Handy Andy/Hannah Bridal Shower

Bim and I were married in October 5, 1991. But a couple of days back, a group of church friends gave us a bridal shower with a different twist called: Handy Andy/Handy Hannah. Believe it or not, in some places friends and families have opted to forgo the stag/bachelorette parties simply because they are opting for more practical things. Hardware stores are gold mines of widgets and gadgets that everyone always needs and never gets as wedding gift. This is the simplest of showers since the type of things one buy are scissors , batteries, lamps, flashlights, brooms, hammers, nails, laundry clips. You get the idea? For me, it was the most practical of all bridal showers I have ever imagined. Each of our guest brought a gift with the hardware logo on it and tied with a pretty ribbon. Each one gave helpful suggestions written on a 3 x 5 card.

One of my favorite of all best gifts we received that day was a book titled: 1001 Helpful Household Helps. I got tons of super great ideas on housekeeping and tips from that handy book. And one of them is the many uses of Bicarbonate of Soda.

Here are its many, many uses:

* Clean a microwave oven: Sprinkle Bicarbonate of Soda on a damp sponge, scrub, and rinse.
* Remove tarnish from silver: Mix a thick paste of Bicarbonate of Soda with water; apply the silver with a damp sponge, rub, rinse, and buff dry.
* Clean a stainless steel sink: Sprinkle Bicarbonate of Soda on a damp sponge, scrub the sink, and rinse clean.
* Boost the strength of liquid laundry detergent: Add one-half cup Bicarbonate of Soda with the usual amount of detergent in your regular wash cycle.
* Clean a fibreglass bathtub or shower. Sprinkle Bicarbonate of Soda on a damp sponge, scrub, and rinse clean.
* Clean bathroom tile: Sprinkle Bicarbonate of Soda on a damp sponge, scrub, and rinse clean.
* Maintain your septic tank: Flush one cup Bicarbonate of Soda down the toilet once a week. Bicarbonate of Soda helps maintain proper pH and alkalinity, controlling sulphide odours.
* Deodorize cloth diapers. Mix one-half cup Bicarbonate of Soda in two quarts of water, and soak diapers in the solution.
* Clean a refrigerator: Sprinkle on Bicarbonate of Soda a damp sponge, scrub, and rinse clean.
* Deodorize a dishwasher: Sprinkle one-half cup Bicarbonate of Soda on the bottom of the dishwasher between loads.
* Boost the strength of dishwashing liquid. Add two full tablespoons Bicarbonate of Soda to the usual amount of detergent you use.
* Remove burnt-on food from cookware. Dampen area, sprinkle with Bicarbonate of Soda let soak overnight, then scrub with a sponge, rinse, and dry.
* Clean and deodorize a cutting board. Sprinkle Bicarbonate of Soda on a damp sponge, rub the cutting board, and rinse clean.
* Deodorize food containers. Mix one-quarter cup Bicarbonate of Soda with one quart water, swish food containers in solution, soak overnight, and then rinse clean.
* Clean coffee and teapots. Wash in a solution of one-quarter cup Bicarbonate of Soda and one-quart warm water, then rinse clean.
* Deodorize kitchen garbage. Sprinkle a handful of Bicarbonate of Soda in the garbage pail each time you add garbage.
* Deodorize carpet. Sprinkle Bicarbonate of Soda lightly over the dry carpet, let sit for fifteen minutes, then vacuum up.
* Deodorize a cat litter box. Cover the bottom of the litter box with one-quarter inch Bicarbonate of Soda then add the litter.
* Soothe poison ivy rash or insect bites. Make a paste of Bicarbonate of Soda and water, and apply to the affected area.
* Soothe sunburn, windburn, and prickly heat. Dissolve one-half cup Bicarbonate of Soda in a tepid bath. Soak in the bath for fifteen minutes.
* Take a refreshing bath. Dissolve one-half cup in Bicarbonate of Soda a tub of warm water for soft, smooth-feeling skin and a relaxing bath.
* Brush your teeth. Plain baking soda is a gentle abrasive that cleans like the strongest toothpaste. Apply Bicarbonate of Soda to a damp toothbrush, brush as usual, and rinse.
* Wash your mouth. Add one teaspoon Bicarbonate of Soda to one-half glass warm water, and swish through teeth for a refreshing mouthwash.
* Neutralize vomit odour. Sprinkle Bicarbonate of Soda generously to cover the stained area, let sit for an hour, then vacuum up.
* Soothe tired feet. Add three tablespoons Bicarbonate of Soda to a basin of warm water and soak feet in the solution.
* Use as a deodorant. Dust Bicarbonate of Soda under arms.Clean dirt, grime, and scuffmarks from doors, stoves, laminated tabletops, linoleum floors, and tile.Sprinkle Bicarbonate of Soda on a damp sponge, wipe clean, and dry.
* Remove coffee or tea stains from china. Dip a damp cloth in Bicarbonate of Soda gently rub the china, and rinse clean.
* Minimize the smell of dirty laundry. Sprinkle some Bicarbonate of Soda into your hamper or laundry bag.
* Deodorize a closet. Place an open box of Bicarbonate of Soda on a shelf.
* Deodorize garment storage bags. Sprinkle Bicarbonate of Soda into the bottom of the bag.
* Deodorize shoes or training shoes. In the evening, sprinkle Bicarbonate of Soda inside shoes to eliminate odours. Shake out in the morning.
* Remove crayon marks from walls or wallpaper. Sprinkle Bicarbonate of Soda on a damp sponge, scrub gently to avoid mussing the paint or wallpaper, then wipeclean.
* Clean dirt and grime from hands. Sprinkle on Bicarbonate of Soda to wet hands with liquid soap, rub vigorously, rinse, and dry.
* Remove conditioner and styling gel build-up from hair. Wash hair once a week with a tablespoon of Bicarbonate of Soda mixed with your regular shampoo; rinse thoroughly, then condition and style as usual.
* Refresh stuffed animals. Sprinkle Bicarbonate of Soda on the stuffed animal, let sit for fifteen minutes, then brush off.
*Clean high chairs, car seats, strollers, and plastic mattress protectors. Sprinkle Bicarbonate of Soda on a damp sponge, wipe clean, and dry.
* Clean baby bottles, nipples, and bottle brushes. Soak in a solution of warmwater and Bicarbonate of Soda , then sterilize before use.
* Whiten socks and dirty clothes. Add one-half cup Bicarbonate of Soda to regular liquid laundry detergent.
* Clean chrome bumpers and hubcaps. Sprinkle Bicarbonate of Soda on a damp sponge, rub surface, and wipe clean with a dry cloth.
* Remove dead insects from a car or truck windshield. Sprinkle Bicarbonate of Soda on a damp sponge, clean glass, and wipe clean with a dry cloth.
* Deodorize carpeting in a car. Sprinkle Bicarbonate of Soda on the carpet,let sit for fifteen minutes, then vacuum up.
* De-grease and clean barbecue grills. Make a paste by mixing equal parts Bicarbonate of Soda and water, apply with a wire brush, wipe clean, and dry with a cloth.

Sinamak Bisaya

Our sinamak family recipe has been invented and reinvented over the years. I have to let go of the herbs and bay leaves that I used to incorporate in my "sinamak". The search for the best combination is on-going until the best creation is birthed. This is an updated recipe. It just gets better and better every year!

Ingredients: (blend together at high speed)
Langkawas
Ginger
Hot chili peppers (Philippine Jalapeno)
Garlic
Red onions
Local coconut vinegar

For garnishing:
Peppercorns
Cayenne (long finger chilis, green and red) for garnishing

Procedure:

Peel langkawas and ginger. In a blender, mix in high speed langkawas, ginger, hot chilis (the amount depends on how hot you want it), garlic and red onions.

In a pot, warm up the vinegar. Pour in the blended mixture into sterilized bottles (usually long neck) using a funnel, then add in the warmed vinegar (use the not so aged vinegar so you can cure it with the mixture for several months---- i discovered that it tastes better this way) until half way of the prepared bottle. Drop in the cayenne (finger chilis and a spoonful of peppercorns). Add some more vinegar until almost filled to the rim.

Cover and let it age for at least 2.5 months.

Bachelor of Science in Nursing

Congratulations to all of us. We finally made it!!!!

Daisy and Caila learned to swim!

I was in Iloilo to review for the local boards when Bim taught the girls some basic swimming lessons. Daisy learned the freestyle stroke in one day!

Special Atchara

I learned this recipe from our kusinero from years ago in San Carlos. We always have this on our dinner table. And so when I got married, I asked him to come over to demonstrate to me how to make this very special pickled papaya. It's such a great "pampagana", I guarantee you will want to share this recipe with others too! Sure, pass this along!

The pickling mixture:

1 cup very sour coconut vinegar (aged well)
½ cup Del Monte vinegar

1 tsp. salt

½ cup brown sugar
¼ to ½ cup white sugar (add the white sugar gradually according to your taste)
4 cups grated green papaya, dried by squeezing the juice/moisture out with a cheese cloth. Set aside.

2 carrots, grated or sliced

1 green bell pepper, thinly sliced

1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced

1 small ginger, cut into strips

5 cloves garlic, thinly sliced

1 small onion, thinly sliced

Boil pickling mixture in a pot, stirring constantly until sugar is dissolved. Set aside and let it cool. Combine with the other ingredients. Pack in sterilized jars and pour hot pickling mixture over the vegetables. Let cool at room temperature. Cover jars tightly and refrigerate.

Sweet Onion and Tomato Salad

Try this very easy salad a few hours before it is served.

Ingredients:

4 large bulbs of sweet onion, sliced
varieties of salad greens
cubed cucumbers
a cupful of cherry tomatoes (sliced or whole)
balsamic vinegar
salt and pepper
grated parmesan cheese

optional: slices of apples and a bunch of seedless grapes

Prepare the green salad and arrange in a large salad bowl.

Slice the large onions and sliced tomatoes. Spread unto baking sheet with a generous amount of balsamic vinegar, salt and freshly cracked pepper. Bake for 30 minutes at 350 degrees.

Take out the baked onions and tomatoes and let it cool for a little while. Dump all of the baked onions with the remaining balsamic vinegar on top of the green salad. Add in a dash of salt and freshly cracked pepper. You may add in some sliced apples and grapes for color and extra sweetness to the salad.

Chill in the ref. Toss the salad just before serving and a generous amount of parmesan cheese and freshly cracked pepper. Enjoy!

How to chop or slice onions minus the tears:

There's so many ways:

1. Put the unpeeled onion in the freezer and leave it there for about ten minutes. Remove the onion from the freezer and peel it. The onion can now be sliced, chopped, or minced without tears.

2. Refrigerate them before slicing or chopping

3. Run the cold water at the faucet in the kitchen sink. Place a cutting board across the sink, in front of the running water. Slice the onions without tears.

4. Simply keep your onions in the fridge along with other veggies and you will never cry when chopping them - it's that simple!

5. If you use a sharp knife, there shouldn't be any tears. An onion makes you cry because acid is being released from the onion. Using a dull knife crushes the onion rather than cutting it, releasing far more of this acid into the air.

6. Try holding a wooden spoon or a piece of bread between your teeth while cutting. This significantly reduces the irritation to the eyes.

7. Keep your mouth open and breathe through it while cutting onions to reduce the amount of tears.

8. Do the peeling and dicing of the onion in your kitchen sink area. But first turn on the water faucet (the spray works better) and try to peel and dice your onion behind the running water. The sulfur gas from the onion will hit the running water and becomes sulfuric acid and washes away before it hits your eyes.

9. Bring a pot of water to boil until it starts steaming. Then remove from heat and put the pot on the kithen counter and start peeling and dicing your onions in the vicinity. The steam from the pot will trap the sulfur gas emitted from the onions before it hits your eyes.

10. Burn a candle on the counter near where you're cutting the onion. It'll burn off the fumes that cause eye irritation. A scented candle also smells better than raw, chopped onion!

11. You can also avoid tears simply by chewing a piece of gum while you are cutting the onion.

12. Try holding 5-7 wooden matches in your teeth (unlit of course); it will absorb the odor. The matches with red tips work best. Match stick tips have sulfur (S) in them and the sulfur gas (S) emited from onions hits these tips before getting to your eyes and becomes S2 that is neutral.

13. Put a fan behind you and towards the onions to blow the sulfur gases away from you.

14. If you have contacts, wear them.

15. Grandma always held a silver spoon in her mouth while peeling onions. I tried it and it worked!

16. Fill your sink with water and peel and cut the onion under water. Works every time.***
Normal or Prescription swim goggles - exceptionally effective***

Now, if you don't believe me, it won't hurt to try them all. Lol! Have a nice day!

Lost in the Busy Life

lost in the desert

I am busy
as you can see
I start early
up until wee.
My hands are strong
my days are long
as you can see
I am just busy.

No time to sit -
For I need to load
a pile of laundry
or I'll explode!
No time to flip
My Bible here
for I need to hurry
to work, I'm needed there.

At home I bake
lots of cake,
I scrub the tiles
and stir some fries.
That's lots of work -
No time to soak
In God's presence
My heart goes broke.

I tend to do much
sorts of things as such
I see myself
like a ticking clock.
I ran to and fro
where the wind blows
there I go
Into empty space, I grow.

Where am I going?
My heart's bleeding.
Can you hear me?
My head is turning.
How can I see?
My eyes are weeping.
When do I flee?
My feet's still moving.

Lost in the busy life-
Imprisoned with strife.
Lost in the wilderness,
chained is my plight.
concerns in darkness
Lost in the desert.
dry, parched and desolate
my heart devastates.

The Salvador Siblings!

Adieu, Anna!

My friend, Anna, leaves for Chicago today as a nurse. I pray that you'll have a safe trip, dear. We will miss you and that our friendship continues to flourish even we are miles apart!

End-year family pictures