Plus there’s the added benefit of being environment-friendly. Paperless invites!

However when I was trying to use evite again for Jo-Lo’s recently-concluded 5th birthday party, I noticed that evite was no longer as enticing to use as before. There’s just too much clutter and even the sent invitation does not look as appealing as before. And so for this round of invitations I used MyInvites. It served the purpose, although I missed the evite functionality of guests being able to say how many of them are coming so instead my wife and I made mental notes of how many they are in the family and made allowances accordingly (it just feels awkward to phone the guests and ask how many are coming).

I was supposed to go to a discussion of the merits of using myinvites versus evite, but as I looked around for more options I found another highly probable online invitation service: Socializr. And the fact that Socializr was founded by Jonathan Abrams of Friendster fame puts some weight on the possibilities for this service.

I do not have anything yet on my calendar though to warrant a test of Socializr. Perhaps you will have the opportunity to try out this service for one of your events. Let me know how it goes!

The KASAGIP Charitable Trust provides the following services:
* Provide short term assistance to cover immediate basic needs (e.g. food, clothing, and other identified needs)
* Act as a “transition provider” until long term or other forms of assistance is established by the appropriate government institution
* Acts as a liaison or link to other support providers who can provide more assistance depending on the identified need.

Filipinos under the Work to Residence (WTR) program, those new to the Wellington region, if in need, contact the KASAGIP Charitable Trust. Visit their website to learn more.

Replay value of this game is really high, and I have yet to enjoy 4-player mayhem.

But that is not what this post is for.  We’re enjoying Super Mario so much that we have downloaded some Paper Mario craft.  And these look really nice.  Take the ghost on the top photo, for example.  It’s not just a simple paper craft.  It gives you the illusion of the ghost following you with its gaze when you walk across the room.  I’m planning to maka a couple more (less the photo frame) and tape these on our wall.

And then there’s the nice mushrooms!

I’m actually planning to pad paper strips onto the original shape to create a more durable papier mache version.

Want to get your own Mario paper craft fix?  Visit Nintendo Papercraft today!

Next up: bombs!

It's a big world out there

Back in the day, we used to cool off by simply staying away from the sun. We’d stay in the house and in front of the electric fan come noontime, or sit under the shade of the trees. Halo-halo is also simply the best.

But these days, we also have other choices in keeping ourselves cool. Still depends on availability in your locality, but it sure helps to know that we don’t have to rack up huge electric bills because of airconditioning.

Clothing has indeed come a long way from the cotton or polyester variety. We now have shirts that reflect UV rays and also wick sweat away from the body. Originally designed especially for trekking and mountain climbing, this technology is also available for everyday wear. Visit the North Face website for examples.

There are also a wide range of personal cooling devices out there (what will we do without inventors?). A nify idea is the solar powered fan from Gaiam. If you need to be out in the sun, why not use its power to cool you off? And at about 10.00 each, it’s nice to have or give as a gift.

Now if you want a “more complete coverage”, why not get one of these shirts with fans built-in? This Japanese invention (as reported by Reuters) uses two small fans which circulate air around between the wearer and the clothing, evaporating perspiration and keeping cool.

Another, simpler invention is the cooling bandana which has a cooling polymer that gets contact with your neck as you wear it and cools you down. Not sure how the polymer works but that’s how it’s advertised.

Sleeping in the summer an also be a challenge in those especially hot and humid nights. The Chillow from ProTherapy Supplies might help. It has an inner mechanism which, when combined with water, creates a cooling effect. It is not only useful in summer, it can also be used to relieve hot flashes, headaches, sunburns, and more.

Best of all, do not forget to slip, slop, slap n’ wrap when playing in the sun!

This is my unforgettable summer eons ago.

I could not take it anymore. We were wading/walking in a shallow rivulet somewhere in a coastal area in Luzon.

My stomach was rumbling as if Manny Pacquiao was defending his championship against Clottey.

It must be the oyster. I finished a few blanched-with-hot-water-and-squeezed-with lemon-newly-gathered oysters from the farm. Oyster farm, that is according to the karinderia where we had our lunch on our way to the barrio where we would have our immersion in culture of indigenous people and at the same time reforest the denuded mountains in that province. Kung baga forest make-over.

My classmates had already crossed the stream. I was still in the middle where water was at the waist level of a vertically challenged person like me.

They were shouting what I was doing daw? Can you guess? I said “Go ahead. I think there are some small crabs that tried to hitch in my pants. I LIED. You should have seen the dilation of my eyelids, the tremor in my lips and the raising of my brows by a fraction of an inch.

That experience taught me to bring imodium (diatabs for some) all the time and never eat seafood when you’re not sure where they came from.

We were eight in the group and there were four students who came from the elite school.

We were disappointed to know that we were not staying in the barrio; instead we were housed in a forester’s house cum seed storage.

Well, it is a two- storey structure with two big rooms at the second floor and a balcony where most of the cashew seeds for planting were stocked .

Downstairs, there was a kitchen, a dining room and a store room where farm implements were kept for ready use. The forester never stayed there. So there was no power, no water and no electric fan. Whoa.

We did the cooking outside using firewood. Muntik nang maubos yong isang puno sa forest para panggatong. Kaialangan talaga ang reforestration.

The project had funding and the youth leaders took advantage of our immersion ek-ek project before we graduated. Two birds with one stone. The stone was as big as a basketball. toinkkk Yon pala all expenses paid kami pati pagkain at pamasahe as long as we met the required hours. We were supposed to be staying in families in the lowlands.( That was how they called the barrio). But we were quartered in that God forsaken place because a member of the group accidentally heard that the male and female members of the other group were not there to plant seeds but to solve an unwanted pregnancy problem. O dava, intriga at kahindik-hindik.

On our arrival to the site, we were welcomed by a long yellow snaaaaake which we found wrapped around a huge timber that served as a bridge. I almost summon my superhero power to grow a pair wings so I can go back to the civilization. Ngiiii.

The forester came to our rescue. He assured us that it was not the kind of snake that was poisonous. Mahilig lang pumulupot. Ngiii ulit.

The mayor sent us the groceries and dry fish for our consumption until next marketing day.Every day, the forester would bring us fresh fish and vegetables. We ordered emergency kit too with aspirin, imodium, itch cream and bandages.Kulang na lang, ipadala namin yong pharmacist.

Early morning, with hats and walking sticks made from tiny branches of a tree, we went to the place assigned to us to plant the seeds. The walking stick helped in making hawi of the talahib, make palo of snake and other forest animals that came to our way. It also served as cane to negotiate the high places where I was tempted to sing the The Sound of Music upon seeing the beauty below. I forgot my phobia–fear of heights.

The straw hats did not only protect us fro the heat of the sun, We also used them in gathering wild fruits , like mango (wild fruits daw oh) black berries and guava.

We added more imodium to our requests for medicines and emergency kits.

And while we we’re having tan and enjoying the grilled cashew seeds (oops, the forester told us that they were treated kah, kah, kah, hindi na po uulit. Itatanim na namin lahat kahit lima o sampu sa isang butas) the other members of the team were staying mostly inside their rooms.

Ginawa pa kaming mga serbidora sa kanila which we did not mind. We enjoyed serving them. We separated their food from ours. Salbahe. Wink, wink , wink.

Then a barangay chairman invited us all in the dance benefit. Wow, makakasayaw din kami. We were given rolls of ticket.

Bawa’t sayaw daw namin ay may donation ang mga lalaki sa barrio charity. The barrio charity is the weekly kapihan where the drinks were not coffee but hard drinks marka Demonyo. ahehehe. Ginawa kaming belyas, waaah. Buti hindi pa noon uso ang pole dancing. Yong kasama kong gay, baka lumambitin sa isa sa mga puno doon habang sumasayaw. I knew it was just an excuse of the barrio officials to party with the ” Galing sa Menila” gals and guys.

Buti na lang wall flower ako palagi. Kahit na diligan mo, di titinag sa wall. Wala akong naging customer.

When we returned to the forest house, some barrio folks were making signs to us. We thought it was a sign of World peace, or peace or you’re okay.

Yon pala ang ibig sabihin, sira ulo. Mga salbahe anoh.

Thinking that the leaders of the group would hold us beyond the required number of hours for our credit, the dramatic actress in me persuaded them to let us go when my tears rivaled that of the small waterfall that we found in the forest. Hitsura ni Kris Aquino. Pack up kami bigla.

Pasalubong namin sa bahay, durog na duhat.

achecheche.

So that is unforgettable summer folks. Do you want to hear my haunted summer vacation. tinunininuninu.

The Ca t

Eno River, Durham, NC

Late winter, 2010

The recipes in Ms. Hammock’s diet plan are healthy, quick, easy to prepare and so far, have yet to disappoint my palate. I thought it would be a good idea to share these recipes with everyone.
The first recipe is called Savory Asian Patty. Mix 1 pound ground turkey breast with 8 canned water chestnuts, diced; 2 garlic cloves, minced; 4 green onions, thinly sliced; 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce; 4 teaspoons soy sauce. Shape mixture into 4 patties. Freeze 3 for later use. In nonstick skillet coated with cooking spray, cook patty over medium heat until thoroughly cooked throughout.

On a personal note, I find that the patty needs more binding ingredients cause the turkey meat and water chestnuts don’t really hold well together. I tried adding just an egg cause I wanted to do away with the carb content in the flour but although the patty would form nicely, it will take extra special care to fry it without breaking it up. So in the end, I added 2 tbsp. flour which was enough to make the patty firm and crispy on the outside while the inside is kept soft and moist.

The patties were served with sides of steamed broccoli florets and rice. The rice preparation that Ms. Hammock suggested has become a favorite of mine and my husband’s and we now have it with almost anything that calls for a side dish. Toss 3/4 cup rice with 1 tsp. soy sauce, 1 tsp. rice wine vinegar and 1/2 tsp. sesame oil. It’s rice with a twist and it goes well with almost anything! For the broccoli florets, I provided some light ranch dressing as dipping sauce.

The second recipe is called Spicy Chicken Ole. On a 12-inch-long sheet of heavy-duty aluminum foil, center a 5-ounce skinless, boneless chicken breast. Top with 3/4 cup canned corn with peppers, 1/4 cup salsa, and 1 tablespoon fresh cilantro (optional). Fold foil into a packet. Bake on cookie sheet at 450 degrees F about 18 minutes.

This is served with Avocado Salad. On lettuce leaves, arrange 1 tangerine, peeled and divided into segments; 1/4 ripe avocado, thinly sliced; 1 slice red onion. Sprinkle with 1 teaspoon lemon juice and 1/2 teaspoon olive oil.

This chicken recipe has become my personal favorite so much that within 2 days of trying it, I have shared it with no less than 10 people. It’s quick and easy, with only a minimal number of ingredients, it’s healthy… what’s not to like? On a personal note, I would suggest putting the cookie sheet on the first tier of the oven closest to the heat to reduce cooking time by 20%. I prepared 3 servings of this chicken with the cookie sheet on the second tier and I had to bake another 9 minutes to cook it thoroughly. Although the recipe says the cilantro is optional, I think it should be a must. There’s a pungency in the cilantro that gives the dish an extra kick and it makes a whole lot of difference. As for the salsa, it’s all a matter of personal preference. I used the mild salsa but I think the recipe allows for you to go as hot as you can manage.

The avocado salad is a perfect counterpoint to the chicken. Where the chicken is spicy, the salad is citrusy. It will be nice if you can find a tangerine that’s more on the sweet side. As for the olive oil, I used the citrus-flavored olive oil to further augment the citrusy flavor.

The third recipe is Savory Stir Fry. In a nonstick skillet coated with cooking spray, lightly brown 3 ounces beef strips over medium-high heat. Add 1 1/2 cups frozen stir-fry vegetables and 1 tablespoon bottled stir-fry sauce. Cover and cook over low heat until the vegetables are tender-crisp. Drizzle with 1/2 teaspoon Asian sesame oil.

First off, this meal is served over rice as topping. And remember what I told you about the rice preparation I learned with the first recipe, where I tossed it with some soy sauce, rice wine vinegar and sesame oil? This veggie recipe goes so well with it too!

So anyway, there’s a couple of changes I made. For instance, the recipe calls for 3 ounces of beef strips. Well I don’t eat red meat anymore so I switched chicken breast for the beef. I know it would have given off a different flavor had I used beef but well, the whole point of the meal is that it’s healthy, right? Also, the ‘frozen stir-fry vegetables’ didn’t sit quite well with me. I only have to see ‘frozen’ and I’m already tasting the salt in it. Remember, anything that’s preserved for longer than it’s supposed to last has got to be sodden with sodium. There are stir-fry veggies prepared for fresh use and with expiration dates I can live with. That’s what I used.

So there you have it, 3 dinner recipes that are quick, easy, healthy and absolutely no-fuss.

Bon appetit!

I am not depressed but I spend a lot of time in the internet. Not on sex sites, ( husme, maghihilamos ako ng holy water niyan); not on online gaming sites ( I only play solitaire, dinadaya ko pa) nor on online communities ( I do not even have a Facebook account because I do not have a Face. Bwahaha).

The study conducted by psychologists from Leeds University came into conclusion that people who spend a lot of time surfing the Internet are more likely to show signs of depression Can you believe that? Wow, doubly wow. Where is my can of cashew nuts? Chew chew chew. Binge eating galore.

The psychologists found that avid net users develop compulsion to use the internet in lieu of real-life social interaction.
In my case, I rather surf the internet for news and articles than argue with some friends over the phone about everything. Like last week, a friend hang up the phone on me because she could not believe that Kris Aquino could use the “hiwalayan” episode to promote her latest teleserye. And I was not even the bringer of the news but her “sister” in a religious community. She was just venting and I was just listening. Toinkkk.
I am not into Facebooking too. There are a lot of invitations but I am a very private person. I am paranoid. I imagine that the superheroes are after me. I have the ‘bato of Darna” you know. I even suspect that my phone is bugged. That was when I found a cockroach hiding under my old landline phone. It was the phone that my ex-husband told me that I bought in the fire sale. It was meant for me, don’t you think so?
So paranoid about my privacy that I have to check the bath shower, the microwave and the mail box if there are lurkers inside. You may never know. According to what I read in the internet, the aliens can take other life forms.
Isn’t that something? And my cat thinks I spend so much time in the internet that I forget to feed him. Stop eating the couch, cat. It is not yet fully paid.

Do you think I am depressed?

The Ca t

I come from a gaming family, however, being born at a time when the Game n Watch became hugely popular, followed by the Nintendos and the PlayStations and the PSPs.  So when food, clothing and shelter has been taken cared of, it’s time for gaming!

Jo-Lo couldn’t be any happier.  Me too!  And my wife too!  We’ve been playing for a couple of hours each afternoon and we definitely feel aching muscles the following morning.  We currently just have Wii Sports which is included in the package but I would like to get a Super Mario Brothers Wii too and some other games which can give us our much-needed exercise.

There’s this game with a videocam and you can do your exercises with it, that could be interesting…