He Made Me Sylvanas!

The other day, I wasn’t feeling well. I was just lying on the couch wrapped in my purple fleece throw. I know what will make me feel better…I’ve been craving for sylvannas for weeks now. But you can only get one in Goldilocks (or is it Red Ribbon), some bakeshop in the Philippines. I’ve been researching for the basic recipes, modify it to make it diabetic-friendly and even bought the ingredients needed….but I just don’t have the will power to make one! I am sooo lazy but I badly want one.

To my rescue is Chef Hubby =) I know and he knows that I hate having him in my kitchen. But since I have no energy to argue and I don’t wanna move a muscle, he thoughtfully took my modified sylvanas recipe and for the very first time, he attempted to bake!

I took of a photo of him while he was baking and I know he will not approve me posting that photo. So I’m meeting him halfway, Lol!

BTW, his sylvanas were yummy & Goldilocks-good! I have to hold myself back from eating ‘em all (or my sugar levels will spike up!)
Way to go, baby! Make me some sans rival next time =))

Understanding Autism

There’s a huge number of information about autism out there. And though we are all aware that doctors who specialized on developmental disorders were the ones who can give and confirm such diagnosis, it is important that people who constantly interacts with children including parents, caregivers and educators should be equipped with knowledge about autism. Over the years of my hands-on practice and incessant readings, I have accumulated some information that will give us understanding of Autism:

1.Autism is a pervasive developmental disorder (PDD). In its spectrum belong other disorders that present similar symptoms. Among these disorders are Rett Syndrome, Asperger Syndrome, Childhood Disintegrative Disorder and PDD Not Otherwise Specified.
The triad to look out for in Autism involves: impairments in language & communication, social interaction and the presence of repetitive/stereotypic behavior & unusual interests. But other symptoms can also be observed.
2. Etiology of Autism is still unknown. There are many factors that may be linked with Autism including maternal health, pre-natal, perinatal and postnatal trauma, brain development anomalies and genetic and environmental interplay. Recently, controversies arise, when certain studies link autism to vaccines. ( Personally, I believe that this claim has a long way to go before they can finally establish the linkage of vaccines and PDDs.)
3. Other characteristics of children with autism: fails to establish eye-contact, does not respond to affection, lacks social smile, rarely speaks or if they do, the words tend to be meaningless and echolalic in nature, exhibits preservation of sameness or in other words-obsession in keeping a routine, fails or have difficulty in communicating needs, have sensory integration problems, have cognitive deficits, does not interact with other children during play, fails or have difficulty in performing activities of daily living.
4. Early diagnosis is always beneficial. Usually when parents notice increasingly unusual symptoms at the age of 2 -3, they seek professional diagnosis thus early intervention can be given. That is better than waiting a few more years before seeking help. Each child is given a different and individualized treatment plan which are mostly aimed towards maximizing the child’s potentials, eliminating harmful behaviors, increasing independence in performance of activities of daily living and communication of needs. The goals add up and tend to me more complex when the status of the child’s functioning increases. Such goals are achieved when a team of professionals work comprehensively together with the primary caregivers of the child. Among these professionals are the Developmental Pediatricians, Behavioral Therapist, Occupational Therapist, Speech Pathologist, Special Needs Educators and more.
5. Various programs are available to teach an assortment of techniques that help maximize the children’s learning and improve behavior. Among the ones I personally used with my previous students are the concepts of Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA), Sensory Integration Techniques and TEACHH (Treatment and Education of Autistic and related Communication Handicapped Children).

Thankful Thursday

I was browsing for blog rolls when I came across Thankful Thursday. It is a weekly meme that pays tribute to the blessings of life-big and small. And for that, let my first post include a heartfelt gratitude that such sites exist. As the person behind the site says “We tend to just give thanks on Thanksgiving, why not share your blessings on a weekly basis”. So here I am…

In my life there is just so much to be thankful for. Of course, there’s my loving family and my wonderful better half. I will go pondering about all that on my next posts but for now let this entry be about “my walk”. I decided to go out and check the mailbox. On that very short walk, I decided to leisurely walk a bit more around the neighborhood and reflect on the things I am thankful about. Here they are:
I am thankful that after a long while I am able to go out without putting on a thick jacket, gloves, scarf and boots. The temperature just calls for a nice warm sweater. =)
I am thankful that God provided us a safe neighborhood to live in. With the high rate of crimes all around, it is a good thing I can still walk around here and return home unharmed.
I am thankful for that ‘after the rain’ scent…I can’t explain but it just feel so serene and calming.
Finally, after my little walk, I am thankful that I have to go back home and in a few minutes, my dear husband will be arriving and we can share a warm & lovely dinner.

Snow Globes

I got a package today!I didn’t order anything online but the slip on my door says I have to pick up a package on the apartments’ business office. I have no idea what it was and I was really curious!

I went to pick it up and went home. I was surprised when I opened the huge box. There where several boxes of snow globes in it. They were all beautiful. Who was it from? It is from my very thoughtful husband =)

Let me tell you the story behind these snow globes. Last Christmas, hubby & I agreed that we will not get expensive gifts for each other. With the global economic crisis, we both agree that saving a bit by getting each other inexpensive gifts will be a good idea. I sent him this note saying that I want a snow globe for Christmas.

“My holidays were always picture perfect that I wanted to capture it, the same way pretty images are beautifully displayed in a snow globe =). Well, my whole life with you, not just the holidays feels that way…that’s why there’s just two items on my Christmas List... A Snow Globe and You!”

Well, he got me a snow globe for Christmas, not just one but seven snow globes of different designs and sizes. =) From that time on, I became so crazy about snow globes. Every time I am on the mall, I check out snow globes but they are just not on my budget. You see, I am a very frugal wife.

So now, I got this package from him with all these snow globes inside. Some are still Christmas themed but nevertheless, it all made me smile. Most of the time I wonder what I did right to deserve having the sweetest husband there is… and everytime I mused about that I utter a lil prayer of thanks.
He’s sure gonna get a BIG kiss when he gets home later!
(and btw, he wasnt true to his promise of not spending a lot on gifts. He got me a Wii Fit Balance Board and he treated me on a 4 day vacation to Saint Paul...talk about not spending,huh!)

LeftOver Chicken Makeover

Ever wonder what you can do with leftover chicken rotisserie or any leftover chicken meat (without sauce)? Well, worry no more! Here are some ideas to give your leftover chicken an appetizing make over.

Make Over Number 1: Cut thighs, wings, breast into serving pieces. Add 1 cup of pineapple juice, ¼ cup of maple syrup, ¼ cup soy sauce, 1 pc. star anise. Simmer on medium low heat until sauce is thick. Top with pineapple chunks. Serve with steaming brown/white rice.

Make Over Number 2: Remove all skin. Take all the meat and shred into small pieces. Add mayonnaise, finely chopped onion, pickle relish, salt and pepper. Use as chicken sandwich spread.

A variation of this is made my adding cubes of boiled potatoes and chopped boiled eggs and voila….Chicken-Potato salad.

Make Over Number 3: Remove all skin. Take all the meat. Add ¼ cup green peas, ¼ cup finely chopped carrots, ¼ cup raisins, 1 medium sized onion finely chopped, salt and pepper. Mix thoroughly. Wrap in egg roll wrapper and deep fry. Serve with dipping sauce of your choice.

Make Over Number 4: Cut into small pieces. Place in a pot and add 5-7 cups of water, 1 quartered onion, 1 carrot roughly chopped, 2 stalks of roughly chopped celery, 2 cloves of smashed garlic, salt and pepper. Put in fire and bring it to boil for 10 minutes. Strain and use liquid as chicken stock when making soup.

Make Over Number 5: Take all the meat and cut into small cubes. Combine cubed chicken with green and red bell peppers. Add a pinch of cayenne pepper and a pinch of salt. Add a couple of beaten eggs and fry just like an omelet.

Make Over Number 6: Remove all skin. Take all the meat and shred into small pieces. Add a store-bought taco sauce. Mix with shredded cabbage and use as fillings to tacos and flour tortilla.

Make Over Number 7: Cut thighs, wings, breast into serving pieces. Saute garlic, onion, tomatoes and chicken pieces. Add potato wedges, carrot slices and strips of bell pepper. Add ¼ cup of tomato sauce and simmer. Season with salt and pepper. Serve with rice.

Wordless Wednesday: Sweety Alli

When we went to Mall of America, we came nose to nose with 4,500 sharks and other sea creatures in their Underwater Adventures Aquarium. Adults pay $18.95 and with that, endless entertainment and fun begins...
It will take approximately 2 hours to tour the whole facility and there's just so much to see.

Here is a shot of a creature that capture our hearts. a very cute alligator who was never intimidated by tourists' curious gaze. This little reptile would in fact stay put and stare back at you. Im not fond of alligators but this one is really a sweetheart =)

Weekend Snapshot: Snowy but Warm V-day!

We had a pretty good Valentines Day. It was snowy and chilly outside but we did our best to make our Valentines Day as warm and as sweet as possible. The hubby got me tulips and brought home some wine. I made a delicious meal including the Cherry-Chocolate Cake on the photo =)
Everything turned out good. He loved everything including the Valentines Poem I made for him.

Here, take a peek :

"when I get up in the morning, its just you i wanna wake up withwhen I try something new, its just you I wanna do it with
when I dream, its just you I wanna dream with
and when I feel down, its just you I wanna cry with

Baby, its not the flowers...i
ts not the gifts...
not any other thing...
its just you, i'll fall in love with..."


Late afternoon, when the snow subside, we went out and watch "Coraline". It was a simple celebration, special nonetheless. =)

Valentines Day: Dining In Or Dining Out?

One of the sweetest days couples celebrate is coming up. Hearts Day, Valentines Day or however you want to call it, is going to be this Saturday. Definitely, most of us are all having plans to have a sumptuous dinner but the big question is…Is it gonna be In or Out? For me, it doesn’t really matter at all. Its just a matter of weighing out the pros and cons of both dining in the comfort of your own home and dining out in nice elegant restaurant.

I know how wonderful it is to get all dressed up and be cozy in front of a candle-lit dinner being served to both of you. The thing is when you choose to dine out it could take awhile to be seated unless we made reservations weeks ago. It might be too late to make a reservation now, majority of the nicest and most romantic ones are fully booked. Besides, with the hard times we are all experiencing, it wouldn’t hurt to save more and spend less. I know it will save me a little money if I will just cook the meal myself. I love to cook (especially for the hubby *wink*) and I never think of it as a burden. That’s what I am doing this Saturday. I checked out and saw that almost 90% of the ingredients I need are already in my pantry & fridge!

The Menu:
Spicy Sausage-Ricotta filled Pasta Shells Baked in Alfredo Sauce
Grilled Lemon & Marjoram Chicken Breast
Romaine Hearts with Strawberry & Almond Salad
Italian Pinot Grigio White Wine
And for dessert, Chocolate-Cherry Bundt Cake

All that, with a nice romantic music, some candles and fresh flowers…hmm, I don’t think that’s at all bad. We don’t intend to exchange expensive gifts so I just got the hubby a funny looking boxers shorts with hearts all over it =)) I am also working on a nice poem for him (sssshh, don’t tell)….

So to all of you out there, have a wonderful Valentines Day!

“True love stories never have endings. “
~Richard Bach

Weekend Snapshot: The Marvelous Frozen Minnehaha

Last december, one of during one holiday weekend, we flew to Minnesota. We went snowboarding and tubing , we visited Mall of America, Walker Arts Museum but most especially, we checked out Minnehaha Falls. I have read that this small falls, located at Minneapolis,MN is among the most visited spot in the city especially on summer time. But then, I saw photos of it all frozen up and I wanted to see it upclose. So we did. It was so beautiful and truly enchanting! When I saw the Niagara falls, I can't help be thank God for blessing us all with such wonderous sights, I felt the same when I saw the Frozen Minnehaha Falls.

Here is a shot that I took. My shot may not do justice to its beauty though, you really have to see it yourself.

Back to Writing...

The holidays kept me so occupied…shopping for gifts, preparing holiday menus, sending out greeting cards, planning a holiday getaway. These, along with school and daily house chores wear me out this last couple of months. I hardly have the time to visit and update my blog.

Of course, I was also in my reflective mode all those days…doing some thinking, reflecting thanksgiving and looking back at how fast 2008 passed me by. In conclusion, 2008 is one substantial year for me. What transpired during the year? Well, I have been blessed to be able to try new stuffs and see new places. I have experienced a rollercoaster of emotion-filled days, that with God's grace I survived. I felt the pain of lost love ones. I have been blessed with new friends. I learned a lot ( and I meant a lot). I lost hope and found it back, I built new dreams, I gave & received more love. I fell in love in with my husband more. I have seen endings & promise of new beginnings…all that and more… very blissful indeed!

Now, I’m back on my feet, starting 2009 with a more positive outlook, renewed faith and working on new goals, as well. I was able to gather my cluttered schedule and I intend to write again. I am also engaging in a new hobby (that I will later talk about).

But for now, let me just tell you that I’m back!
I hope the first few weeks of 2009 were great for you all! May God bless you. Until then…