OUR VALENTIMES 2015 (DATE WITH MATI IN CIBO)

It was VALENTIMES and like what we do every year, my dearest master Mati took me out on a date. As with our usual practice, he will choose the restaurant while I pay for dinner.

His first choice was to have dinner at his favorite, HOUSE OF MINIS but then, I got off work late and the branch at Greenhills was closed already. I promised him that we will have another date at his favorite steakhouse next time.

His plan B was for some pasta at CIBO. I'm glad because I was also craving for some of Margarita Fores' simple Italian comfort food that the Chinese Adonis was not overly fond of. Besides the company, I always look forward to having these dates with my master Mati because he is more adventurous to all types of cuisine than his Daddy. At least I will get to eat my tummy's desires without fear of this Chinese Adonis (aka brute) going EEEWY.

Hopefully when Mati grows up into this genius, billionaire, playboy, philanthropist, he'll make me choose where to go for our VALENTIMES date AND foot the bill. That is, if he will STILL take me out. If not, I will immediately become a Monster-in-Law with a broken heart. He he he he!

HAPPY VALENTIMES my dearest "Mati Stark"!

CIBO!

MATI MAKES HIS MARK

Like any normal child, my little lords are very fond of playing with computer games such as Minecraft and NBA 2000-something. And, like any normal Mom, I want to be a KJ (kill joy) in what I feel is a "unnecessary activity" for them that causes extreme joy.  Bwa ha ha ha ha! So in order to balance out and instill discipline in the boys' PSP and gadget play time, I told them that they could only do so if they write 2 pages in their journal. Of course, this caused a lot of violent reactions from the little lords but I didn't care. If they wanted to use the internet or play computer games then they should write in their journal. If they don't feel like writing, then no dice. Besides, it served a double purpose of practicing their writing skills and lessening the time their faces are buried in front of their PSP.

   

I never noticed though that while Mati would have his "journal time", he would sneak in a few "naughty moves" to either show his rebellion or to just mark his territory. It was actually my sister who noticed it first as she got frustrated with how Mati made small graffiti marks on our walls using his new journal pens. As for me, I somehow found it cute. I'm not sure if I'm being normal or anything but I like that I have something sort of a hidden Mickey going on with my eldest son. While I'm doing something and I suddenly find his "Mati Mark", it actually gives me a smile knowing that his little being was there. Of course, I told him not to do it outside our home and he knows that it is actually a criminal offense to do so.

Being the sentimental schmuck that I always am, I know that these "Mati marks" may get erased in time that's why I already recorded it via this blog.  Of course, I am already daydreaming of the day when the boys are all grown up and I'm this very wrinkly old granny. Then, I'll accidentally find one of his kiddie graffitis in our home and I would just burst into tears. When the grown up Mati sees me doing so, he'll smile and then send me to a nursing home.

KIDDING! As usual I'm getting ahead of myself but really my imagination just goes wild with anything that my little lords' created. For now, I won't dwell on the drama of what will happen when they grow up as I will just value their beingness even with just a few scribbles on our walls.   It may be something small and meaningless to them but as parents I'm sure you would agree that anything that comes from our children is worth taking our mark for.

:)

I never really took notice of it before even when my sister told me about it. But once in a while I would find it around our house. 

As I would go up and down the stairs, I began to notice this small marking on our walls.

MGY! That's his initials as Mati G. Yap!

THIS IS HOW I PACK IT

This entry is definitely out of the ERICJAZ FOODIES "character" but it is one I surely want to share for all my imaginary readers out there. You see, all my life I have gotten a lot of flak, not for being superkaduper hot (tee hee) but because I always seem to pack an extra bag more than what an ordinary person brings.

With that, you could just imagine the MILLIONS of bags that I would pack for the little lords once I became a Mom.

You see my favorite saying of all when it comes to packing is "I'd rather have one and not need it, than need it and not have one". I got that from the classical movie, "Aliens Vs. Predator" and yes, it does explain in a gist my views on bringing our "stuff". I may pack more than what is needed for a weekend but at least the boys get to pick what they want to wear depending on their mood, OR, they are assured of extra clothes just in case they spill soda on their clothes twice, AND, they have something if we decide to stay an extra day.

For some reason too and many people could attest to this (especially my office mates), that I am such a slob with my things. But when it comes to the little lords, I want everything to be organized as chiclets in a box. Of course, packing for 2 boys could get nerve wracking but I have devised these methods so that I am assured not to forget anything when we go away for a trip. At the same time, I don't find it difficult when it's time to unpack when we go home.

Now I'm sure you have all your own ways and habits of how you pack things because this post certainly is not meant to undermine them. Most definitely, how you do it with your family is the best method that you have come with. This is just me sharing how I could get "carried away" when fixing our stuff for a getaway and maybe you could get a tip or two.

Of course, in the near future I will pass on this packing "knowledge" to the little lords. I know they should be starting to do it themselves next year but the OC in me is not yet ready to let them do that. Well maybe because, boys being sloppy boys, if it were up to them they'll only pack 1 set of clothing and not change into anything at all! You've heard about ac-dc underpants right?  Well I guess it's what they see from the Chinese Adonis that's why! BWA HA HA HA HA!

Anywho, at the end of the day, what matters is that when the little lords ask for something, at least in an instant we are able to give it to them. Nothing is more sweeter than hearing a very sweet "Thank you" after all that packing ordeal. He he he he he he!

And yes, I know you might come up with more severe words after reading this entry. Ha ha ha ha ha!

Ze bags!

To be sure that I won't forget anything, I have my own PACKING list!

I have been using this list since Andrei was a baby and have not bothered editing some items. So if you catch a reminder to bring a "bib" or "Lactum", just ignore it.

Of course, ignore all the wrong grammar as well.

Told you I was too lazy to change anything. Ha ha ha ha ha!

MY PIZZA HUT DATE with MATI

Last Saturday I was supposed to meet my KTG foodie family in Greenhills but then I was reminded that Mati and I were due for our ENT check up -- me for my massive head ache due to sinus while the little lord for his adenoids. We cannot go the next weekend because it was my son's 4th quarter exams (yup on a Saturday!) then the week after, we're scheduled to go to Timbuktu.  So I sent my regrets and hoped to meet my beloved KTG next time.

As much as I hated going to the hospital for ANY kind of check up (unless it's for boob implants... he he he he he he kidding...) I looked forward to having another lunch date with my first born. I was ready to spoil him of his cravings for the day so I gave Mati the "sky's the limit" choice. Instead though, he wished that we eat in his favorite of the month... PIZZA HUT!

Yup... sometimes the most uncomplicated choice is the best. I'm glad my son, who I have treated to a lot of restaurants, finds joy in the simplest of grub. I hope he feels that, like me, spending it with the people you love makes the meal overall special!

WHICH of course is the battle cry of this silly little foodie blog!

NAKS!

PIZZA HUT BISTRO!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY MATI

It is finally 2014 and while many people are posting about their year's top 10 or making many countdowns, I felt that the best way to wrap up the year and greet the new one is to write about something very close to my heart instead. Come to think of it, this little lord was literally inches from my heart when he was still growing inside my big belly so saying that he made my year very special was an understatement.

You could says that I may have brought him into this world but this little man made me alive. And it is his birthday today!

My little guy MATI when he was about 2 years old. I think this was the last serious picture that I have of him since he is addicted to wacky poses.

So this may not have anything about food or my husband getting tormented by yours truly. This will be all about MATI and how his presence convinces us everyday that me and my husband must have done something good in our lives with his existence.

Uh... NOT in that perverted way but more in the lines of how Julie Andrews sang it in THE SOUND OF MUSIC.

Tee to the Hee. :P