Chalk + coffee mug = mini message board

Sometimes i also find myself drawing a caricature or a cartoon character, some doodles, or a smiley face, or just about anything that i think about at the moment as i wait patiently for my brewed coffee.

GOOD MORNING

how about sweet notes like LOVE U ..

now that's really a message board..

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• http://kshappyhomemaker.wordpress.com/2012/02/07/simple-message-boardlove-note-board/
• http://theredloft.wordpress.com/2012/01/24/kitchen-message-board/

These are the feathers that my lil birdies shed off which i’ve collected for quite sometime.  There are yellow, orange, green, blue, gray, white feathers and some a mixture of 2 different vibrant colors.   Thank you Lemon and Lime (my 2 african lovebirds) for these colorful feathers.

feathers

feathers

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happy valentine's day

as i lay myself to sleep
my thoughts that kept me awake are deep
can’t seem to tire thinking about you
longing for that someday to be with you.

the distance that separates us now
could never break apart our sacred vow
that our love will keep us through
even if loneliness may visit me and you.

our life’s journey will take us a long way
it may be rough and bumpy but it’s okay
’cause no matter where our road will lead us
together, forever is where this love will take us…

our symbol of forever

heart

heart

valentine cards

My kids used to give me valentine cards when they were small.  Now that the kids are into their teens, it’s the more that i treasure these lovely things because they sure give me lots of wonderful memories and that i am the favorite recipient of their masterpieces.

Hey kids, you don’t give me valentine cards anymore.

midnight phantom

If there is one love story that i truly love, it is the Midnight Phantom.  It’s a precious hearts romance story made into a television series and here’s my favorite quote by Brandon, the midnight phantom:

“There comes a time in every man’s life where he has to grow up.  And regardless of when and how, the best time is always now.  And no matter how much it hurts, no matter how angry and beat up you feel inside, it’s never a good idea to shut people out because you always end up shutting yourself in.

A lot of people live half a life and half a lie.  It’s so easy to hide your true self from the world, to hide behind our mask, to talk without really speaking, to hear without listening, and to live and not be alive.

Too many of us are scared of the world and what it may think of us.  That if we smile, we seem weak, and that if we laugh, we become foolish, and that happiness always ends up in hurt.

That is of course until she came.  And for one shining moment, it all became so simple, and i learned how to live and love again.  And yet, now more than ever, i realized that you can never truly love someone without releasing the ghost of your past.” - midnight phantom

“Where flowers bloom so does hope.”
-  Lady Bird Johnson

wildflower

wildflower

wildflower

wildflowers

pretty little wildflowers
they open up as the sun rises
showing its bright lavender-colored petals
and close as the sun retires
for tomorrow is another day
they are going to smile just like today

the mountain-side at eomul-dong, ulsan south korea

bright-colored lanterns adorning the mountain-side

and here's a photo of the seated yeorae image (look closely at the rock)

Visiting the Seated Yeorae Image carved on rock surface in Eomul-dong was one of the stops during our Ulsan City Tour in South Korea.  Since this place is located at the higher part of the mountain side, be ready to climb the stairs leading to the seated Yeorae.  The lanterns adorning the side of the mountain are so colorful, swaying gently as the cool wind blows.

crystal cove cave

crystal cove cave

Crystal Cove Boracay is an isolated 2 hectare island found between Caticlan and Boracay.   It is about a 20 minute boat ride from the island of Boracay.

Related articles:

• Crystal Cove Island, Philippines  Philippine Travel Guide

CHOCOLATE CHIPS PANCAKES

Ingredients:
1 1/4 cups plus 2 heaps tbsp of flour
1 1/3 cups  milk
2 tsp baking powder
1 large egg
3/4 tsp salt
3 tbsp vegetable oil
2 tbsp sugar
2 small handfuls of chocolate chips

Procedure:
Just mix them all together, it’s okay if mixture still has some small lumps.  I made sure i do not over mixed it.  Spray a little oil in pan on medium heat.  Pour batter on pan, size of which depends on your liking.  Turn pancake as soon as bubbles are already forming.  Makes about 6-8 pancakes.

choco chips pancake

To serve:
Top with your favorite sliced fruit (strawberries or banana), whipped cream and a dollop of peanut butter.

I watched my kids with glee on how they smother a lot of whipped cream on their pancakes.  If you want your whipped cream child friendly, adding a couple of tablespoons of sugar would do the trick to make it just a little bit sweet.

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“Tuyo” literally means dried and it actually refers to salted dried fish.  Here in my country, it is considered as a delicacy or the poor man’s version of the ham or the bacon.  However, nowadays, tuyo has been repackaged, it is flaked, deboned, seasoned with garlic, chili, vinegar and extra virgin olive oil, bottled in its goodness and thus became the gourmet tuyo.

gourmet tuyo

gourmet tuyo

gourmet tuyo

gourmet tuyo

gourmet tuyo

Product Review:

I love the taste, it has the right saltiness, not too spicy and most of all it is de-boned.  It is good as an appetizer or as a side dish for steamed or grilled vegetables like tomatoes, eggplants and okras.  It may also be served over pasta.  But my favourite of them all is i love it as a topping on freshly cooked steamed rice or fried rice.  With Mom’s Gourmet Tuyo, i could really forget about dieting  and instead i just eat this with delight on a mound of fluffy hot rice.  Ooh, that’s my own definition of comfort food.