Thank you for the music

Whenever something "major major" happens in my life, I would immediately think of an applicable song to go with it. I've always believed that from all the millions of songs out there, one song is the right fit for a given situation. A guy I once dated who was in a band  (yes, you who introduced me to Red Hot Chilli Peppers; not my daughter's father) told me I could consider being an artist and repertoire (A&R) manager as an alternative career. Just a bit of info, an A&R manager  is the one who usually matches up the recording artist with songwriters or gives an artist a list of songs that could score them a hit or something like that. Music has been a big part of my Ina-Tay journey, from the time I found out I was pregnant until very recently when my heart's desires are coming true one prayer at a time. I was organizing my Ipod the other night and listened to my default playlist of songs that I have played over and over the past three years and in some ways have helped me live through the highs and lows of my life's new chapter as a single mom.

Last Song Syndrome

Reminiscing mode - and this song has nothing to do with the "ex"!

Want you, need you

Chris Christian

1981

Face care 101 (when you're 30 and up)

The famous designer Coco Chanel once said "Nature gives you the face you have at 20; it is up to you to merit the face you have at 50." It means how you would look now totally depends on you. As we age, our skin specifically on the face loses it's ability to retain moisture. This results to a dry, lifeless, wrinkled and older-looking face. Who wants to be told "you look young for a 40 year old" when your real age is just 35!

Bread pudding Ina-Tay style

Two of my favorite TV chefs are Ina Garten and Giada de Laurentiis. I like their relaxed approach to cooking even if you are preparing a full course meal for guests. For those who are scared of the kitchen, their recipes are fairly easy to follow. Nothing fancy, just good homestyle cooking.

I noticed the other day that we had a lot of bread from the previous weekend. When you're eating the same old fare every morning you tend to tire of it after say two days. So I decided to turn the dry ensaymada (brioche if you want to be fancy about it) to bread pudding using Giada's recipe for Panettone Bread Pudding. No worries if you don't have Panettone (a type of Italian bread). I just tweaked it a little bit and it turned out yummmmmyyyy!!! It was not too "egg-y" since I used only six eggs so there was still some texture to it. Meaning, you can still chew on the pudding. This will now be my official "gift" to friends for Christmas! I'm sharing the recipe with all of you before your stale bread becomes moldy. I promise this is very easy and you don't have to slave for like a whole day in the kitchen. You can use any bread you have as long as it doesn't have a filling. From experience, I noticed that the drier or staler the bread, the better the result. Please take note, I said stale, not moldy. If you see dark green or black spots in your bread throw it away!

Motherhood and apple pie

Photo from the web.

One of the joys of being a hands-on mother is witnessing firsthand the many milestones of my daughter. Being a single mom was the primary reason why I decided to set aside my career and devote one year to raising Leia. I worked from home since I gave birth until very recently. Mum was also diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer so my "vacation" was extended because I had to be with her especially that she has undergone chemotherapy.

Anyways, back to the topic... So the stiletto-wearing office girl had to keep her shoes in their boxes for a while and settled for slippers and house clothes. I breastfed Leia exclusively for six months then had to mix feed by the seventh because my "lemons" could not keep up with the demands of my voracious feeder. I bathed her, fed her, put her to sleep and everything in between. Honestly I did miss my old life as a Communications Manager for an NGO and the challenges that went with it. But as they say, there is a mother in every woman. I never thought I would be capable of devoting all my energy and attention to one individual for two years straight. I often asked Mum when would the Lord give me a job. She told me to just wait and enjoy every minute spent with Leia because the moment I go back to work, I would yearn for those times. Mum really knows best!

Of Christmas in September

Photo credit: http://www.theschoolforheroes.com/

I de-mystified Christmas at a very early age - six years old. Unlike my playmates who marvelled at Santa Claus, I ceased to believe he exists after I caught my dad redhandedly filling our hanged socks with local chocolates Christmas Eve 1986. He could no longer talk me out of it so he stopped convincing me Santa asked him to do it for him because there were still a lot of socks he had to fill. Nice try Dad! :)

Steiner/Waldorf comes to Davao

A former schoolmate/batchmate turned fellow development worker Maya Vandenbroek sent me an invitation for a parents' orientation on Steiner/Waldorf education. By June 2012, a Steiner/Waldorf-inspired school will open in Davao City through the Tuburan Institute. Mr. Nicanor Perlas, founder of Manila Waldorf and Gamot Cogon Institute (GCI) in Ilo-ilo City will speak on how schools by Waldorf/Steiner are producing "individuals who are able, in and of themselves, to impart meaning to their lives." The parents' orientation will be on September 10, 2011, 7-9 in the evening at Secuya Garden, Trinidad Greenhills Subdivision, Ma-a Davao City (the map is located at the bottom of this post). Guests are requested to contribute Php 50.00 for dinner which will be served before the orientation.