce is a French classic, made with mustard and heavy cream which you can substitute with milk or even plain yogurt. It makes a perfect sauce for pan seared fish and as topping for pork tenderloin too. Serve this with some steamed string beans and rice on the side and you've got yourself the perfect lunch. Enjoy!

Chicken in Mustard Cream Sauce

(adapted from The Pioneer Woman)

4 boneless, skinless chicken breast

2 tablespoons olive oil

1/2 cup low sodium chicken broth

1/2 cup heavy cream or substitute with plain yogurt

2 tablespoons Dijon mustard

1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh tarragon (or 1 teaspoon dried)

coarse salt and fresh ground black pepper

1. In a medium frying pan, heat oil over moderate heat. Season chicken with salt and pepper and add to pan. Saute until cooked through, about 10 minutes, turning once. Transfer to a plate and keep warm.

2. Pour chicken broth into the hot pan, cook stirring until broth is reduced in half. Whisk in cream yogurt, mustard and tarragon. Cook whisking until thickened, about 2 minutes.

3. Pour in any accumulated chicken juices into the sauce and mix until combined. Drizzle the sauce over the chicken and serve with steamed French string beans and rice.

This article also appears on PhilStar.com.