OUR CHRISTMAS 2021

I don't know if it's the pandemic or that I'm turning into a grumpy senior citizen (tee hee) but I really didn't feel the holidays coming up. Sure there were the usual decorations, lights, and chilly weather, but I don't know. It's just not the same.

Of course, shy and suplada me really preferred staying at home or going out with family and/or super close friends. So I can't really blame the covid again on that. In fact, it's one aspect of the pandemic that I preferred -- having an excuse not to see the people I so don't like (tee hee).

Maybe because of work din that I wasn't able to feel the holidays? I got some assignments that got me sort of busy, but still, I was thankful naman because my work is a blessing. So I'm not really blaming that. Truth be told, my work gave the season a little more excitement because I had the funds to order what I liked. Ha ha ha ha! So yeah.. that's not the reason. 

Whatever it is, I'm glad that come the actual day of Christmas we got all that we wished for -- family was together, food was soooo damn awesome, we were all crazy laughing and happy, we got the gifts that we wanted (plus more), EVERYBODY agreed to take a lot of pictures (hay sobrang challenge with my family yan ha ha ha ha), AND that we all felt the love blessings around us.

It was really a blessed day to celebrate the coming of our Lord. So it may be different from before, but I'm not complaining. We all don't have a choice but to accept the situation these days and just make the most out of it. So party on!  As what I would always say, it's the best Christmas celebration yet! 

Many burp moments pa! He he he he he!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!

MATI'S 2021 BIRTHDAY!!!

As mothers, we are all well aware at how our children won't be babies forever -- one minute they're cute and chubby as potatoes the next second, they're long and lean like french fries.

Okay ba my metaphor and simile?? He he he he he he!

My dearest first born Mati celebrated his birthday last January and I lovingly discovered that when your son is all grown up, you would really have to listen to what he wanted. Even if his plans are not same as your own, you would have to trust him enough to say "Okay. Ikaw bahala."

So days before his birthday I asked my son "How do you like to celebrate your birthday?"

He answered "Just at home Mommy. Maybe we could invite just a few of my friends."

At first I'm like "No more gifts? No more Kimpura? No more getaways???"

Mati just shrugged and said "Whatever's fine Mom but as long as I get to go shopping in Greenhills and have a getogether with my friends. I'm good na."

One part of me was overjoyed that my big guy's wishes were so manageable with my budget. Super mura lang! Another part is "we can't have just THAT for your birthday!"

In the end, sorry I would have to contradict (a bit) what I wrote up there. Syempre, I would follow the wishes of my big guy na shopping in Greenhills and getogether with friends only. However, we just love our awesome guy so much that we feel we should give him all that we can. Of course, if we're going to make an effort, the best would be for my sons!

And as what we would do because it is our love language, we'll do it with FOOD.

Sharing with you our celebrations for our Master Mati!

(Belated) Happy Birthday my dearest big guy!

HOTEL HOPPING TO WELCOME 2022!

It may be so trivial or shallow of me to say so but I find that one of the main things I'm disappointed with the pandemic is that it put to a halt to some of our family traditions.

Yeah yeah... I know there are more deep reasons out there, but just let me miss how life was before that blasted covid.

Last year we were not able to do our yearly Hotel Hopping (a tradition that I've always done with my family as inspired by my Dad). It's funny though because you'd think it was like several hotels... Ha ha ha ha! Naaaah! Just 3! So that would really count for 2 hops, ergo, hopping. Ha ha ha!

This year though, we're happy that cases went down (but not for long...) so we were able to go out and finally do this tradition. 

We wanted my niece Cio sana to join us but she felt sick that day. We have rescheduled this many times that we thought it's best that we go that night and just have another with her (next year ha ha ha ha). Good thing my brother was able to join. We were inviting my Mom kaso she'd rather party daw with her koreanovelas. Ha ha ha ha! Hay naku!!!

Anyway, finally sharing with you our Hotel Hopping 2021 to welcome the 2022!!! Wohooo!!!!!!!!

:P

LET'S DO SOME HOPPING!!!!

OUR AWESOME YAPPY 2021 (PART THREE)

I know that I'm like a broken record already but I really can't believe we're already at the last trimester of the year.  To think that I have these memories of greeting 2021 that seemed just like yesterday. So vivid pa! Oh well. Again, as they say, time flies when you're having fun.

Yep. Even with the pandemic. We found a way to still find the blessings amidst the chaos happening around us and be thankful for all that we have.

Of course I'm sure that if you've been reading my blog, you'll know that time and time again, my greatest treasure is my family (my 3 guys and of course, the Gatdulas). Kahit san pa kami, as long as magkakasama kami, I know we're still going to have fun.

And that was SO proven this last trimester too. Ha ha ha ha ha ha! 

Anyway, I know that I haven't been a very good blogger lately. I haven't been posting even if I still collect pictures and have some draft blogs just waiting to be published. It's a happy problem really because after my job promotion (yey) I got some extra work that left limited time for blogging (eh syempre I also watch videos of BTS my labs ha ha ha ha ha). Well sorry to say but I promise to change that in the coming year. I'll be more active and post more. This is, after all, my online diary that I want to save and share all of my wonderful memories.  

So there you go. Sharing the last trimester of 2021. I know I didn't post much this year but don't let it be the determining factor that I don't value ERICJAZ FOODIES anymore. Of course, I love this forever and ever. Kumbaga, like my physical diaries, I just left it on the shelf for a while. But it's still a special shelf though ha ha ha ha ha (kung san mga panty... joke ha ha ha ha).

Thank you guysh again for reading or at least taking a look and being patient with me for the year. If I'm going to count the top ten things I'm thankful for 2021, ERICJAZ FOODIES and the 10 readers is definitely in the list. Ha h ha ha ha ha!

Borahae!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

OUR AWESOME YAPPY 2021 (PART TWO)

And just like that, we are already at the second trimester of the year. I mean, woah.... I haven't even mastered imagining 2021 in my head yet (as I would always do... ha ha ha ha) and we're nearing June already!!! 

AYSUSHNESS!!!

At the time of writing this blog, I apologize that I haven't been posting much lately. So busy with work! I'm not complaining though because I really love what I do and I feel so honored to be part of the longest running noontime show ever. Yun lang, my love for it overtook my love for this blog. BWA HA HA HA HA HA! Kidding!!!! Let's just say that my work, and BTS took most of my attention for now. He he he he! So yeah, even if I already have some ready-made posts, I haven't posted it yet. Siguro naman by now you guys know how LAZY I am. Na tipong pipindutin na nga lang ang POST button, I cannot do it pa. Ha ha ha ha! Yeah I'm that pathetic.

ANYWHO....

As much as the first trimester has blessed us with happy memories, it has also given us sorrowful ones. I know that we will never get over losing a family member. Still, we have no choice but to face the coming days, like what BTS sang, "Life Goes On" (I always cry when I hear it). I'm sure too that Karen wouldn't like us to live our lives in sadness.

I know that given the choice we could do away with many events that's happening this year. Still, I don't want to let these unwanted happenings to determine how we'll live our 2021. Let's always hope and pray for the best that "this too shall pass" and tomorrow will be a better day.

I may not always be here posting but do remember that for the few readers that I have, I love you and always thank you. 

MWAH MWAH!!!

Here's the second trimester!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  

OUR AWESOME YAPPY 2021 (PART ONE)

It's the New Year once more and amidst the pandemic that we just experienced last 2020, I am so hopeful that we'll have a better one this 2021.

Because really, anything "better" is a welcome change. I would always say "kahit nga hind super or much better, basta BETTER!" Ha ha ha ha!

For the first part of 2021, I'd say, things are looking up. I cannot go into all the specifics but I'm so thankful that some of my prayers are already being answered. And since what I'm praying for is to receive what's best for me and the family, I know that where we are now is what the Lord wants for us.

Now that's a very comforting thought right?

For this new year, I don't want to challenge it with a lame "bring it on" nor dare it to overthrow the last one.

What I plan to do is ACCEPT 2021.

I'm doing this post at the first month so I really don't know what's in store for all of us, but yeah, whatever it would give us I would still embrace it.

Like what I would always say, there's always something to be thankful for. 

So yeah, here's to the start of the New Year where we will accept it with all the knowledge and values learned from the previous one (because you gotta admit, though 2020 majorly sucked, there were still many "AHA" moments there).

In that way, I personally believe that 2021 will then be better for all of us.

Eow pozh 2021!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

ANDREI'S 14TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS

It's my baby bunsoys birthday and syempre, pandemic or not, Yub and I will do what we can to make it an unforgettable one.

Last year, we had a surprise party for him when the bunso turned 13 years old.

This year, even if turning 14 is not as grand of a milestone as when he officially became a teenager, we still wanted to give him a celebration to honor our loving and talented bunso.

Of course, there may be no staycations nor multiple dinners at our usual birthday restaurants, but still, our munting celebrations were filled as much love as we could all muster.

So HAPPIEST OF BIRTHDAYS my dearest baby bunso!!! We love you soooooooooooooooooo much!

DELICIOUS TRAYS FROM ALIMANGO HOUSE BY RED CRAB

RED CRAB has always been a long time favorite when it comes to indulging and craving for cooked crustaceans. Of course, we could always go for the cheaper option by ordering in farmers market or dampa, but still, it wouldn't be cooked like the way we have always been drooling over. 

I would also always order in RED CRAB whenever our hosts have a craving. As in we would get kilos upon kilos of their ginormous crabs smothered in garlic (their go-to dish when they're in the mood for seafood). With the current pandemic however, our live shows became limited thus RED CRAB became bye-bye. 

It was such great news however that ALIMANGO HOUSE by RED CRAB is offering their mouth-watering specialties in food trays that is perfect during this phase where we all have to stay in. They also have new items in the menu that would surely be top of mind when we have a live show again and our hosts have a craving. 

So happy were we when ALIMANGO HOUSE by RED CRAB said they'll be treating us to a delicious seafood dinner and to just say when.

Ah... eh... pwede EVERYDAY?!?!?!?!!?

Tee hee... As much I was so compelled to say THAT, the Yub and I just chose to have it on our sons' very special event.

Their first day of school! Ha ha ha ha ha!

So yeah, even if the boys were initially fretting that their vacation is really over, they brightened up at the sight of glistening fatty crabs in the best kind of oil there is. 

Me also I'm happy because not only will the love of my lives from home will be able to enjoy the deliciousness of ALIMANGO HOUSE by RED CRAB but I could also order again for work!

Yep! All sides covered. Ha ha ha ha!

Check out our sea-shelly happy meal from ALIMANGO HOUSE by RED CRAB trays and see how to order. 

 

OOH WOW! Now I'm crabby! Ha ha ha ha!