Shabby Background
Wednesday, November 21
The cake that cost me an overseas holiday
Links:
Wordless Wednesday HQ, Rednesday, Create With Joy, Momspective, 5 Minutes for Mom, A Mother's Ramblings, Mama to 4 Blessings,
The Can't-Shut-Up version: It was the kiddo's 5th birthday. I was busy at work and didn't have time to look for a cake that was not as girly as this. I feared he wouldn't like it and he didn't. He was then on a tantrum-at-every-turn phase. When he saw this cake he gave me an appalled look. What? no Ultraman, Mom? He cried. I felt so sorry for him. Guilt was written on my forehead while tantrum was looming on the MacDonald's horizon. The guests have arrived and in a snap I promised him all the heroes on his next cake and bribed him with Hong Kong Disneyland if he would not make a scene at his party. He managed to show enough decent behavior the whole time. The next year we flew Air Asia to Macau and ferried our butts to Hong Kong. Boys!
Tuesday, November 20
Secret Garden
There was no other reason why I tried Secret Garden. The name. I first noticed it in a Central World directory; forgot it, remembered it, forgot it again until last week in Siam Paragon while waiting for doors to open for the Twilight premiere. I'm not sure if this is a branch of the one in Sathon that everyone is talking about. As it appeared right in front of me while I wandered, and because I promised myself I would try the place, I got in. I was imagining a garden setting and a secret door.
Ahhh... too much novel reading. I sorted my order: pomegranate iced tea (which was too sour for my taste), and warm chocolate with vanilla ice cream and strawberry sauce, which I loved.
Coconut milk was evident in the warm chocolate cake. At least that's what I thought and I did enjoy it.
The only thing I didn't quite like were the backless chairs. I had to be seated in one as the couches were for four persons or more. Next time I will invite some friends to try the signature restaurant in Sathorn with me. I heard the decoration style is reminiscent of a lovely English tea room.
Monday, November 19
Cooking Extravaganza - a review
In time for the most wonderful time of the year is the release of a Gabby Moms product called Cooking Extravaganza.
This is a special package designed to give you bright ideas to use for something which you and your family and friends will be very much involved in this Christmas season - food, cooking and dining. Author Lorrie Flem has put together 7 e-books and a print book - "What's For Dinner, Mom?" which I reviewed earlier. Here's an overview of the contents:
Bulk Cooking Tips and Tricks. If you are curious about bulk cooking, this will work well with you. It's loaded with how-to's for those who want to try this style of cooking. There hasn't been a need for me, at least not yet, to do bulk cooking, but the tips and tricks here are something to keep just in case I need to.
Fill Em Up. Do you have children who talk of snacking only a few minutes after the table has been cleared? This e-book is filled with delicious, cost-saving and even healthy choices for them. I could be speaking for kids who just can not have enough as when I was one I used to want something pretty sweety after Mama has done the dishes. Now I tend to watch out for the son, as well as nieces and nephews (home for the holidays) who may want something more. This I won't deprive them especially during Christmas!
Lorrie's Favorite Recipes is a fabulous collection of recipes your kids will love. Manicotti, fried chicken, teriyaki, I'm hungry already! We are crazy about fried chicken and certainly trying this out.
Healthy Sanity-Saving Breakfasts. The most important meal of the day and in our case, considerably neglected on a regular frequency. This e-book has go to breakfasts that will keep you fed and sane - a double bonus.
Pizza Primer. This one puts me on pizza-excited mode because I have always wanted to learn making homemade pizza and this e-book says how. It will be a nice change from buying it which is all I have ever done regarding pizza besides eating it.
Sensational Salads. They are what they are described - sensational. And it's not just because they are yummy. This e-book tells you how to make your salads more fun. Children who are not fond of salads just might start loving them with the use of salad ideas contained in this e-book.
The Secret of Chocolate Chip Cookies. The popular treat! And a favorite among many. But do we know how to mix them up and make them even better? Check inside this e-book and you could be hearing 'yummee' from delighted mouths.
Seven season-appropriate downloadable e-books in a pack make a great Christmas gift, and don't forget it includes a signed copy of What's For Dinner, Mom? You can also have it as your own helping partner in preparing your holiday spread and inspiration during such a busy time in your kitchen. The applicability of the recipes and cooking ideas go beyond Christmas of course. So get your hands on this fabulous bundle of cookbooks for just $19.97. This is a special offer just for you. See how much you are going to save with purchase details here. If you are ordering for Christmas, please do so by December 12th to receive the print book in time. Additionally you can have more info from the Eternal Encouragement Magazine.
This is a special package designed to give you bright ideas to use for something which you and your family and friends will be very much involved in this Christmas season - food, cooking and dining. Author Lorrie Flem has put together 7 e-books and a print book - "What's For Dinner, Mom?" which I reviewed earlier. Here's an overview of the contents:
Bulk Cooking Tips and Tricks. If you are curious about bulk cooking, this will work well with you. It's loaded with how-to's for those who want to try this style of cooking. There hasn't been a need for me, at least not yet, to do bulk cooking, but the tips and tricks here are something to keep just in case I need to.
Fill Em Up. Do you have children who talk of snacking only a few minutes after the table has been cleared? This e-book is filled with delicious, cost-saving and even healthy choices for them. I could be speaking for kids who just can not have enough as when I was one I used to want something pretty sweety after Mama has done the dishes. Now I tend to watch out for the son, as well as nieces and nephews (home for the holidays) who may want something more. This I won't deprive them especially during Christmas!
Lorrie's Favorite Recipes is a fabulous collection of recipes your kids will love. Manicotti, fried chicken, teriyaki, I'm hungry already! We are crazy about fried chicken and certainly trying this out.
Healthy Sanity-Saving Breakfasts. The most important meal of the day and in our case, considerably neglected on a regular frequency. This e-book has go to breakfasts that will keep you fed and sane - a double bonus.
Pizza Primer. This one puts me on pizza-excited mode because I have always wanted to learn making homemade pizza and this e-book says how. It will be a nice change from buying it which is all I have ever done regarding pizza besides eating it.
Sensational Salads. They are what they are described - sensational. And it's not just because they are yummy. This e-book tells you how to make your salads more fun. Children who are not fond of salads just might start loving them with the use of salad ideas contained in this e-book.
The Secret of Chocolate Chip Cookies. The popular treat! And a favorite among many. But do we know how to mix them up and make them even better? Check inside this e-book and you could be hearing 'yummee' from delighted mouths.
Seven season-appropriate downloadable e-books in a pack make a great Christmas gift, and don't forget it includes a signed copy of What's For Dinner, Mom? You can also have it as your own helping partner in preparing your holiday spread and inspiration during such a busy time in your kitchen. The applicability of the recipes and cooking ideas go beyond Christmas of course. So get your hands on this fabulous bundle of cookbooks for just $19.97. This is a special offer just for you. See how much you are going to save with purchase details here. If you are ordering for Christmas, please do so by December 12th to receive the print book in time. Additionally you can have more info from the Eternal Encouragement Magazine.
This Gabby Moms product was provided to me free in exchange for my unbiased review.
Labels:
cooking,
e-book,
food,
print book,
recipe book,
Reviews
Banana optimism
In my attempts to eat healthy food regularly, I went looking for something nice to read about the banana I was eating. The quote I found was not exactly to my liking so I thought I would tweak a few words to make it work for me -
When life gives you bananas, you can make smoothie.
Here's a banana smoothie recipe I found on BBC Food Recipes by James Tanner from Ready Steady Cook. I was delightfully surprised at how simple, quick and yummy it sounded.
Ingredients
- 1 banana, peeled and sliced
- 1/2 pink milk
- handful of ice
- 1-2 tbsp honey
- Place the banana, milk, ice and honey in a blender and then blend until smooth.
- Transfer to a serving glass and serve at once.
***
Linking with
Thursday, November 15
Favorite places to read
In this post: Booking Through Thursday and Thursday Thirteen
Do I get points for that? Probably not (grinning anyway). It does not show the entire place and I'm too embarrassed to show a topsy turvy bed quite littered with books. The one you see is just part of a king size bed.
As to reading anywhere I guess it depends upon the read. If it's leisure, the bed definitely. If it's something I need to analyze like textbooks, references, academic stuff then the office. Cold and quiet, I read stoically, encouraged only to carry on and get it over with by the promise of fun reading on the bed after working hours. At home (I mean home sweet home not the dull city apartment) my favorite place to read is my mother's hammock!
Now and then I think of the places/spots I read and enjoy daydreaming about them. Except the noisy bus or the crowded sky train but no matter, I still get some reading done in those seats. These are places I read:
1. Reading nook in Nelson Hays. "A charming historic building in Bangkok devoted to books, art exhibitions, creative workshops and fun family events," says their website. They have high back leather chairs although this time I only go to buy books on sale.
2. Kinokuniya. Their branch in Siam Paragon is huge with several reading spots. What I like is being surrounded with books at the same time. The thought of having quick access to many other books just makes me feel good.
3. Dasa, my favorite second hand bookshop. And their cappuccino, tea, mocha and home made cookies are tasty. You can have the small round table on the ground floor all to yourself.
4. The bus. With the infamous Bangkok traffic it's just wise to carry a book. I read Dan Brown's Da Vinci Code when I commuted to work for three days about five years ago.
5. The skytrain. I get a couple of chapters done in long distances. Once a lady next to me was crocheting. The world is all good.
6. The office table for routine, work-related required readings.
7. The boardroom. English is not the language used during meetings at work. But they require me to be present and after they're done getting my input or feedback on advertising stuff or something else, they leave me alone and I read in peace.
8. Under the mango tree. With a cool breeze the pages just fly.
9. By the pond with the gardener's purple lotuses and somersaulting fish for company.
10. or by the spirit house. This spot, like the pond and the mango tree, is near the computer booths where we swipe our fingers to sign out at night. Sometimes we have a few minutes til the clock strikes 21.00 so I read a page or two.
11. Impact Arena. I did this just once during a 15-minute Eagles concert break. I still remember the book: Lazarus Vault by Tom Harper.
12. The bed. My favoritest spot. At first I wanted to ask the apartment management to change the furnished king size bed to a smaller one but now it's okay. I got about 36 inches wide space to lie down. The rest is occupied by books.
13. Mother's hammock, one of my favorite things about home. Unlike my apartment where I sometimes starve, I read all I want in the hammock knowing I won't be interrupted to cook my own food to be nourished.
This -What’s your favorite place to read? Do you have more than one? Can you read anywhere, or do you need things to be “just right?” Bonus points for sharing a photo of your favorite spot. (grin)
Do I get points for that? Probably not (grinning anyway). It does not show the entire place and I'm too embarrassed to show a topsy turvy bed quite littered with books. The one you see is just part of a king size bed.
As to reading anywhere I guess it depends upon the read. If it's leisure, the bed definitely. If it's something I need to analyze like textbooks, references, academic stuff then the office. Cold and quiet, I read stoically, encouraged only to carry on and get it over with by the promise of fun reading on the bed after working hours. At home (I mean home sweet home not the dull city apartment) my favorite place to read is my mother's hammock!
Thursday Thirteen: Places I read
Now and then I think of the places/spots I read and enjoy daydreaming about them. Except the noisy bus or the crowded sky train but no matter, I still get some reading done in those seats. These are places I read:
1. Reading nook in Nelson Hays. "A charming historic building in Bangkok devoted to books, art exhibitions, creative workshops and fun family events," says their website. They have high back leather chairs although this time I only go to buy books on sale.
2. Kinokuniya. Their branch in Siam Paragon is huge with several reading spots. What I like is being surrounded with books at the same time. The thought of having quick access to many other books just makes me feel good.
3. Dasa, my favorite second hand bookshop. And their cappuccino, tea, mocha and home made cookies are tasty. You can have the small round table on the ground floor all to yourself.
4. The bus. With the infamous Bangkok traffic it's just wise to carry a book. I read Dan Brown's Da Vinci Code when I commuted to work for three days about five years ago.
5. The skytrain. I get a couple of chapters done in long distances. Once a lady next to me was crocheting. The world is all good.
6. The office table for routine, work-related required readings.
7. The boardroom. English is not the language used during meetings at work. But they require me to be present and after they're done getting my input or feedback on advertising stuff or something else, they leave me alone and I read in peace.
8. Under the mango tree. With a cool breeze the pages just fly.
9. By the pond with the gardener's purple lotuses and somersaulting fish for company.
10. or by the spirit house. This spot, like the pond and the mango tree, is near the computer booths where we swipe our fingers to sign out at night. Sometimes we have a few minutes til the clock strikes 21.00 so I read a page or two.
11. Impact Arena. I did this just once during a 15-minute Eagles concert break. I still remember the book: Lazarus Vault by Tom Harper.
12. The bed. My favoritest spot. At first I wanted to ask the apartment management to change the furnished king size bed to a smaller one but now it's okay. I got about 36 inches wide space to lie down. The rest is occupied by books.
13. Mother's hammock, one of my favorite things about home. Unlike my apartment where I sometimes starve, I read all I want in the hammock knowing I won't be interrupted to cook my own food to be nourished.
Thursday, November 8
Comfort reading
In this post: Booking Through Thursday and Thursday Thirteen
Let it pour, let the thunder roll, let the lightning crack by the window. The more furious the storm, the more likely I am to bury myself in a book. I experienced using a flashlight but only once or twice and very quickly each time. Back home power outages often occurred as soon as the sun set. I would watch my mother read her Bible with a little gas lamp; moths hover around the light and then drop one by one. We would linger in the living room after vespers waiting for electricity to come back. When it didn't the parents would play scrabble by candlelight while I would leaf through a book, end up reading a few pages before falling asleep.
Thursday Thirteen: Books I bought just for the delight of owning them
The first four are coffee table books. The rest are bought for the European countryside in them, ancient architecture, ideas for keeping books, Asperger Syndrome, and so on. I'm having a great time with them. These are 13 books I recently added to my bookshelf -

1 A guide to photographing landscapes and gardens (2002) Busselle
2 Irish houses and castles (1971) Desmond Guinness and William Ryan
3 Living with books (1999) Alan Powers
4 Creative Country Decorating (1996) Ward Lock Book
5 Senryu: poem of the people (1991) J.C. Brown
6 Books that changed the world (1983) Robert B. Downs
7 Dear John (2006) Nicholas Sparks
8 Nights in Rodanthe (2002) Nicholas Sparks
9 The Jane Austen book club (2004) Karen Joy Fowler
10 The house of seven gables (1988 Tom Doherty Asso) Nathaniel Hawthorne
11 The brethren (2000) John Grisham
12 The girl with the dragon tattoo (2008) Stieg Larsson
13 Speeches that changed the world (2010) Simon Sebag Montefiore
How do storms affect your reading? Do you go for comfort reading?
How do you deal with power outages? Do you read by candlelight? Flashlights? Use a self-lit e-reader or tablet? Skip reading altogether for the duration and instead play games with the family?
Let it pour, let the thunder roll, let the lightning crack by the window. The more furious the storm, the more likely I am to bury myself in a book. I experienced using a flashlight but only once or twice and very quickly each time. Back home power outages often occurred as soon as the sun set. I would watch my mother read her Bible with a little gas lamp; moths hover around the light and then drop one by one. We would linger in the living room after vespers waiting for electricity to come back. When it didn't the parents would play scrabble by candlelight while I would leaf through a book, end up reading a few pages before falling asleep.
Thursday Thirteen: Books I bought just for the delight of owning them
1 A guide to photographing landscapes and gardens (2002) Busselle
2 Irish houses and castles (1971) Desmond Guinness and William Ryan
3 Living with books (1999) Alan Powers
4 Creative Country Decorating (1996) Ward Lock Book
5 Senryu: poem of the people (1991) J.C. Brown
6 Books that changed the world (1983) Robert B. Downs
7 Dear John (2006) Nicholas Sparks
8 Nights in Rodanthe (2002) Nicholas Sparks
9 The Jane Austen book club (2004) Karen Joy Fowler
10 The house of seven gables (1988 Tom Doherty Asso) Nathaniel Hawthorne
11 The brethren (2000) John Grisham
12 The girl with the dragon tattoo (2008) Stieg Larsson
13 Speeches that changed the world (2010) Simon Sebag Montefiore
HAPPY THURSDAY MY FRIENDS :)
Tuesday, October 30
Piri Piri Portuguese
Click on photo for a larger view
A friend of a friend recommends the chicken dishes at Piri Piri. Several times I pass by the restaurant in Siam Paragon but refrain from getting in because I read "flaming hot" and I'm no fan of hot, spicy food. But one weekend after church I wandered around looking for something to eat. There's an advantage when you're not that hungry while restaurant-hunting. You get to vary the restaurants you go to. I was curious and didn't want to miss what Piri-piri is famous for: flaming hot chicken.
No smoke came off my ears and nostrils - a discovery that tells me it's OK to go back. I love how fresh the lettuce and capsicum strips are. The menu presentation is charming, and that's great in my books. There's a little story in it which makes up for leisure reading while waiting for your order. So I learned Piri Piri is Portuguese / Mediterranean cuisine. There are small pictures of ancient sea vessels around the menu which remind me of the Portuguese explorer Magellan. And yes, this was a yummy brunch experience.
There are two Piri-Piri restaurants in Thailand, both are in Bangkok:
Emporium, 5th Floor
622, Soi 24 Sukhumvit Rd, Klong Toei Nua, Wattana 10110
Piri Piri Siam Paragon, Ground Floor
991/1 Rama 1 Rd Pathumwan 10330
Business Hours: 10.00 - 21.00 every day
Price Range: 200 - 1,000 Bht / 6 - 33 USD
Thursday, October 25
Mozart hates glasses
Shoes? He shuns them. Sunglasses? He doesn't like them either. I am sadly accepting the obvious: my fur son does not share my fashion sense. The one shot of him grudgingly wearing a dark pair once was not even to shield his eyes from harmful rays during walks. He agreed to have them on his head, sitting on the coffee table. Yes, like a crown. I thought only cats were aristocratic by nature. Sometimes I wonder if he needs corrective glasses instead after his right eye was injured by an irate neighbor, which is another story.
Mozart should watch Arlo.
Friday, October 19
Centered, sane and grateful - a review
How wonderful it would be if that's the case for everyone all time! But as we live in an imperfect world we can only take life one day at a time. If CEOs are people trying to hold their sanity for obvious reasons, moms are no different. Whether they are working outside the home, homeschooling, moms are usually in the center of many important things.This Gabby Moms October product is about staying sane and centered in a sea of mothering responsibilities. Gratitude is crucial. You have to learn it. As if it's not enough that you have managed to stay centered and sane, you have to be grateful as well.
That's right grateful. I heard that too. Vividly. When author Lorrie Flem started talking about gratitude I wondered what version of the virtue could I have exercised in the aftermath of divorce; in the face of a harrowing diagnosis - coordinating with specialists and therapists, not to mention dragging the son between two countries thrice before he could even say 'airplane' and being reduced to a humiliated mess over petrifying tantrums at airports and malls. Hang on. After having to do all that alone I'm supposed to flash a smile of gratitude across my battered face? This woman must be kidding.
Well, she wasn't. Actually she went on giving tips and practical ideas on growing gratitude. My fury and curiosity blended well on the admonition to read the Word. As I listened to the audio, I realized anew that my ordeal did not kill me. That I am able to do all this without a single cent of support from the ex, yes, that is some reason to be thankful despite the troubles. But more importantly being in one piece for a son badly in need of a parent woke me up to a clearer understanding on the importance of gratitude. There's quite a lot of sense in gratitude as a way to a centered and sane life. You will find out how and why in this new audio series which will be available on November 1st. A wealth of related info abound on the author's site Eternal Encouragement Magazine. Try a visit and be blessed.
***
This Gabby Moms product was provided to me free in exchange for my unbiased review.
Wednesday, October 3
Arlo needs glasses
Fortunately Arlo's story is one of love, concern and creativity, unlike Missy's. Animal lovers would nod on Arlo needs glasses by Barney Saltzberg. Families with dogs might be interested too.
It's not just the story I am interested in. Arlo Needs Glasses is an interactive picture book. What children do not like names on pages that appear in equivalent of lights with letters that are outlined in different hues? They get to pull a tab and be part of the activities in the story.
An eye chart in the doctor's office is shown on this book. Letters blur with the pull of a tab giving readers the idea of what the lead character might be seeing. It would even be more interesting to be able to detect words, which reviews of this book, suggest are hidden in the eye chart.
Saltzberg spells out "phoropter," he uses the Broadway-marquee lettering, as if children are picking up a party favor when they look through the accordion-style fancy-dancy binoculars. At the very bottom, in tiny letters, a prognosis awaits: "Arlo (the dog) needs glasses."True to being interctive, a trio of glasses in slipcases mounted on the page are provided for kids to try on Arlo. I wonder which among choices of Movie Star, Superhero and Mad Scientist spectacles will my kids, or yours want to try on themselves.
The book provides awareness of eye problem solutions for children. It tells young minds things to expect at the optometrist's office. Like Saltzberg's Beautiful Oops!, Arlo Needs Glasses is a book about solving problems with humor all the way. It seems everything one would expect in an interactive picture story are packed in this book.
Photo credit and more info at Workman
This blog is not affiliated with Workman. This post is for sharing purposes only.
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