Wish upon a blog

ALL I want for Christmas...
is any or all (wish lang naman e) of the following:

1) Cuisinart Yoghurt and Sorbet Maker. I've been coveting one since Oprah and Art Smith made a raspberry sorbet on her show. I saw one last Wednesday in a quaint shop in Manila but the price was twice as much as it costs on Amazon.com!
2) Tefal, Meyer or any brand of Grill Pan--- that cast iron or coated pan with lines that simulate a grill. Perfect for steaks!
3. Beard Papa's Cream Puffs. I'm no Cream Puff lover but this one made me huff and puff for more!
4. Barbecue Grill. The one we had (Mommy's gift many years ago) retired last year. What's a backyard without a barbecue grill?
5. Sex and the City Season 6 Part 2 DVDs. Hah! Finally! amazon.com says these will be out on December 28, 2004! I can't wait! Why? 'Coz I haven't seen any of these episodes on HBO!
6. Lancome Juicy Tubes. Tested the testers many times over, adoredhow they looked & tasted each time... but I just can't get myself to fork out over a thousand bucks for lip gloss... and only to be "stolen" by the little girl who's been coveting one as well...
7. Bead and Button December 2004 Issue. Emerald Headway here I come, where they give one back issue for every magazine bought. I just hope I can get the same title!

Merry wishing! What's on your list?

shop here! 

finally! 

I escaped!

serenity at last

In between brainstorms and presentations, I managed to get away. Didn't you wish we all had this view outside our bedroom windows?

The Absentee Blogger

I'VE BEEN SOOOOOOOOOOO TIED UP. In knots!

Been doing concepts, scripts, bracelets, and NO BLOG ENTRY for the past two weeks.

I'll be back with a new post tomorrow!!!

The one that got away...

Many months ago, I was asked to write several advertorials for a client. One of them was highly praised but never saw print for being too lyrical and too romantic. I had to castrate it and 'youthify' it, and that was the one that saw print in newspapers last summer.

I still deeply mourn its lost limbs and heart... so I'm posting it in full. Indulge me...

Island Flavors: an appetite to travel, a taste of adventure

If the world were one huge pot, you’d find 7,100 islands simmering in a fragrant sea of local herbs and spices, slowly but deeply absorbing both rich and subtle flavors, each one a succulent promise of luscious meals to come.

Each region would be bubbling in its own blend of juices of homegrown leaves both fresh and sun-dried; virgin oils and vinegars extracted from native palms; milky broth from prime cuts of native chicken and beef.

Each island is a destination for the adventurous, a filling and fascinating stop in a journey called Island Flavors---a traveling cooking show on television that features local sights that are as delectable as their hometown delicacies.

Chef Gigi Angkaw and gourmand Ayet Evangelista have followed many roads and recipes to as many places. Together they have toured and tasted the offerings of Boracay, Malate, Vigan, Laoag, Dos Palmas in Palawan, Lucban in Quezon, Subic and Baguio. Each visit never fails to whet their appetite for more adventure--- more history to learn, more wonders to discover, more flavors to bring back as pasalubong to thousands of viewers every week.

Palawan, where they lingered for a month, allowed them to experience and share with us the many thrills of exploring caves and underground rivers, frolicking in lagoons and hot springs, and of course, creating new recipes inspired by their easy and breezy days.

After Palawan, Island Flavors takes us to more food trips that will excite both our spirits and our palates. On Chef Gigi’s and Gourmand Ayet’s itinerary are more destinations that will allow us to get to know our islands and our people a little better. By knowing where they are and how they live, we get to understand how different and alike we all are. And by knowing what they eat, we get to appreciate how much we can make of our wonderful resources, when combined with innate culinary talents.

Throughout each island, this popular TV show becomes our personal guide, taking our hand and dipping into cultures as rich as their clay pots brimming with local versions of adobo and ginataan, pinakbet and other dishes constantly given the local touch.

Past mountains and shores, rivers and valleys, Island Flavors bridges regional diversity by offering Filipinos a taste of adventure right in their own homes. Sweetened by Palawan honey, spiked by Bicol Express, soured with GenSan’s kinilaw, and given a bitter twist by Ilocos papaitan, these journeys are guaranteed to satisfy many families’ hunger for all things good and deeply Filipino.

Tours depart every Saturday morning at 10 on ABC 5.

mask by mom

To this day she refuses to wear the spaghetti costume I found in the net (red pants & shirt with brown pompoms as sauce and meatballs, mop as hairpiece as noodles). Every year she wants to look pretty, never pretty scary. This year we had agreed on the last-minute that she will wear the full green satin skirt she wore at the field demo in school, my black top, and her much-loved mini fuchsia feather boa as accent. We got sequins at a nearby supermarket, made a mask and in minutes, she was Masquerade Girl!

roses for papa & mommy 

Have a nice day!

This is what a computer SHOULD do!You'll love this! Click on the link below and then type in your first name...

have a nice day from carolcreates!

To Market! Market!

masskara
No, I did not go to Bacolod. I went to Market! Market! today primarily to watch the winning dance troupe of the Masskara Festival reprise their winning number. I'm no culture vulture, just doing some research for a future project.

Market!Market was WILD! We loved the Fiesta Market, where I gave my daughter a getting-to-know-your-fruits tour. Husband had breakfast (we got there before 10!) of Lucban Longganisa. As he ate he made us try the stuff on his plate (son, daughter & I ate breakfast at home), probably making people think, "Kawawa naman yung isang pamilya, pinagsasaluhan ang dalawang longganisa! 'Yun pa naman 'yung babaing nagtitinda ng Australian Steak..." he he.

Today's bounty: China apples @ P5 each, seedless grapes @ P179, red rice @ P32, more Lucban longganisa (33% cheaper than the ones sold at the church yard), 3 long stems of Easter Lily @ P10!!! (I was so happy!) plus sisig, dinuguan, palabok and fish head sinigang for lunch. We were frustrated not to have tried the famous Ineng's barbecue. I was already in line but Son was too hungry to wait. Some other day perhaps, when the place is less crowded (grabe, Taguigsters all over!)

Photography plate # 5,231?

My favorite girl

Many many years ago, I took a Photography class in college. I'd say it was one great preparation for a full time job I had much later: motherhood. Since the days my son and daughter were born, I must have taken thousands of photos. I loved it when I handled Kodak because I could get a discount on film. Now that we have a digital camera, photography has taken a whole new turn for me. No more expensive film to buy and develop! But it saddens me that Kodak is closing its film production facility in Australia because the world's demand for film has considerably gone down in the advent of digital photography.

Anyway, the shutterbug in me will keep on going. And I've found my favorite subject!

Make my day

Second issue

After three months of labor, Code Red's second quarterly issue is out. This quarter's theme is GIVING--- giving time, donating an organ, giving up a career for love, giving way in traffic, giving and growing old gracefully, and so much more.

This made my day: Last Saturday, I brought copies of the mag to my son's Father & Son Activity, where I was part of the Registration Committee. I was busy with my chores so didn't have time to man my "stand." When there was a lull in the arrival of father & son teams, I approached some Moms, told them about the mag, and sold some. When the event was about to end, I approached some Dads and succeeded in selling them copies. It was only later when I learned that one Dad approached my daughter at the stand and asked if the mag was for sale. He bought one, without any prodding! He sat on one corner and proceeded to read it. After about 10 minutes of reading, he approached me, and asked if he could also buy the first issue!!! I was so thankful I brought a back issue with me. I thanked him and he said, "I'm happy to support your advocacy!"

Whew! Mission accomplished :-)

Dreaming

haagen daz banana split

It's been a while since I had this (taken at the Haagen Daz parlor at Shang a few months ago) and I sure feel like having one now, even if it's 6 o'clock in the morning :-)

'To do' list

DONE
* Magazine proofread and sent off to press, 1
* Delivered steak since Friday, 69 kilos
* Steak orders for Wednesday, 45 kilos
* Concept presentations on Powerpoint, 2
* Glass bead bracelets, 1 and 2 halves
* Lunch date arranged, 1

UNDONE
* Event concept brief, 1
* Powepoint CDs, 2
* Glass bead bracelets, 2 halves
* Loose string of beads on left slip on, 1
* Books to be covered, 10
* Uncle's letter to his client, 1
* Unsent email, 1

another kikay phone

sweet dangler, created 3 October 2004

Of course the not-so-little girl wanted one for her phone too. So she chose her colors (pink & purple beads) and even wanted a silver heart dangler to be added as well. She initially wanted a butterfly but it didn't go quite well with the heart beads. Let's just hope it doesn't scratch the phone :-)

My kikay phone

phone dangler, created october 2, 2004

I've been wanting to glamourize my phone for the longest time. After finding the right cord and choosing the perfect beads, my Nokia is now one-of-a-kind! It also matches my watch and earrings!

Amazing Race

The search for the 10 treasures

Just before midnight, I challenged the not-so-little girl to an Amazing Race to find her birthday gift. I handed her an orange note with the words
The hunt is on for 10 treasures to make your birthday a perfect 10!!!Clue # 1: Go out of a blue door and into the night to find clue # 2, alright!!!
She jumped in excitement and opened the door to the terrace, where clue # 2 waited:
Go right back in,, sweetie.
Inside the cabinet number 1,2,3, is clue numba three!
She went straight to the cabinet to find clue # 3:
It’s blue & lumpy, d’ya know what it’s for?
It’s bag & a seat and it’s got clue number four!
She couldn't quite figure it out so I sort of led her to the bean bag to find clue #4:
Take 14 steps down, and look straight right up. . .
What you will see will make your eyes pop!
She ran down the stairs and saw clue #5 above the curtain rod.
Now go to the house’s hot spot
And dive into a big white cooking pot!
Off to the kitchen she went to open a pot on the range. Yukk!, she said as she fished out clue #6.
You’re halfway there, you lucky one,
Just look under the time to have more fun!
She immediately looked at the wall clock but as she was lifting it, a lizard came running out! She screamed and asked me to get clue #7 instead:
Now search a “Hawaiian Goose’s” bed,
underneath what cradles her head!
I had a problem with this earlier. "Hawaiian Goose" is Nene, her Yaya's name. But Yaya Nene had fallen asleep by then and her room was locked. So I had to scribble something else instead: "Now search what in the mornings is your bed, underneath what cradles your head." So she made a dash for the sofa and found clue #8 under the throw pillow:
Hooray, hooray, clue # 8 if I must say
Is where you ride when you want to play!
She headed for her bike and found clue #9:
You’ve come so close, but wazzup, wazzup, my dear
Right where you wash your face & hair?
Whew! She rushed back upstairs to her bathroom to find the final clue:
You made it, you’re a perfect 10!
Coz right behind a pink kitty, your 10 treasures are hidden!!!
She paused for a while and went to her room, found the pink Kitty pillow and screamed!
There she found 10 books, one for each of her 10 years, all tied by a huge white bow!!!

She finished the Amazing Race a few minutes before midnight. She went straight to bed, saying she will no longer wait til 12 midnight. And she slept with a smile on her face...

Perfect 10!

'no party' favors

Yesterday, my not so little girl turned 10. It being a schoolday, there was no party but I slaved for an entire day and a sleepless night working on these favors. My original plan was to put 10 pieces of chocolates in a plastic party bag (1 for each year) but I realized midway that it will consume too much chocolates and worse, too much time. So I settled with six. After all, the list that Birthday Girl prepared had 70 classmates, teachers, best friends and busmates! I finished everything (melting, molding, wrapping) a few minutes before her school bus arrived at six.

carol's choco factory 

Another creation's creation

My daughter wrote this short story as an entry to a short story writing contest in 3rd grade. It didn't win but in my heart, it did!

Butterfloat, butterflip, butterfly!

One day, a pupa was hanging on a leaf of a mango tree. Right beside it was a building. And there on that floor near where the pupa hung, was a ballet class. And each time the pupa would hear the music, it would swing back and forth, back and forth.

One morning, as Tara was practicing her dance for her ballet recital, the pupa cracked open. Slowly the butterfly stuck out its left wing. After a moment, it stuck out its right wing. And in the next few minutes, the whole butterfly was out of its pupa. But instead of flying away, it just hang on.

It watched Tara practice; and slowly tried to imitate her. When Tara stretched her arms, it tried to stretch its own wings. It tumbled and laughed. When Tara put her arms together, it also tried to put its wings together. Luckily, it worked! As Tara was practicing dancing, the butterfly was practicing flying!

Little by little, the butterfly let go of the pupa. First floated. Then flipped. And then at last, it flew! What a graceful butterfly dancing in the air!

Crossings

slash... and cross! 

I was up so many nights and mornings helping out on this girl's cross stitch project. The last time I did any cross stitch was more than five years ago when I once again attempted to finish the personalized Christmas stockings I started for her and her kuya when she was born. She turns 10 on Thursday.

Sadness

Four years ago, after a seeing yellow bells all over Subic, I decided to get one for my garden. I went to Claire's Greenhearts, and got myself not just yellow bells, but purple bells as well.

Four years later the purple bells must have grown four malnourished branches, each one measuring three feet. But the yellow bells? Oooh, they fluorished in the sunshine and in the rain, draping lazily on our front fence, creeping sneakily over our side wall, prettily guarding the huge empty lot. But the 'sneaking' was short-lived. Shortly after, a big new house rose from the barren land, now protected by a 10-foot wall. Were my yellow bells disheartened? After all, their 'growth room' was now twice as high, blocking their daily playtime with the sun. And so they climbed... higher, longer, up and over the 10-foot wall, where they finally held court, basking in the all-day sun, stretching in every direction, dozens of blooms dotting the curtain of green.

Nice as they looked, my husband felt uneasy about our one of our own trespassing in the neighbor's territory. But they look good, I protested, and they made their side of the fence look good as well. But there was a bigger, less aesthetic problem: the vines had viciously made their way up, in and around the neighbor's main power line, and would pose an electrical problem in no time. And he was right. After all, he'd seen the neighboor eyeing the yellow bells in a not-so-appreciative way a few times. And so we sent the maid to tell the neighbor's gardener to feel free to trim the traspassing vines should they really get in the way. But for many more months, the yellow bells still bloomed in full glory, their overstaying status simply ignored.

And then last Thursday morning it happened. First to go were their Japanese bamboo, their bouganvillas, and then MY precious yellow bells---all limbs that grew over the wall, 'round the post and up the dapdap tree. I ate my breakfast in deep sadness.

The next day I sent Claire a text message about the amputation of the yellow bells. She texted back a word that summed up the mood and tone of the entire experience. "Condolence."

surprise bloom! 

it's beginning to look like a garden blog... 

more blooms 

what grows in my garden 

pretty danglers 

choco lolly bouquet

i made 30 of these (with 10 tinted white chocolate lollipops each!) for my friend's daughter's 1st birthday. took me three long nights, but who cares, i really enjoyed making the lollipops and making them bloom!

My creation's creation

(My son wrote this maikling kwentong pambata for his Filipino Honors class. The excercise began with the teacher asking them to come up with a list of things or traits that their parents had difficulty in teaching them when they were young. He chose not being able to talk in a loud voice.

Well, he still speaks softly but now he can speak out loud with his pen (or keyboard) as well. This piece was chosen as class entry to the year-level competion. I'm one proud mama!)

TILAOK SA BUKANG LIWAYWAY

Isang gabi, sa isang mapayapang baryo, may isang tandang na nag-aabang ng tamang oras para sa pagsikat ng araw. Siya si Onyok Tilaok, ang nanggigising sa lahat. Nang panahon na upang bumangon at gumising ang lahat, tumilaok si Onyok nang malakas, at ito’y gumising sa lahat ng mga tao’t kapwa hayop, kasabay ng pagsilip ng sikat ng araw… “TAK-TILAOOOOOK!!!” Ngunit pagkatapos niyang gawin ito, napansin niyang parang hindi ito kasing lakas ng mga nagawa niya noong nakaraang mga araw.
Tumilaok siya muli, at muli, at muli. “Hindi naman masama ang sumubok,” inisip niya.
“Oo nga, napapaos na ang aking boses,” sabi ni Onyok. “Siguro panahon na upang magpahinga na ako. Dapat ko na ipasa ang tungkuling ito sa aking anak na si Mulong.”
Si Mulong Pabulong ay isang binatang manok na tahimik at mahiyain. Natutulog siya nang magising siya sa na tilaok ng kanyang ama. Agad siyang nag-inat at tumuka ng kanyang agahang palay.
Nagkita ang mag-amang Onyok at Mulong sa harap ng kanilang kubo. Mukhang may mahalagang sasabihin ang tatay ni Mulong, kaya’t nakinig siya nang maigi.
“Anak! Paano na iyan, namamaos na ang boses ko. Oras nang ikaw na ang humawak ng tungkuling ito,” wika ni Onyok. “Matagal na itong ginagawa ng ating pamilya, kahit ang lolo mo, ginawa rin ito.”
“A-ako po?” Tanong ni Mulong. “Hindi ko pa ho kayang gawin iyan, mahiyain po ako…mahina po ang boses ko… at saka baka po…”
Sumagot ang kanyang ama. “Kaya mo ‘yan, Mulong, huwag ka nang mahiya, ako’y naniniwala sa iyo! Ang kailangan mo lang maalala’y ang pagtilaok nang malakas sa takdang oras, at magigising na ang araw.”
Noong gabing iyon, napasang-ayon na talaga si Mulong sa tulong ng kanyang ina. Maaga siyang nagising. Madaling araw pa lang, naghanda na si Mulong sa kanilang bakuran kung saan siya hihintayin ang takdang oras upang gisingin ang araw. Nang sumapit ang tamang oras, tinangka ni Mulong tumilaok. “Tak-tilaok, ”Isang mahinang tilaok ang lumabas sa kanyang bibig. Dalawang beses pa. “Tak-tilaok… Taktilaok…” Mahina pa rin.
“Naku, paano na ito? Hindi ako narinig? Bakit ayaw sumikat ng araw?” Tanong niya sa sarili niya.
Nang biglang mula sa malayo, may narinig si Mulong na tunog ng pumapagaspas na pakpak. “May nagising naman yata ako!” wika ni Mulong, at natuwa nang kaunti. Unti-unting lumalakas ang tunog ng mga pakpak. Hindi alam ni Mulong kung saan nanggagaling iyon, basta’t palapit nang palapit ang kung ano mang iyon sa kanya.
“Ikaw!!! Ikaw nga! Sa wakas! Nagugutom na ako! Gusto ko na ng dugo!” sabi ng boses, ang nagmamay-ari ng tunog ng payagpag ng mga pakpak.
Tumalikod si Mulong at nagulat sa kanyang nakita: isang paniki, na parang may masamang balak at tingin sa kanya. “Aahhh!!! Paniki!!!” Nagulat at natakot si Mulong.
“Humanda ka! Akin kaaaaaa!” Pasugod na sigaw ng paniki.
Agad namang tumakbo si Mulong sa takot ng humahabol sa kanya. “Hu-Huwag po!!!” Sigaw ni Mulong.
“Walang makakatulong sa iyo, tulog pa ang lahat! Kahit ang araw ay tulog pa!” Ito’y sagot niya, kasabay pa ng tawang may malisya.
Kumikitid at palapit na ang dulo ng daan na tinatakbuhan ni Mulong. Bigla na lang, may naalala si Mulong doon sa sinabi ng paniki, “Kahit ang araw ay tulog pa!” Humarap si Mulong sa humahabol sa kanya, at sa halo ng kanyang katakutan at katapangan, siya’y naglakas loob na lakasan ang boses niya. “TAK-TILAOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOKKKK!!!”
Sa lakas ng tilaok niya, biglang sumilip ang unang liwanag ng araw. Gising na ito! Humuni ang mga maya, bumuka ang mga gumamela, tumunog ang mga orasan, bumusina ang nagtitinda ng pandesal. Gising na ang lahat! Mabilis ang pagliwanag ng kalangitan, pati na rin ang buong kapaligiran. Nataranta naman ang paniki, nasilaw sa araw at matuling lumipad palayo hanggang mawala ito, at hindi na nagtangkang bumalik.
Pag-uwi ni Mulong, lumapit sa kanya ang kanyang mga magulang, at binati ang pagtatagumpay ng kanilang anak sa kanyang tungkulin.
Hindi lamang natutunan ni Mulong ang halaga ng lakas ng kanyang boses, kundi’t pati na rin ang pag-tupad ng isang napakalaking tungkuling ipinagkatiwala sa kanya: ang pagtilaok para sa bukang liwayway.

Today I thought, what will I do with all the photos I took at my inaanak's pop star party? I'll surprise her mom with a CD scrapbook! I got really excited... I'm having so much fun doing this... here are some pages...

hair by mom 

pop star!