Savings

No I don't have any.

BPI Savings Account charges my account 300php each month for getting below the maintaining balance of 3,000php. That happens every month since my hubby M opened this account for me so he can easily transfer money whenever the need arises. I simply don't have money to keep it above 3,000php.

But I proudly congratulate myself for keeping this at least 3,000php this December.

At least I have a start.

100 Peso Meals: Adobong Sitaw

Ingredients:

Justbought:

40php roughly ¼ kilo Ground Lean Pork (160php/kilo)
30php string breans

Pantry/Ref Stash:

Soy Sauce
Vinegar
Onions

Total: 70php

Breastfeeding: Malunggay Recipe: Munggo

Breastfeeding: Malunggay Recipe: Omelette

Breastfeeding: Malunggay Recipe: Ginataang Gulay

Breastfeeding: Malunggay Recipe: Tinola

I'll post the photos first to make a compilation of my Breastfeeding Malunggay Recipes. 

Breastfeeding: Malunggay Recipe: Corn Soup

I intend to compile things that you can do with Malunggay. I don't know how to take fabulous photos of food, but I'm sure they will suffice.

This can be done in two ways:

I. The hard but fresh way

Ingredients:

Fresh uncooked corn
Fresh Malunggay Leaves
Garlic

Procedure:

Boil the corn, using just enough water. (For this I used 4 cups of water for 3 cobs of corn) then once cooked, remove the corn from the cob. (I used only one cob since the other 2 were for the merienda of M and S).

Then bring the corn stock to a boil, including minced garlic and fresh malunggay leaves.

II. The instant way

Ingredients:

Canned Corn
Fresh Malunggay Leaves
Chicken Cubes

Procedure:

Boil everything together. 

Leftover Meal Ideas: Adobo Rice

It is simply impractical to make Adobo Rice from Adobo Leftovers if you don’t have Leftover rice as well. 

Ingredients:

Leftovers:

Leftover Pork Adobo
Leftover Rice

Pantry/ Ref Stash:

Eggs

Margarine

Cheese

Cucumber

Procedure: 

Scramble eggs with cheese. Then cook.

Flake the Leftover Adobo. Stir Fry with the Leftover Rice. Add the Adobo Sauce for additional color and taste.

Notice that my used-to-be-non-stick-pan still has some scrambled eggs in it. I ony have one pan at home and after cooking the cheese scrambled egg I don't wash it anymore for added taste. Less effort  and less soap and water consumption as well. 

M and I share the same plate on breakfasts without S. This happens on weekends when S is on Day Off. Sweet and less plates to wash. 

Leftover Meal Ideas: French Toast

No one really likes to eat pan de sal from yesterday’s breakast. Nor does anyone like the ends of a loaf of sliced bread. But instead of throwing them away I make them into French Toast. 

Ingredients:

Leftovers:

Leftover Pan De Sal

Leftover Ends of Sliced Bread

Pantry/ Ref Stash:

Angel Kremdensada

Eggs

Procedure:

Mix eggs into Angel Kremdensada. Soak the leftover bread.

Cook in oil.

This recipe can be made better if you use butter instead of oil, and cook it on Teflon to avoid sticking. 

Enjoy Quezon City: UP Lantern Parade 2013

Our family seldom goes to the mall. In fact we visit only the malls to buy things that cannot be bought in the nearby groceries. We spend weekends at home simply because we don’t have the extra money for splurging ~ gas, parking, bottled juice, movie, small trinkets for the little girl, lunch/dinner, dessert, merry-go-round. 

So I take advantage of events such as the Annual UP Lantern Parade for my daughter C.  It was just M, C and I. We left J with S at home.

The Lantern Parade is a long-standing tradition of the university that started back in 1922. It was inspired by the folk practice of carrying different kinds of lanterns to light the way to the early morning December Masses or misa de gallo, according to google. 

The UP Lantern Parade 2013, according to my husband M, is not as extravagant as it was years before, to tone down careless spending and just turn them into donations for the Yolanda victims. 

True enough after we got home and watched the evening news, we learned that this year, students from various colleges and organizations creatively and laboriously made lanterns and floats that featured components made from materials used in relief operations. These items include, for instance, eco bags and canned goods.

This our first time to watch the UP Lantern Parade. We left the house at 4pm, parked at the Asian Center (hubby takes classes there), and walked to the UP Oval. We did not finish the whole parade. We left at 7pm.

These photos are taken using my Cherry Flare 2.0. Looks like it cannot shoot good pictures at night, or I just don't know the right settings. I still cannot afford to buy a camera to replace my recently broken point and shoot Samsung Camera.

Total damage: 210php

90php for C2, Kikiam and Orange Quail Eggs
15php for Taho
30php for Manggang Hilaw
25php for Avocado Ice Cream
50php for Minion Balloon for Ate C

100 Peso Meals: Meatballs in Misua

Ingredients:

Justbought:

50php roughly 1/4kilo Ground Lean Pork (190php/kilo)
25php 2pieces carrots

Pantry/Ref Stash:

Misua
Eggs
Onions
Salt and Pepper

Procedure:

Dice the carrots and onions until very small.

Make meatballs with the ground beef, carrots and onions using the eggs as binder.  

Saute onions, add water and misua.Season to taste

Cook meatballs in this soup.  

Total: 75php

Misua is a very thin variety of salted chinese noodles made from wheat flour. It gets cooked in just a minute.

My daughter C, who is a picky eater, likes Misua as she associates this with her favorite pancit. Serving this at least hides the carrots in the meatball.  

100 Peso Meals just cover the cost of the main ingredients, not taking into consideration the gasul consumption, the cost of depreciation of the stove, paid labor by the household help, and other pantry items such as cooking oil, water and spices.  Nor does it account for the opportunity cost that I am staying at home blogging about this ulam.

100 Peso Meals Summary

100 Peso Meals just cover the cost of the main ingredients, not taking into consideration the gasul consumption, the cost of depreciation of the stove, paid labor by the household help, and other pantry items such as cooking oil, water and spices.  Nor does it account for the opportunity cost that I am staying at home blogging about these ulam. 

Meatballs in Misua 
Adobong Sitaw 

Hello World!

1. It is the Christmas season and I am not Christmas spending because I don’t have disposable income. In fact I don’t have income to start with. I am unemployed since the last quarter of 2012. 

2.  I live with my husband M who works as a teacher, our daughter C who recently turned 5 years old, our baby daughter J who is the reason I am a Stay At Home Mom (SAHM), and our household help S who has been with us for almost 4 years. 

3.  My time at home is spent mostly on taking care of baby J who is 4 months old as I write this. She is purely breastfed ~ my only excuse to be a SAHM. 

4.  This blog is created to chronicle my day to day concerns, feelings, thoughts and ramblings which have no audience. I don’t want to disturb my friends’ newsfeed on Facebook with my children’s faces or on Instagram with our budget meals or on Twitter with my irrelevant status updates.   This blog is created for myself, but your comments, suggestions and criticisms are all welcome. 

5.  I am incoherent and inconsistent. This is my Nth attempt at keeping a journal. And if you are reading this, thanks for your time, I hope you pick up something.

Keep your feet soft and smooth

I bought myself socks.

Random Ramblings Day 3 of 31

1.
Huntingtonpost Article Here
Peborit ko number 6. Para sa aking second first year. "Lagyan mo ng sinulid sa noo para di sinukin at tabihan ng tingting para may angel sya." Labyu Lola.


2.
Friday na yey!. Time to cross out things sa nilista ko for the week. Still have to go to the call center and build stash for Josefina's consumption. At hindi pa decided what to do sa birthday ni Cecilia.

Random Ramblings Day 2 of 31

1.  I never really get to finish anything I start. I never get to finish anything I intend to do. It's Sunday again and it's the start of the week.

2.  To do:
a. Deliver all pending deliveries.
b. Go to the call center and update the post.
c. Make one week worth of breastmilk in preparation for December.
d. Complete kemer forms. 

3.  I have to decide what I want to do for Cecilia's 5th birthday.

DEAR time

Drop Everything And Read

~then I caught Cecilia reading to her baby sister Josefina.

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Random Ramblings Day 1 of 31

While waiting for Hubby pay for Cecilia's Tuition Fee, I browsed through some newspapers in the lobby of Miriam College Child Study Center. I took a photo of this since I decided today that I will write one entry everyday starting today.

"Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat them."

I can't remember the name of the column, or what newspaper this is.

Food Diary Day 1

August 31 2013

Saturday

 

Pan De Sal (lost count how many I ate)

 2 Sunny Side Up Eggs

A Cup of Anmum Lacta

200php Daily Meal Budget 1

Let me try this week if this is possible:

I will spend just 200php for a whole day's meal.

These are the considerations:
1.  I just gave birth a few weeks ago, purely breastfeeding my 2nd daughter so I need lots of fruits and vegetables and I get hungry a lot.
2.  I live with my husband, our 4 year old picky eater Cecilia, and our yaya. (Josefina our second daughter is less than a month old)
3.  We live in a neighborhood where an SM Savemore and a small market is just a few blocks away, walking distance.




August 26, 2013 Monday

The husband went to the Million People March rally for the Anti-Pork Barrel thing so it's just Yaya, Cecilia and I (and Joseffina) here at home until dinnertime.

I will be asking Yaya to buy Patola with Misua ingredients. And Fish for Cecilia. And Fresh Buko.

Diaper Changing Station

For one whole month I will not be doing anything else but breastfeed Josefina, change her diapers, sleep eat rest while producing more milk.

This is Josefina's Diaper simple diaper changing area.

 It is right beside our bed since she co-sleeps with us. 

1.  A Small tray which holds my celphone, my camera and my glasses.
2.  Spray Alcohol
3.  Flashlight
4.  Tissue
5.  Digital Thermometer
6.  Water container for me since I get thirsty even at night while breastfeeding
7.  Cotton balls soaked in water in a small bowl + a bigger bowl to hold dirty cotton balls used to clean her pwet and pepe.
8.  Rubber Mat

1.  Gauze Flat Diapers for all around wiping (since I seldom use tissue paper for wiping.)
2.  Cotton Balls
3.  Disposable Diapers (which we seldom use)

1.  Pretty Cloth Diapers (Babyland, Happy Flute, Bamboo Dappy, and Cartoon Brands) all are pockets and most prints are in the laundry.
2.  Microfiber Inserts
3.  Bamboo Inserts
4.  Bamboo Charcoal Inserts

Diaper Pail that yaya gets everytime she is vacant with Cecilia.

Caprichosa Giveaway

My online shop will be on Maternity Leave as well but I ran a Giveaway through Rafflecopter.

Josefina's Birth Month Giveaway

Hand Me Downs for Josefina 3

Thanks Dannah! =)

3 pieces short sleeve tie sides
3 pieces long sleeve tie sides
3 pairs mittens

What to Pack Before Giving Birth

I will be regularly updating this blog entry as I near my due date.

What to pack in a Hospital Bag before giving birth:

This is not my first time to give birth, and I believe I am smarter now:

~I want to lessen the cost of my bill: since in St Lukes they charge everything and I don't intend to spend on things I can prepare beforehand.
~I have an idea what to buy and what I should not buy since it will not be used anyway.


I. Important Papers and Documents

Make sure your husband knows where these are, as he is the one who will be fixing these. Save him the hassle of going through all the pretty pouches inside your hand bag.

Mine includes:

1. SSS Maternity 1 (accomplished) and SSS Maternity 2 Forms, which will be used in the Hospital
2. Philhealth Member Data Record and Forms
3. Identification IDs and other insurance documents

4. Admission Instructions from your OB Gyne. I'll be scheduled for Cesarian so I have my admission letter from the OB when I check in the hospital the night before my delivery.

5. Pregnancy Book This is not really needed since your OB knows your history, but it is important for your husband to know where this is, if in case your delivery is not scheduled (or if an emergency happens). You don't want to be in labor-emergency-i-am-in-pain-situation and everyone is asking you about your medical history.

I got 2 preggy books, the one on the left is from the Health Center visits and the one on the right is from my OB. 

II. For the Recovering Mommy

1. Rubber Slippers Yes, most hospitals provide towel slippers, but I prefer the rubber slippers for when I get wet In fact for me, no walking will happen until the 4th or 5th day after delivery.
2. Bath Towel I won't be taking a bath but this is needed for my sponge baths.
3. 4 Comfortable Panties I'm bringing only 4 since I prefer being underwear-less in the first 3 days when blood is oozing out. They have bed covers anyway. But this is just me. 4 panties for the days when I can move around and aready wear the maternity pads.
4. Blanket. I was thinking of bringing a jacket for myself but I realized I will be on dextrose and wearing one will be such a hassle.

5. Binders The hospital gives you one especially if you deliver Cesarian, but I prefer the really tight ones that constricts my movement.. A bikini cut is really painful that you can't even laugh or sneeze or cough.

6. Bed Pan They give this in the hospital too, but I want to save on charges ~this costs 300php in my hospital bill last December 2008 ~ for things I already have. (I asked for one, from my Mom-In-Law who got hospitalized this June.) This is going to be your husband's best friend after your catheter has been removed.

7. Underpads They provide these in the hospital, too. But Mom has a few pieces left from Dad;s confinement early this year, and it does not hurt to save a few hundreds for our hospital bill.  (If you are bringing these, make sure you inform the nurse on duty ahead of time that you brought one)

III. For the New Baby


1. Manual Breastpump (Washed and sterilized) If in case baby has a hard time latching, or I physically cannot go to her, then I have stimulation for my boobies, which is very important in the first few days if you decide to breastfeed

2. 8 pcs. Tie Sides Not quite sure if 8 will suffice, since this is the first time I am rooming in my baby. Cecilia stayed in the nursery the whole time and the only clothes I brought for her were her going home clothes.

3. Disposable Diapers. A 30piece newborn sized pack will do.

4. Cloth Diapers. Stripwashed. I am bringing only 4 pieces for show and for photo-ops. I don't want the husband to be bringing home soiled nappies. (I'll ask yaya to bring soiled but pre-washed nappies when they visit. That is, if in case these one-size-fits-most nappies actually fit my newborn)

5. Hooded Blankets for Swaddling. I strongly believe in the power of swaddling newborns.

6. 3 pairs baby mittens
7. 3 pairs baby socks Babies are always clean, unless it catches poop in her diaper change. No need for more than 3 pairs.
8. Drapolene Cream, just in case. 

9. Rubber Mat for changing

10. A Lock-and-Lock and Cotton Balls (Essential) You'll learn that babies only need cotton and water for cleaning their bum. Not those commercialized all pure-all expensive baby washes that you have to buy from some online seller since they are not readily available in local stores. 

11. 3 4-oz baby bottles, with preemie sized nipples, washed and sterilized. My OB instructed me to NOT bring baby bottles since they will not be introducing formula to babies in St Lukes because of their breastfeeding policy. But I'm still bringing these just in case.

IV. For the Husband

1. A Set of Pillows and Blanket Hubby will be occupying the bed/sofa for visitors. Make his stay comfortable by bringing him pillows.

I am bringing hm 2 throw pillows and a thin blanket. (He does not really use one)

2. His computer and my Camera and Data Cable for my Camera

I don't have gadgets, just a simple point and shoot camera. But once I recover I want to be able to take pictures. St Lukes has free wifi anywhere. 

**I'm sure the husband anticipates long waits and he'll bring stuff to amuse himself.

3. Joy Dishwashing Liquid and sponge

4. A 6 piece set of Melaware which has cups, bowls, spoons and forks for Visitor's Use. Expect visitors. Expect food from them. But I want to avoid disposables and trash as much as possible, and save on money in buying disposable cups and utensils.

Instead of getting bowls AND plates,just get ones like mine ~ ideal for soups, cakes, and even rice meals. Make sure the quality of plastic for the cups hold hot water just fine ~ for serving coffee and hot beverages.

5. Travel Knife. Since visitors will always be bringing fruits. (And you cannot eat them since you are on liquid diet.) 

V. Mommy's Personal Things

You need not make habilin these to hubby as, once you recover, you can just ask him to get your handbag for you. (Men don't like too much nagging anyway.)


1. Charger for Celphone

**you might feel like you need entertainment like reading materials or magazines for yourself. Well, I personally don't have any gadget except for my talk-and-text-bar-phone whose main purpose is to communicate with my husband and yaya. And I am not bringing any reading material as I know I will be groggy the whole hospital stay.

2. Kikay Kit
3. Presentable breastfeeding friendly dresses I will be receiving visitors, and they may come at a time when I am struggling to feed the baby through my breast. Better be prepared with breastfeeding friendly dresses as the hospital gown is tied at the back, wherein breastfeeding is impossible unless they see your boobies,  if I remember correctly. (And I will be on the bed, underwearless, wearing a binder with blankets on top of me anyway.)

I don't want to make my breastfeeding-virgin friends and relatives to become uncomfortable.

One kind of a presentable breastfeeding dress for me looks like this:

1. tube at the top so I can easily get my boobies without showing the other one

2. Long enough to cover my underwearless down there f in case I need to go to the bathroom

3. Stretchy or loose enough since I will still look 5 months pregnant

**I am not getting myself those Nursing bras that have holes in them ~ they just don't work for me. I prefer tubes-like bras instead.