Lifestyle of a Hot Asian Mom

Happy Mother's Day

2009-05-10T19:30:00.003-05:00

Charles F. Stanley
God tells us to honor our mother. And He does not set any limits to His command. Because she's our mom, we are to treat her with respect and love.Mothers don't always live up to our expectations. Sometimes, they experience hardships and challenges that affect their ability to offer what we need or want. Or, they might have a personal weakness that negatively impacts us or our families. But we're to follow the example of our heavenly Father, who loved us even though we didn't have any qualities that deserved His favor. Romans 5:10 says He chose us to belong to Him through His Son Jesus, even while we were still His enemies.God loved us when we were unlovable. We can express our gratitude to Him by giving unconditional love to our mother. With the Holy Spirit's help, we can choose to do so genuinely and consistently.To love the significant women in our lives without any strings attached is an important part of showing them honor. No mother or wife should have to wonder if she's living up to what loved ones hope and expect from her. After a while, she'll feel trapped by the burden of unmet expectations, rather than accepted by those closest to her.Mothers have the same needs as all women: to be loved, listened to, and cared about. Take time to show the important women in your life how much you care for them. Be a willing, attentive listener, and demonstrate your love to them in meaningful ways.

I’m Thankful

2008-11-27T07:26:00.004-06:00

Thanksgiving should last much longer than just one day. It needs to be a way of life for the children of God. So as you gather with family and friends this holiday be sure to express your gratitude to the One who has given you all that you have. Keep God in the center of your celebration, and may God continue to bless you as you seek and serve Him wholeheartedly.

A thankful heart begins with understanding what it cost God to forgive my sins and have a relationship with me. All our lives we have problems and things don’t always go the way we want them. But if we believe in God’s ability to help and guide us, there is nothing we cannot overcome.

We should always be thankful for what we have and not worry about the little things that may not be perfect. We wake each morning to another day of life. We are given a new day to make things better, not just for ourselves but for everyone around us. We have food, homes, and people around us to share this great bounty we have been given. No matter how bad you feel things might be, just remember there are probably many people who have it much worse. We should be thankful our life is not real bad, and should give prayer that the lives of others will be as good, all over the world.

So on this day of thanks, let us all be grateful for what we have, wish better for those who have not, and may we all have a wonderful Thanksgiving Day.

Filipino Community

2008-08-28T14:04:00.004-05:00

Every year we celebrate the Kalipay picnic where all the Filipino people gather together. The majority of the people, who attend, are from the Visayan islands originally. Now they live all over the United States. They attend the big picnic to mingle, eat all different kinds of food, play all different kinds of games, dance, sing karaoke, or just relax and talk. I love to attend the Filipino community events because they remind me of the Philippines. I am so grateful to see Filipino people, my kababayan (fellow Filipinos). Whenever we get together we always have many dishes to pass, especially letchon (whole roasted pig). My favorite things at the picnic are the letchon, the music, the games for kids and adults, everything that makes the day enjoyable. We call our party “Kalipay” meaning happiness.

I love watching happy people; I also love taking pictures of my kababayan. Everyone was relaxed and enjoying the good weather. The kids were playing in the surrounding park, or participating in the games. There was so much food that everyone was full and content. No matter how busy our lifestyles are, we always have time to get together and have some fun. I saw all my friends from fifteen years ago and they still look young, happy and of course beautiful. They all were happy to see me again and we spent many hours reminiscing about the good times. I love Kalipay parties. We will do it again each year for as long as we live.

Traveling meditation

2008-04-29T12:23:00.001-05:00

Sometimes, even with careful planning, life can become hectic or stressful. Traffic delays, unexpected calls, and unforeseen events can all play havoc with our daily lives. Problems may arise and may seem insurmountable. At times like these, when all you can do is watch your peace of mind go out the window, try these quick meditations. This meditation is particularly good for relieving stress when you are running late. It can be performed anywhere: on a train, on a bus, in a traffic gridlock; but for safety’s sake make sure you are not driving while you do it. Let the whole of your body go loose, relaxing any areas of tension, and take a couple of deep breaths. Accept that you have now done all you can to make up the lost time. There is nothing more you can do to help get you there any faster. Focus on your breathing, and visualize the anxiety or worry simply floating away with each exhalation. Don’t follow it, just let it go. Each time the anxiety tries to come back, gently silence it and bring your mind back to its inner calm and peace.

Mindfulness meditation

2008-04-28T11:45:00.002-05:00

Meditation is much more than simply relaxation. During relaxation the mind wanders uncontrollably, whereas during meditation the mind stays alert and focused. By using meditation to restrain the wanderings of the mind, we can bring ourselves back to full awareness and experience things as they really are. Meditation is for everyone, whatever their lifestyle. We owe our advances to the power of the mind, but we need to learn how to control it. There are all kinds of ways you can meditate and even a few minutes can make a difference to the way you feel. I love mindfulness meditation. This meditation is excellent for cultivating mindfulness. I try to do it whenever I can. First, pull your mind away from wherever it is, and concentrate on what you are doing at that moment. It doesn’t matter whether you are standing up, walking home, eating, having a shower- start doing it with all your senses. Smell the fragrance of the air around you, taste every mouthful of food you are eating, feel the sensation of water against your skin as you shower. Ask yourself what you are doing, and what you are experiencing and feeling. After a short while, you will probably find your mind trying to distract you. Notice the thoughts that arise, but don’t follow them. Let them go, and bring your mind gently back to the present moment. Mindfulness meditation helps you to see the beauty in everything from the tiniest flower to the people closest to you. Mindfullness helps us to reclaim each moment, to live in the present so that nothing passes us by.

How I Maintain My Weight

2008-03-20T12:28:00.002-05:00

The best gift I can give to my family is to maintain my good health. One key to good health is to have a healthy weight level. There are many ways to maintain a good weight, but here is what works for me.

The first key to keeping my weight down is to eat a healthy diet. This is accomplished by eating mostly healthy foods, such as whole grains, fresh leafy vegetables, fruits and lean meats, preferably fish. I try to minimize my intake of fatty foods and also my intake of red meat. I also can eat beans as a source of protein instead of meat. I eat many of my meals with whole grain rice. This all helps give me energy while not giving me too many calories. It is also important to me that I eat breakfast everyday. This is the most important meal as it gives you your energy for the day and you also have the whole day in which to burn off the calories.

The second key is to keep moving! Exercise of any kind will burn off more calories than if you are just sitting around. I like to keep active. I often go with my husband to the gym, where I do treadmill exercise for cardio and also lift weights for strength training. But this is not the only way I get exercise. I also do many household chores that require me to make numerous trips up and down our stairs. This added movement also helps burn calories. During warm weather, I spend a lot of time in my garden, and this exercise also helps to maintain my weight. I often walk with my friends in the morning when the weather is good, or we can walk around indoors during bad weather. The point is to keep moving!

Through healthy eating and good exercise I am able to keep my weight at a healthy living. These things are the type of things anyone can do, so I hope others will have success as I have.

Friendship Chain

2008-03-17T12:11:00.002-05:00

~~Begin Copy~~
This is the easy way and the fastest way to :1. Make your Authority Technorati explode. 2. Increase your Google Page Rank. 3. Get more traffic to your blog. 4. Makes more new friends. Rules: 1. Start copy from “Begin Copy” until “End Copy” to your blog.2. Put your own blog name and link.3.Tag your friends as much as you can. 1. Picturing of Life 2. Juliana’s Site 3. Hazel-My Life, My Hope, My Future. 4. Jeanne-The Callalily Space 5.My Family is my Life 6. The Simple Life of a Baghag 7. On A Wonderful Day Like Today 8. House Everything 9. The Creativity in Me 10. Travel and Photography 11. Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow 12. Nora’s Notes 13. Noras Family Treasures 14. Fil-Oz Blog 15. What A World 16. More on Health 17. Everyday Life 18.Pinaywifespeaks 19. Pinaywife Atbp. 20. Laugh Out Loud 21. http://usasianliving.blogspot.com/
~~End Copy~~

Please spread the links, Kerslyn, Eva, Ruby

My Scary Moment

2008-03-11T11:44:00.006-05:00

This morning I started with positive energy. I felt good and everything was perfect. I was not thinking of anything going wrong today. I thought it would be just a regular day doing my routine tasks. I never counted on anything wrong happening at any time, any day, especially at home. I thought my home was the safest place I could be, but once again there is no such safe place.

My daughter and I were eating our breakfast when the Carbon Monoxide (CO) Detector beeped, so we both began panicking. This was a very scary moment because I didn’t know what to do. I told my daughter to grab her school stuff and to leave the house right away to save her life. I immediately opened my windows to let the fresh air ventilate my house. Other than that I really didn’t know what to do so I turned on my computer to read about Carbon Monoxide. I am thanking God that my CO detector was only beeping because of a low battery.

My scary moment will give me a reason to educate myself about CO alarms. I learned my lesson that I need to prepare myself for this kind of situation. I am sharing this experience with you because anything can happen at anytime and any place. Carbon monoxide is a flammable, colorless, odorless, tasteless toxic gas produced during incomplete combustion of fuel - Natural Gas, Oil, Coal, Wood, Kerosene, etc. Hundreds of people die each year from CO thousands of others are treated in hospitals for it. It has symptoms similar to the flu, so may often go undiagnosed until it is too late. Everyone should invest in a CO alarm to give you peace of mind about this dangerous chemical.

Save Money - wikiHow

2008-03-04T13:38:00.000-06:00

Save Money - wikiHow

Spring into Paradise

2008-02-29T20:58:00.001-06:00

Planning for a sunny escape or just dreaming about one? Wearing pretty, flowery clothes is a first-class ticket to a shopping paradise. Spring is about the fresh and the unexpected. The fit of the clothes should be relaxed. I love my long and bold floral dress. It makes me feel relaxed when I am wearing a long breezy dress. A breezy dress is an effortless pick. I put my hair down with this dress and I’m ready to go in paradise. After winter’s body-skimming shapes, it’s a relief to wear something light and uncomplicated. This floral dress is stylish and versatile enough to wear anywhere during the spring season. Once again, this is an outfit that cinches at the waist, to accentuate the figure, but is loose enough not to be too revealing. It is a good way to say “hi” to a new warmer season after a long cold winter.

What I'll Be Wearing

2008-02-21T12:15:00.009-06:00

I want clothes that don’t take themselves too seriously. I love the idea of having a wardrobe where everything goes with everything else, but is still unique enough to keep me feeling stylish and cool.

I love this amazingly beautiful animal print dress. This dress I’m wearing is actually very lightweight, perfect for when the weather gets warmer. I balanced it by pairing it with an oversized cardigan. This gray oversized cardigan is thinly knit, so it doesn’t add bulk. I love this dress because I can pull it together in a number of ways. I can complete the look by just simply wearing black tights and black high heeled shoes.

I turn this simple animal print dress into something classic and comfortable when it gets warmer, I wear it with black flat shoes for a more relaxed look. I simply wear it by itself without the oversize cardigan. At first glance, I’m pretty basic, but every piece I wear looks stylish and sophisticated.

My Romantic Valentine’s Getaway

2008-02-14T08:28:00.001-06:00

Today is February 14th, the day we have all been waiting for this month. This will be the day to show our love to everyone around us, but especially to our significant others. Today, my husband and I have planned a very fun filled and romantic day. I am sure it will be as enjoyable and exciting as we planned for. I love my children, but sometimes you need to get away from home to keep the spark in your relationship. If you are always at home, after a tiring day, with the kids around, intimacy becomes something of a routine. You need to go away somewhere so you are not distracted by things of the past or the future, but can concentrate solely on the moment for the highest level of intimacy.

The day will start with us having lunch at a nice seafood restaurant. I am very fond of lobster, and will have a large one for my meal. My husband is still partly a steak and potato man, so he usually has steak and shrimp. This will be a good start to the rest of the day’s events. We will spend the afternoon shopping at one of the nearby malls. This is only because the main event cannot start until 6:00 pm, so, being a woman; I will find a useful way to pass the time.

That night we will check in to a room that is designed especially for couples. It has a pool, a whirlpool, a bed with many mirrors, and many other romantic things. Here we will partake in all types of fun like swimming, drinking champagne, taking pictures and videos. Of course, there will be a large quantity of intimate physical bodily contact. This will heighten the passion, the pleasure and bond our souls tighter than ever. It will be a total uplifting experience for the mind, body and soul.
If we sleep, it will be as late as we can endure, and will be only long enough to remove the heaviest fatigue so we can start again early the next morning. This will be a Valentine’s Day for us to cherish and remember for all our days. After this is all done, there will be another outcome that I will use for my blog. Look for postings on fashion to follow soon. Everyone have a safe, loving and happy Valentine’s Day!

Valentines Day Not Just for Romantic Love

2008-02-06T08:49:00.000-06:00

It is February, and with the Superbowl being done, all minds turn to the biggest event of the month, Valentines Day. This season, with the help of advertisers like Hallmark and FTD Florists, has become a major commercial event. But that is not what Valentines Day means to me. Also, Valentines Day is not just a romantic celebration of love, but is a celebration of love at all levels.

I believe that we need to show our love to everyone on Valentines Day, not just our spouses or other lovers. We need to show our family that we love them. We need to say “I love you” to our children, our parents, our siblings, and to every one of our relatives that we can. These people are very important in our lives and this is a good opportunity to show that we love and appreciate them. We also need to let our friends know that they too are loved and are very important to us. On Valentines Day we should try to show kindness and appreciation for all of the people we contact.

Valentines Day should not be a matter of “how much did you spend” or “he went to Jared’s”. Valentines Day is not about how much money you spend, but how much quality time you spend with others. Valentines Day should be a state of mind; we should have these feelings for those we love every day of the year. Unfortunately, this is not always the way things are in reality, so let’s try to show our love for at least one day this year.

Keys to Our Happy Romantic Relationship

2008-02-02T13:38:00.000-06:00

These are the keys to our happy relationship for fifteen years. My husband and I learn from each other everyday of our marriage. We make certain that we are never both angry at the same time. Neither of us needs to win an argument, we let the other one win. Eventually, if we are right, our spouse will see it, but no conflict is needed. If we criticize each other, we do it gently; constructive criticism is always good if delivered in a nice way. We both learn never to bring up mistakes of the past, keeping anything we are discussing to current situations. We try to say something kind or complimentary to one another at least once a day. My husband and I learned, as the years went by, to admit we have done something wrong and to ask forgiveness for it. We are not so proud that we cannot be truthful to each other in situations of fault. We do our best to never go to sleep with an argument unresolved. My husband and I try not to ever take each other for granted. These are the keys to our happy, loving and romantic relationship.

A Day with My Son

2008-02-01T19:42:00.000-06:00

Today we had a snow storm so my son‘s school was closed. I was so glad that I could spend good quality time with him. After breakfast he played with his PSP. A few hours later, after I was done with my routine household tasks, I prepared our lunch. Both my son and I love to play scrabble. We decided to play a game of scrabble after we ate our lunch. It was really fun playing scrabble because we always find new words and look up the meaning of the words in the dictionary. Some times we would find a word that is not in everyday use. It is one way of exercising the brain. We were so carried away that we forgot the time. My son and I really had a great time. Playing scrabble with my son is priceless. It was a simple way to spend good quality time with my son.

I Love You

2008-01-31T10:16:00.000-06:00

Everyday I say " I Love You" to my teenage son and my daughter. It seems the most natural thing in the world to tell my younger children “I Love You”. As they grow older it is not so easy for them to say it to me. I believe they need to hear these words, though. They pretend that it does not matter or that they really do not want me to say “I Love You” but deep inside I know they feel great about being told that they are special and loved. It is important to me that they hear this everyday.

I say “I Love You” when they go to school each morning. I say “I Love You” each night when they go to bed. I express my love to them every time, whether or not they do something good or something bad. Teenagers are not perfect human beings. I say "I Love You" anyway, no matter what. I only say “I Love You” to them when they are not amongst by their friends because I know they might feel embarrassed. Expressions of affection for teenagers are best made in private.

They are my precious gifts from God, and they are lovable and worthwhile people. My son and daughter will grow into the loving, Godly, wonderful human beings that God created.

Role Modeling in Parenting

2008-01-29T20:00:00.000-06:00

We are role models in our children’s lives. Some believe they can tell their children to do one thing, then go and do something else themselves. Which do you think a child is more likely to remember, what they are told or what they see. This is why it is of the utmost importance that we try to be as good a role model as we can.

It is not hard to be a good role model, it just requires us to think before we act or speak. We need to decide whether our actions or words might not have a bad influence on our children. Our actions must be consistent with what we tell them. Telling your child not to swear, meanwhile using profanity in the process will only confuse them. Do as you preach is a very good quote when raising children. If we pray as a family, then our children learn to pray. Bigotry and hatred, amongst other learned behaviors, are often first seen in ones parents. Likewise love, openness and kindness can also be learned through the parents’ actions. The best way to bring up loving kids is to show love openly in the house. Saying “I love you”, kisses and hugs are just some of the ways we can show our love. Parents who express love to each other and their children will plant the seeds of love in their children. These seeds will be nurtured by love around them and bloom into loving adults, who will do the same for their children.

We live in a world where our children are often given mixed signals of what is right and wrong. It is up to us as parents to make sure that we give them the strongest example possible to help them through these confusing times.

All Mothers are Loved

2008-01-28T13:46:00.000-06:00

This is for all the mothers who probably won't win Mother of the Year. All the runners-up and all the wannabes. The mothers too tired to enter or too busy to care. This is for all the mothers who froze their buns off on metal bleachers at soccer games Friday night instead of watching from cars, so that when their kids asked, "Did you see my goal?" they could say, "Of course, wouldn't have missed it for the world," and mean it.

This is for all the mothers who have sat up all night with sick toddlers in their arms, wiping up barf laced with Oscar Mayer wieners and cherry Kool-Aid saying, "It's OK, honey, Mommy's here." This is for all the mothers of Kosovo who fled in the night and can't find their children.

This is for the mothers who gave birth to babies they'll never see. And the mothers who took those babies and made them homes. For all the mothers of the victims of the Colorado shooting, and the mothers of the murderers. For the mothers of the survivors, and the mothers who sat in front of their TVs in horror, hugging their child who just came home from school, safely. For all the mothers who run carpools and make cookies and sew Halloween costumes. And all the mothers who DON'T.

What makes a good Mother anyway? Is it patience? Compassion? Broad hips? The ability to nurse a baby, cook dinner, and sew a button on a shirt, all at the same time? Or is it heart? Is it the ache you feel when you watch your son or daughter disappear down the street, walking to school alone for the very first time? The jolt that takes you from sleep to dread, from bed to crib at 2 A.M. to put your hand on the back of a sleeping baby? The need to flee from wherever you are and hug your child when you hear news of a school shooting, a fire, a car accident, a baby dying?

So this is for all the mothers who sat down with their children and explained all about making babies. And for all the mothers who wanted to, but just couldn't. This is for reading "Goodnight, Moon" twice a night for a year...And then reading it again, "Just one more time."

This is for all the mothers who mess up. Who yell at their kids in the grocery store and swat them in despair and stomp their feet like a tired 2-year-old who wants ice cream before dinner. This is for all the mothers who taught their daughters to tie their shoelaces before they started school. And for all the mothers who opted for Velcro instead. For all the mothers who bite their lips - sometimes until they bleed - when their 14 year olds dye their hair green. Who lock themselves in the bathroom when babies keep crying and won't stop.

This is for all the mothers who show up at work with spit-up in their hair and milk stains on their blouses and diapers in their purse. This is for all the mothers who teach their sons to cook and their daughters to sink a jump shot. This is for all mothers whose heads turn automatically when a little voice calls mom?" in a crowd, even though they know their own offspring are at home.

This is for mothers who put pinwheels and teddy bears on their children's graves. This is for mothers whose children have gone astray, who can't find the words to reach them. This is for all the mothers who sent their sons to school with stomachaches, assuring them they'd be just FINE once they got there, only to get calls from the school nurse and hour later asking them to please pick them up. Right away.

This is for young mothers stumbling through diaper changes and sleep deprivation. And mature mothers learning to let go. For working mothers and stay-at-home mothers. Single mothers and married mothers. Mothers with money, mothers without. This is for all of you. Hang in there, and know that you are loved and needed.

True Friends Are Forever

2008-01-27T10:36:00.000-06:00

We don't have to change friends if we understand that friends change. No matter how good friends are, they're going to hurt you every once in a while and you must forgive them for that. True friendship continues to grow, even over the longest distance. Same goes for true love. My best friend and I can do anything or nothing and have the best time. Sometimes the people you expect to kick you when you're down will be the ones to help you get back up. Your life can be changed in a matter of hours by people who don't even know you. Even when you think you have no more to give, when a friend cries out to you, you will find the strength to help.

We may have many friends throughout our lives, but only a few true friends. True friends can come at any point along our life’s path. We never know which stranger might one day be our best friend, and which friend might one day prove false. We need to approach each encounter with an open mind and an open heart, so that there is a better chance that friendships will arise. We need to keep our hearts free and our minds uncluttered of bigotry, predispositions and hatred if we want to have the best relationships with our friends.

“Two are better than one, for they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. If two lie down together they will keep warm. Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him.” Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

Cassava Pudding

2008-01-25T12:59:00.000-06:00

2 lbs. grated cassava
1 14-ounce can condensed milk
1 13-ounce can evaporated milk
1 16- ounce can less 6 tablespoons coconut cream (sold in Oriental stores)
2 cups coconut milk (sold in Oriental stores)
grated coconut
½ cup sugar
5 eggs

Topping
2 egg yolks, beaten
6 tablespoon coconut cream
6 tablespoon condensed milk

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a mixing bowl, combine pudding ingredients (save 6 tablespoons coconut cream for topping). Mix well. Pour mixture into a buttered 11 3/4- inch shallow rectangular cake pan and bake for approximately 30 minutes.
Mix the topping ingredients well and spread evenly on top of pudding and continue baking for another 25 minutes.

Your Personal Best

2008-01-24T11:15:00.000-06:00

Someone will always be prettier. They will always be smarter. Their house will be bigger. They will drive a better car. Their children will do better in school. And their husband will fix more things around the house.
So let it go, and love you and your circumstances. Think about it. The prettiest woman in the world can have hate in her heart. And the most highly favored woman on your job may be unable to have children. And the richest woman you know-she's got the car, the house, the clothes-might be lonely. And the Word says if I have not Love, I am nothing.
So, again, love you. Love who you are right now and let God be your barometer. Mirror Him. Look in the mirror in the morning and see how much of God you see. He's the only standard and even when you come up short; He will not leave you or forsake you. Smile and may God continue to bless you."I am too blessed to be stressed or depressed, and too anointed to be disappointed!"
The shortest distance between a problem and a solution is the distance between your knees and the floor.
"The one who kneels to God can stand up to anything." "Winners make things happen. Losers let things happen." "To the world, you might be only one person, but to one person, you just might be the world.""God grant me the serenity to accept the people I cannot change, the courage to change the 'ONE' I can change, and the wisdom to know that it's ME"Have a great day and remember... "Kindness is contagious...pass it on."

A Day with My Best Friend

2008-01-04T20:38:00.000-06:00

Today I spent my day with my best friend. She works in the hospital as a nurse. Whenever she has a day-off, she calls me and we plan on spending some time together. I am always glad to have simple ways of spending time with her; maybe we just talk, and share our thoughts.

First of all she came today and gave me a big surprise. I never expected she would do such a special thing for me. She made me a handmade red scarf. I was jumping with joy. She knows my favorite color is red. I love it very much. I will treasure my red scarf forever. I and she now have the same handmade red scarves. For me, her gift of a scarf is priceless.

Secondly, we went out for sushi. We ate a lot of sushi and enjoyed every bite of it. Now that we were full from all the good food, we needed to go shopping. We were looking for end of season sales (see previous fashion post). My best friend and I bought some great items from brand name stores for very low prices. We enjoyed shopping and looking great as if we paid the full price (Bwahahahahaha!!!!)

My Personal Style

2008-01-01T18:24:00.000-06:00

My fashion style is unique but very attractive, I am often complimented for my choices of clothing, hair styles etc.. Here are a few of my personal styles that might work for you too.

I love wearing coats that are cinched in the waste, because it accentuates my waistline. I like coats that are soft and light, but warm and cozy, not sacrificing anything for attractiveness. I have recently purchased a very attractive silver grey faux fur jacket. It is cinched at the waist, very light and very warm. I wear it with knee high boots and black leggings to give it an even more sexy appearance. Pair this outfit with a coach handbag and you really stand out in the crowd.

I got this particular jacket at a fraction of the original cost. Nearly my entire wardrobe is expensive clothing that I purchased for a greatly reduced price. I purchase my clothes at the end of the season, when the prices are reduced. This allows me to look like a million dollars for only a few dollars. These clothes are just as good in quality as they were at full price. My wardrobe is highly versatile. I can wear summer clothing during winter by pairing them with warm weather items. Thus a lacy blouse can be worn under a blazer, or shorts can be worn over leggings, just a couple examples. Also, the seasons always return, so anything that was bought at the end of Summer one year, can be used the next year. Many times, fashion styles also recycle, so keeping some items around for a few years can be useful when the style returns.

This is just a quick peek into my fashion style. I will share other fashion insights with you on this blog, and look forward to any comments you may have.

My New Year's Traditions

2007-12-31T15:32:00.000-06:00

The New Year is upon us. I would like to share some of my traditions with you. Being from the Philippines, there are certain traditions that I have followed for my whole life. One of the most important traditions for me is to have thirteen different types of fruit in the house when the New Year begins. This will ensure that we will have a fruitful year in 2008. I was already out earlier today obtaining thirteen different fruits and here is the fruit of my labor (no pun intended).

Another tradition is to wear clothes that have polka dots on them. This also brings good luck to the person for the new year. At the stroke of midnight, we all make as much noise as possible (this is an American tradition as well). We put all our coins into metal pots and shake them vigorously so that they make plenty of noise. This tradition in the Philippines is to drive out the old spirits from the house so that new spirits can come in for the new year. We also have plenty of food and drink and we all have a good time in hopes of good times in the new year.

Paella - Philippine Style

2007-12-28T17:45:00.000-06:00

Ingredients:

1 2-pound fryer chicken, cut into pieces
1 2-pound pork tenderloin
1 pound large shrimps
salt and pepper to taste
3 large crabs
20 fresh littleneck clams
6 cups water
1/2 cup olive oil
1/2 teaspoon paprika
2 tablespoons chopped garlic
1/4 cup chopped onion
2 chorizos de Bilbao or pepperonis, sliced thin
3 cups raw rice (glutinous or sticky rice if available)
1/2 cup tomato sauce
1 small bay leaf
1 green bell pepper, sliced into 1-inch pieces
1/4 teaspoon saffron mixed with 1 teaspoon water (optional)
1 cup frozen peas
2 pieces pimento cut into 1-inch squares
2 hard-boiled eggs

Preparation:

Cut chicken and pork into 1-1/2 inch pieces. Shell shrimps leaving tails; slit and remove black veins; dredge with salt and pepper.
Boil crabs and quarter. Crack shells of crab claws and set aside.

Boil clams in 6 cups water until they open. Remove empty top shells and set aside. Reserve 6 cups clam broth.
Preheat oven to 350 F. Heat olive oil in a large pan and add chicken, pork, paprika, garlic, onion and chorizo or pepperoni. Toss for a few minutes and add rice. stir until rice is slightly brown. Add tomato sauce, clam broth, bay leaf, salt and pepper and stir for a few minutes. Add shrimps and bell peppers and saffron if used. Bring to a boil.

Transfer to a serving casserole and bake covered at 350 F for 30 minutes. Uncover the casserole and arrange clams, crabs, peas and pimento on top. Cover and cook for 5 minutes. Decorate top with slices of hard-boiled eggs before serving.

Chinese-Style Pork

2007-12-28T17:26:00.000-06:00

Ingredients:

2 pounds pork loin

Marinade:
1 cup water
1/3 cup soy sauce
1/3 cup brown sugar
2 tablespoons white wine
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons finely minced garlic

Preparation:

Marinate the whole pork loin for 30 minutes or more in a large pot. Cover the pot and bring the mixture to a boil. Lower heat and simmer until meat is tender (about 30 minutes). Serve hot with the marinade.

Baked Fish

2007-12-28T17:10:00.000-06:00

Ingredients:

6 to 8 fillets of lapu-lapu (red snapper or grouper may be substituted)
1 teaspoon lemon juice
salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
1/3 cup olive oil
1 whole onion, finely minced
1-1/2 cups fresh chopped tomatoes, with skin and seeds
1/2 cup pimento cut into strips
1 tablespoon finely minced parsley
1 tablespoon bread crumbs

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 350 F. Season the fillets with lemon juice, salt and pepper and place in a shallow glass pan. Set aside. In a medium skillet, heat olive oil. Saute onions, tomatoes and pimento until a saucelike consistency is obtained. Pour the sauce on the fish. Sprinkle the fish with parsley and bread crumbs. Bake at 350 F. for 25 minutes. Serve hot.

Filipino Quick Steaks

2007-12-28T16:49:00.000-06:00

Ingredients

2 1/4 lb Sirloin, sliced 1/8 to 1/4 inch thick

1 1/2 T Salt

2 T Brown sugar

1 tsp Garlic -- finely chopped

1/2 tsp Cracked black pepper

Preparation

Combine salt, sugar, garlic, and black pepper. Spread by rubbing evenly on both sides of meat and store covered in the refrigerator overnight. Grill or smoke to medium or medium well.

Serving Suggestions

Serve with a salsa of chopped fresh tomatoes, chopped onions, grated radish, chopped fresh cilantro, oriental fish sauce (patis) to taste, crushed hot chilies, and a little vinegar or lemon juice.

My Most Amazing Vacation: Day 4

2007-12-28T15:59:00.000-06:00

Unfortunately, our last day of the cruise was upon us. I had been having so much fun that I was a little sad that there was only one day left. It was Christmas Day, and it was 80 degrees out. I wasn't going to get a white Christmas, but I was also not going to have a freezing Christmas. The ship would make no port of call that day, so we were free to do as we pleased. We ate a huge breakfast, as usual, then headed out to tour the ship. We went to all the different levels of the ship, and we took pictures at various spots that caught my eye as being unique or attractive. We went to some of the places on the ship that we had not had time to visit earlier because of our busy schedule. One of these was a bar set way up on the 15 floor of the ship. From here we could see the whole deck of the ship and all the people just relaxing by the pool. They had a belly flop competition while we were at the bar, so we could watch. It was quite amusing. We also ordered a few drinks, and found out you could keep the glasses. These were very nice glasses with the ship line insignia on them, different styles for different drinks. These would make excellent souvenirs!

We were filled with holiday spirit by the time we had dinner. By then we had packed up almost all of our luggage and had given out all of the gratuities for the crew (we were happy to do this as we had no complaints about any of our service). We went to the dueling pianos one last time, then we slept for the last time. The next day would be disembarking time early, so we wouldn't get much sleep, but we didn't care, we wanted to enjoy every possible minute of this, my most amazing vacation!

My Most Amazing Vacation: Day 3

2007-12-10T20:12:00.000-06:00

Well, if I thought I was going to have trouble sleeping the second night, I would have been completely wrong. This time, we slept in until after 9:00 am. By the time we got up to our breakfast, the ship had already docked in our other port of call. As we ate our breakfast, we could see parasailers floating by the ship. The early risers had already disembarked for the shore and were engaged in the various activities offered. This time, we did not dock at a pier, but had to be shuttled to and from the ship in smaller boats that seated about fifty or more people at a time. These boats were open to the air, so we could enjoy the warm, ocean air as we traveled to shore. Once on shore, there were many activities for the passengers to partake in. There was parasailing, jet skiing, scuba diving, snorkeling, boat tours, water parks, or just lounging on the beach absorbing the sun (quite a treat for someone who is used to snow and cold in December!).

We decided not to go for any of the activities because they mostly required swimming. Although I am from an island nation, I have never learned to swim. We walked along the beaches, looking at all the sights to see along the shore. Our ship looked like a castle on the sea, our home when we grew weary of all the fun. It felt good to see it out there, anchored only a few miles off shore. We also went to all the shops that were set up on the beach, where we purchased more souvenirs and a few nice pieces of clothing. They served a nice barbecue lunch. We enjoyed ourselves in a couple hammocks watching the crowds walk by and the sea as it gently lapped the shore. All in all, it was a very delightful day.

That night was yet another enjoyable evening. We had a very tasty meal, and we strolled on the deck and watched the ship set off to sea again. That night was Christmas Eve, so there was caroling in the central area of the ship. Many people showed up and we did the Christmas holiday proud. They served eggnog (leaded and unleaded). I had a couple of the leaded variety, it warmed me up inside. Later we attended the dueling pianos. This was two guys who played pianos facing each other and performed requests for the audience. They did this in a delightfully flippant way that was very funny and entertaining. We stayed until the show finished for the night. The only place open with food that late was a pizza parlor. We got a few slices before struggling into bed well after midnight. Tomorrow was Christmas Day, and I looked forward to it with great anticipation.

My Most Amazing Vacation: Day 2

2007-12-05T14:11:00.000-06:00

Usually, I cannot sleep later than 5:00 or 6:00 in the morning. With the unfamiliarity of the room and the ships movement, I thought I would be up all night unable to sleep. It wasn’t until 8:00 AM that I awoke. I guess the rocking motion of the ship and all the previous day’s activities allowed me to sleep most soundly. We went up to the buffet dining area and were once again amazed by all the varieties of food for our breakfast. They had customized omelets made as we watched and foods from many cultures including typical “American” fare, as well as various Asian and European cuisines. We ate so much we did not think we would be able to eat again that day (but of course, this proved to be wrong). As we were eating our food, we could see many smaller islands drifting past. These were the first signs of land we had seen since Florida, as it was dark out soon after our departure. But as we finished our breakfast, we began to enter the Port of Nassau.

We proceeded to the outer deck area so we could watch as the ship docked. It was a most beautiful sight. There were already many ships in the port from our cruise line, as well as others. We were the fifth ship to dock that morning. Our ship was not the smallest, but there were a couple ships there that dwarfed us. These were palaces of the sea, and we already planned that someday we would be on one of these or their sister ships. As soon as the ship was docked (there had been a slight delay in getting into our berth, so we were a bit behind schedule) everyone queued up to debark for shore. We enjoyed a tour of the city that included seeing two old British forts. We were able to see all the buildings, hospitals, government buildings, and they were all so colorful! It was definitely a treat when compared to many of the brown and grey buildings that dominate the American skylines. The tour ended on Paradise Island where we were able to explore the Atlantis hotel. This was the most luxurious hotel I had ever seen. There was one suite that they said was $100,000 per night. Boy, to be able to stay there! We then went through all the lovely shops that are situated just off the dock. There we saw many trinkets and other items made in the Bahamas. We of course bought a few items here and there, as souvenirs of this voyage.
We returned to the ship as night was falling. This night was our formal night, so we dressed up in our finest for dinner. After dinner, we had pictures taken while we were still dressed up; these were very beautiful with moonlight backgrounds. Actually, there were photos taken during the cruise at numerous occasions (dinners, embarkation, and debarkation). We got all of these pictures to preserve our memories of this vacation. With all the food we had this day you would think we were done eating, but there was one surprise left. Late in the evening they served us a chocolate buffet. They had more sweets than I had ever seen at one time. We had one more feast before retiring. Two more days to come, this was the most magical of times.

My favorite recipe

2007-12-03T19:28:00.000-06:00

It is one of my favorite recipes because it is very healthy, and easy to cook.

Rice with Chicken
Ingredients:

2 lb chicken (boneless skinless chicken thigh)
2 tablespoons oil
10 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 onion, finely sliced
1 teaspoon finely chopped fresh ginger
2 ½ cups rice
4 cups water
¼ teaspoon turmeric powder (optional to add nice color)
3 tablespoons fish sauce
4 springs onions, finely sliced

Procedure:

Heat oil in a large frying pan and fry the garlic until golden brown. Remove and reserve. Add onion and ginger to pan and fry until soft, and then add chicken and fry, turning, until chicken is golden and half cooked. Add rice and stir fry for a few minutes, then return half the fried garlic to pan, add water and fish sauce. Bring to the boil, then turn heat low, cover tightly and cook 20 minutes without lifting lid. Serve garnished with reserved fried garlic and spring onions.

This is the finished recipe

My Most Amazing Vacation: Day 1

2007-12-02T17:14:00.000-06:00

It was early morning, December of 2006. It was almost Christmas. The kids were already at their Grandmother's house for a week's stay. It was raining cats and dogs, and we could barely see the road. We got to the airport early and were lucky enough to get through check in without too much hassle. The flight south was full of turbulence but we made it safely to Orlando, Florida. The cruise line had a representative meet us there, then it was on a bus for 50 miles to Port Canaveral, where our ship was waiting. It was not the biggest ship of the cruise line, nor the newest, but it was the first cruise ship I had ever seen this closely, and to me it was glorious.

There was a bit of a wait while we all registered to get on board (we had forgotten to bring our computer printout for the information so we had to fill out some forms there) but we got on board a few hours before the ship set off. Once on board we had our first meal. It was just supposed to be a snack, but there was so much food. It was like being in a huge buffet, with all the food tasting so good. Later there was a set-off party up on the deck where a Caribbean band played music while we all danced and enjoyed watched the shore slip away. That night we had dinner in one of the main dining rooms. This was also exquisitely tasteful. One of the things that I enjoyed most was how warm it was. Where we live, it is cold during the Winter, but here it was in the 80's with everyone in shorts and t-shirts, it was so enjoyable. We just toured the ship and went dancing in the clubs for the rest of the night. I enjoyed watching the other people, seeing how happy they were, just observing this wide variety of people all having fun like us.

The whole time we were out and about our day on the ship, there were people everywhere that were just waiting to serve our needs. In the room all the bedding and towels were replaced like magic, with little towel animals being left on the bed. In the food service areas, everyone was so helpful. I barely had to do anything for my self, I felt like royalty. This was my first day on the cruise and already it had exceeded all my expectations. The best, though, was yet to come!

Hot Asian Mom: An Introduction

2007-12-02T16:13:00.000-06:00

Hi,

I'm a 42 year old hot Asian mother of two (my son is almost almost 15 and my daughter is 21). I have been happily married for 15 years. I'm reasonably happy, fabulous and I have a positive attitude. I am also extremely beautiful. To me beauty is more than just physical appearance, though that is part of it. Beauty to me encompasses all of the aspects of a person's being, physical, mental and spiritual. I am comfortable with my body. I am just an ordinary mom who loves to do many nice and creative things in my life. I love to cook Asian food, garden, decorate my home, organize and, of course, shop. I also like to meditate and exercise to help keep the stresses in my life balanced. When I garden, it is like a form of meditation for me. I try to keep mind, body and soul in balance in my life.

For me, being a hot Asian is all about making the best of whatever life throws at you. I try my best to provide a happier, healthier life for my family. I live a simple life, I don't require a lot of material things. I try to steer my two children in the right direction for their lives. I feel it is very important for parents to be hands-on when dealing with their children. We need to be a part of their lives to ensure that they have the best possible start. We don't need to stifle them, but we should be an active part of their life. I am often complimented on how well behaved and correctly focused my children are.

Blogging is a new adventure for me (this is my first post ever if that isn't obvious). I want to be able to share my knowledge, feelings and experience with as many people as possible. Hopefully I will get many people to come share my blog. The topics I will cover are primarily cooking, decorating, parenting, gardening, shopping and fashion. I hope everyone will enjoy reading my posts and my blog will grow and change as I learn more about this wonderful new experience.