Missing Taiwan

Ten years ago I started visiting Taiwan frequently for work. It somehow felt like home when I stepped out of the plane. I realized later on it must have been where my paternal grandmother came from. She had eloped with my grandfather, but passed away when my Dad was just a child. 

I showed her photo to some locals and they said she looked like someone from Taiwan. Her maiden last name was common they said. We could have done some more research, but since my grandma eloped we didn't know much about her family.

Anyway, what made it really feel like home was how the food tasted. I sampled a lot of food which was like how my Dad would cook. I can never forget that hole in the wall where I ate with some teachers. The food was heavenly. 

I never had a decent photo at Taipei 101, haha. I loved going to the office there since you get a great view of the city. I also got to experience it being enveloped by clouds. It was a different feeling. I'm just glad I never experienced an earthquake while in the building.

Ahh, someday when I'm better, I hope to visit Taiwan again.

#BeKind #StaySafe

Investing in Health

We've been working on our health the past few months. Since I was scheduled to do physiotherapy, we took the opportunity for the boys to be checked further since they've been taking maintenance meds.

Prevention is better, so the boys both saw an endocrinologist, nutritionist and dietician. It's an overhaul for our lifestyle since we're all not getting any younger. 

Miggy is enrolled in the exercise program and has been required to walk more daily. We decided to invest in a treadmill. It will be more economical than enrolling in a gym, plus both Miggy and Sweetie can use it everyday. The stationary bike is mine, but I'm not allowed to do heavy exercise for now. 

We canvassed across a couple of stores and found a suitable and cost effective one at Olympic Village. The staff was very knowledgeable. They also came the next day to unbox and install the treadmill. 

Cheers to healthier living!

#BeKind #StaySafe

Made a Santa Yoda KitchenAid Stand Mixer Cover

I've been eyeing to use a Santa Yoda grid design I saw on Pinterest for awhile now. I originally planned to make it a throw pillow case, but decided to use it for a new cover for my KitchenAid stand mixer. I decided not to do it by square to save some time. 

I missed sewing by hand, so I prepared to sew it whenever we had waiting time during our appointments. Good thing I did it that way because I realized I couldn't sew by hand continuously. My hand and wrist would hurt. It took me a two weeks to finish Santa Yoda. Completing the rest of the project took a week more.

Here's how I made it:

I realized I should make my kitchen covers "season generic", so I made the other pocket plain. I can just switch it around after Christmas. I'm sure it will take me time to find my other covers to replace it again, haha. I hope to make a pink set for Valentine's. It'll be cute!

#BeKind #StaySafe

Hosting an Impromptu Merienda Party

We were supposed to have a get together for my birthday. I had to postpone it because of my knee injury. My friend pinged me the other day and asked if we were free on Sunday. I said yes and then crammed the preparations.

I didn't worry about preparing since we planned to do potluck. It was just for merienda, so we didn't need to plan a heavy meal. Having home parties gives me the opportunity to get the food locally. Here's where I ordered:

Pasta, lumpia and leche flan from MCP Flavors

Private barista coffee by Love & Latte (ping me if you want to inquire)

Turon from our neighbor who sells everyday 

Other drinks from a small grocery

Also prepare:

Plates

Forks and spoons

Drink ware

Serving spoons

Extra chairs

Mom thought did it better than me. She always had something to offer even when she had surprise guests. In time I'll learn :)

#BeKind #StaySafe

One

I am one with everyone in the call to end corruption and jail the evildoers.

Also praying to pass the anti-dynasty bill 🙏

#BeKind #StaySafe

Ending November wit Beautiful Flowers

We don't have that many flowering plants in our garden. The only one I bought were my gumamela plants. They haven't produced any flowers since I moved them to another area and that's something I need to figure out why.

Most frequent to bloom are the desert rose (kalachuchi) which we rescued from Mom's garden. The new one I re-potted in mid-October has been producing blooms already.

Surprisingly, a set of torenias sprouted at the foot of the repotted kalachuchi. Good thing I didn't remove it because it's been producing pretty violet flowers. 

I asked Manong Henry to plant some flowers in the front garden and the Panama rose bushes he planted have been flowering too. They're a cute shade of pink.

And he also planted some pinwheel jasmine. They always have flowers whenever I see it and they're so far easy to maintain.

Oh, I just remembered, I also have two suntan plants. I think I need to re-pot them since there's so many weeds growing in their pot. I read, they also need regular trimming to encourage them to produce flowers. They also like to be fed with compost regularly.ni thought they'd be easy to manage.

I hope to produce some Gumamela flowers in time for Christmas!

#BeKind #StaySafe

Grogu's "You Haven't Fed Me Look"

Our cats are most probably overfed, but everytime we step out to check on them they give us a look like they're starving. Haha.

And here's Grogu today giving me that look when I stepped out to water the plants. He only moved when he heard his furdad step out with the container of food.

After having a quick bite, Grogu followed me in the garden and guarded me while I went around watering the plants. If he's not around, Bailey takes his place and waits for me to move to the garage. Then they all disappear and play outside, haha.

I really want imagine my life now without our cats. I'm very sensitive when I see them not their usual self or when they have a wound. Miggy is in-charge of applying wound spray, if needed, and contacting the vet. I'm just glad they've all been healthy <3

Happy Friday!

#BeKind #StaySafe