At Home With MrsC

Raising a family, making a home.

MrsC | Patricia Cuyugan

Tanzan atbp

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I haven’t been bazaar-hopping much over the past couple of months because the traffic and parking situation just drives me crazy. I miss the days when the bazaars here in the village were more of a neighborhood thing, but then there really was no stopping the whole Alabang bazaar season from growing into the huge annual event that it is now. 

So anyway, let’s rewind back to the day when I saw Bend Accessories at Cuenca. Francine was sharing her stall with another crafty mommy from the south, Sheryl Fernandez. I ended up spending a few minutes on Sheryl’s side of the booth because I was so interested in her Tanzan atbp display.

Tanzan
Tanzan atbp at the Cuenca Bazaar

 

Sheryl makes accessories like key chains, bookmarks and magnets out of bottle caps. I love that she makes each and every one by hand, and that you can request for the designs to be personalized to your liking. So Pinteresting!

She made me one, and it’s been hanging on my purse ever since I got it. I don’t know if it’s the 90’s kid in me, but I like hanging key chains on my bag zippers. Lol. Do you guys do that, too?

There's my tanzan! It's next to a reusable coffee sleeve I got from CraftAvenue
There’s my tanzan! It’s next to a reusable coffee sleeve I got from CraftAvenue

 

Cute, right? These make really nice personalized Christmas gifts. They are affordable, too, at PHP80 to PHP200 per item.

As if the Tanzan accessories aren’t cute enough, Sheryl packages them in matchboxes covered in decorative paper. So all you need to to is add a ribbon and a gift tag, and you’re all set for Christmas. Scroll back up to the first photo, and you can see the boxes in the upper right. 

Thank you, Sheryl, for my bag bling! I really love it!

For orders and inquiries, you can contact Sheryl Fernandez of Tanzan atbp at 0977-1445573 or tanzanatbp@gmail.com. You can also find Tanzan atbp on Facebook and Instagram.

Is your home typhoon-ready?

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It’s really cold and dark outside, and I can feel the wind starting to pick up in the mountains of Alabang. Looks like it’s gonna rain soon, and just like everyone else I am hoping that this storm won’t be as bad as the major ones we’ve endured over the past couple of years.

We’ve started charging all of our electronics, and yesterday was spent stocking the fridge and pantry with essentials. The kiddo is home, and I am thankful that our city mayor had the foresight to call off classes a day ahead, given the expected weather conditions today. 

 

They say on the news that the storm is weakening, thank goodness. Of course, regardless of how hard this one (or the next typhoon, for that matter) is supposed to hit, it’s always best to be prepared.  With a little help from my mommy friends, I wrote a short checklist of things you should make sure to have and do on rainy days. This was published on The Asian Parent Philippines a few months ago after the Typhoon Glenda, the storm that left our house without power and water for nearly a week, and looking like Jumanji. Click on the photo to go to the post!

Is your home typhoon-ready?
Is your home typhoon-ready?

 

And since most of us moms have our hands full today with the kids at home, here are some ideas of what you can prepare for lunch and dinner to make life simpler. These soups and stews are all mom-made and kid-approved. For sure, they can help keep your families warm on this dark and stormy day. Click on the photo below to see the article.

Rainy day recipes from Filipino moms
Rainy day recipes from Filipino moms

 

In case of emergencies, here are some important hotline numbers to remember.

Emergency hotlines
Emergency hotlines

 

Here’s hoping that we all stay safe and dry today. 

Endless Pizza Cravings #SundaySeven

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I always crave for pizza. Always. I think I can eat pizza every day and not get tired of it. Am I the only one like this???

We had pizza for dinner last night, and I’m a little embarrassed to say that I have pizza on my mind again tonight. This can’t be good, though I know it would taste good. Argh.

I know we won’t be having pizza this evening, so I figured I’d write about it instead. Today’s #SundaySeven features my favorite pizza flavors. Yummers.

Pizza Picks
MrsC’s Pizza Picks #SundaySeven

  

1. Chicago White deep dish pizza from Sbarro

Photo from Sbarro.ph

For someone who isn’t super fond of white sauce or pineapple, I’m a little surprised at how much I love Sbarro’s Chicago White deep dish pizza. It has mozzarella, pepperoni, ham, ricotta, pineapple, and I order extra tomato sauce on the side for dipping. So, so, so good.

 

2. #4 Cheese from Yellow Cab

 

#4Cheese #YellowCab

A photo posted by MrsC | Patricia Cuyugan (@mrspcuyugan) on

Cheese is one of my favorite things in the world, so a pizza with four different cheeses is a win. I like Yellow Cab’s #4 Cheese coz you can taste different cheese tastes with each bite. I especially love that there’s feta in the mix.        

 

3. Combo pizza from S&R

 

Because it’s buy 1 get 50% off on the 2nd pie AT S&R! #Pizza A photo posted by MrsC | Patricia Cuyugan (@mrspcuyugan) on

S&R pizza, more than anything, is really sulit. The pies are really big, with lots of toppings and a yummy chewy crust. I think it might be the most value for money pizza on my list. Flavors are limited though, with just Pepperoni, Cheese, Garlic and Shrimp,  and Combo (meat and veggies). There are seasonal flavors, too, like NY Deli (all meat) and Tuna during holy week.

 

4. Hawaiian thin crust pizza from Mama Lou’s

 

Earlier today. #Lunch #MamaLous #Pizza

A photo posted by MrsC | Patricia Cuyugan (@mrspcuyugan) on

I’m not a fan of crispy thin crust pizza, and I like Mama Lou’s coz theirs is soft. I also love that they serve their pizzas with alfalfa sprouts. Really yummy. I like their Hawaiian pizza best, which is weird coz they have all of these yummy flavors on the menu. I dunno, this just feels like true comfort food to me.    

 

5. Original BBQ Chicken Pizza from CPK

 

#Pizza for one. #Lunch #CPK #CaliforniaPizzaKitchen A photo posted by MrsC | Patricia Cuyugan (@mrspcuyugan) on

I love CPK’s Original BBQ Chicken Pizza so much that I ordered it on a lunch date with myself. And I ate the whole thing on my own. It was just a personal sized pizza or course. But to be honest, I think I could probably finish a big one. Probably.

 

6. #6 from Project Pie

Project Pie! Must go back soon.

Barbecue chicken PLUS bleu cheese. Hello, happiness! There are no words to describe how happy Project Pie’s #6 pizza makes me. And I didn’t even order it myself the first time I tried it. I hijacked someone else’s order. Lol.

 

7. Margherita Pot Pie from TUS

Filled with fresh tomatoes, olive oil, basil and cheese
Filled with fresh tomatoes, olive oil, basil and cheese 

I first tried TUS during a brunch date with my ABC Loves, and I was instantly hooked. While my sister and a vast majority would go back again and again for the half-baked cookie, I choose the Margherita Pot Pie as my reason for returning. I know it isn’t really a pizza, but it has to be on this list because it is just so good. I love the Chicken Ranch Pot Pie, too, but I don’t think I can get away with counting that as a pizza.

 

Special Mention: Double Pepperoni Pizza from Xtremely Xpresso

I miss you, Xtremely Xpresso!

Honestly, Xtremely Xpresso’s Double Pepperoni Pizza is #1 on my list. It’s just that I have to go all the way to Clark or Subic to have it, so I try not to think about it so much. But really, you must visit this little cafe in Subic (or SM Clark, or Marquee Mall Angeles, but the Subic branch is the best one) and order pizza. You won’t regret it. I once ate a whole one all by myself. Not all at once, though. But okay, in only 2 days. Burp!

 

What’s your pizza of choice?

Pampered at Piandre

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I chose to get my hair cut at Piandre because they open early. True story.

Monday night, I asked my mom which among the many salons in Alabang open the earliest. She told me that Piandre accepts appointments as early as 7AM. Ayun na, we had a winner. Because it was exam week at school, I only had a small window of time in the morning to get my hair done. That’s why I needed to book before 10am, which is the time that most salons (particularly the mall-based ones) in the area open. 

That same night, I visited Piandre’s website, and was pleasantly surprised to see that I could book my appointment online. I requested for an 8:30AM hair cut at the South Supermarket Alabang branch. Within an hour, I received a text message confirming my appointment, and informing me who my stylist would be. I lovette!

Super appreciate how easy it is to book an appointment at Piandre
Super appreciate how easy it is to book an appointment at Piandre

 

Tuesday morning went as Tuesday mornings usually go, with brekfast and baon preps and sending the boys off for the day. I had a few minutes to have coffee and breakfast at home while reading our book club‘s August BOM (so delayed!). Super sarap to have mornings like that. So relaxing.

It took all of 10 minutes for me to get to Piandre and park. The nice thing about booking an early appointment is there aren’t that many people at South yet, and there’s so much parking available. Then, after you’re done getting pampered, you can make a quick grocery run, which is what I did because we were all out of coffee.

As if I wasn’t already in a great mood, I walked into Piandre and there were Christmas songs playing, and a nice lighted tree in the middle of the room. I confirmed my appointment at the counter, got the WiFi password (yay for free WiFi) and settled into my seat. Then, they brought me coffee and cookies! Happy MrsC talaga. 

 

Any place that gives me coffee while I wait gets an automatic +1. #Piandre #MeTime

A photo posted by MrsC | Patricia Cuyugan (@mrspcuyugan) on

 

The rest, as you can see from my Instagram feed, is hair cut history. It’s day 4 of my short haired-ness, and I am happy that my cute, round bob really is wash and wear as stylist Erwin promised. For the price of PHP 640 (plus tips), I’d say my session at Piandre was worth it. I’d definitely choose Piandre again because:

  • It’s quiet. I really don’t like parlors with chatty staff. It doesn’t matter if they’re chatting with me or among themselves, I jut don’t like having to hear the latest chismis while I’m trying to relax.
  • Their ambient music is really pleasant. Sure, they were playing Christmas carols, but they were the nice ones. None of the disco dance-y, commercial jingle-like holiday tunes you hear at some parlors (or radio stations, for that matter).
  • They give you coffee while you wait. Or iced tea, if that’s what you prefer. I cannot stress enough how happy this makes me.
  • The stylist asks first before doing anything. In my case, Erwin asked if it would be okay to use a clipper on the really short parts of my hair. I appreciate him clearing this with me first because it gave me the chance to say that he could only clip up to this part, blah blah blah. Other stylists would have just gone ahead and shaved off the excessive baby hair on the back of my neck (yes, it has happened before!), which super sucks.
  • The aircon is cold enough without being too cold. Yes, this matters when you have to sit in the same spot for an hour or so.
  • The staff are all smiles. Yes, I notice when people look happy doing what they do.
  • The price is reasonable and they do good work. Believe me, my hair is so easy to maintain. Otherwise, you’d see me complain already on Facebook or Twitter.
  • Booking is quick and easy, which is important for people like me who are forgetful and lazy, and often don’t get to book until the very last minute. 
 

Exam week OVER! Yay! #Weekend

A photo posted by MrsC | Patricia Cuyugan (@mrspcuyugan) on


So there you go. Have you guys ever tried the services at Piandre? I’d love to know what else they do well, so I can plan (and start saving for) my next visit.

Bingo Baon Boxes

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Preparing baon or packed lunches for your family can be extremely fulfilling, but at some point, it also gets a bit frustrating. It’s not always easy to come up with inventive ideas and ways to make the same food items more presentable, especially when you see the wonders that others have made with their bento boxes.

Sometimes the inspiration for these designs are hard to come by, and when you do get a brilliant idea, it’s not as easy to execute as you would hope. If you’re strapped for ideas for your next bento lunch, you could try to emulate one of the most classic games in the world to date: bingo. Bingo was popular in the 1950s, where there were thousands of bingo halls across the globe. Today, the BBC reports that many of these bingo halls have migrated online, with Free Bingo Hunter being able to catalogue hundreds of different online bingo portals that have been launched in the UK alone. The popularity of bingo has made it so its symbols have become recognizable icons no matter where in the world you may be.

Fun, festive bento boxes are great baon ideas for kids

It’s not hard to make a bingo bento box either. Just remember that there are three key elements to a bingo game: the bingo balls, the cards, and the markers. Try to find items that match the shapes and characteristics of these items and you’ll have a great bingo bento box. Here are some ideas:

The Card
For the card, you can build on a lump of cooked rice molded into a square. Arrange strips of nori, carrots, or cucumbers to create the grid of the card. You can use different vegetables to make the lunch box more appealing!

The Balls
As for the balls, you can go the easy way with meatballs, or build on the idea of a Tic-Tac-Toe bento box and create little cups of mixed vegetables, pasta, mashed potatoes and even sliced fruit and veggies!

The Markers
Bingo chips are probably the simplest. You can make them from sliced pieces of fruit like grapes or berries! Or you could use little Iced Gem biscuits, which are the perfect size for markers!

Embracing Change, One Hair Cut at a Time

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Well, well, well, look who finally logged on to WordPress.

What’s up you guys? It’s exam week again for Little MrC and I (yes, I feel it, too) so I am without my usual long and leisurely working hour over the next few days. I also barely have time to get breakfast down in the mornings, let alone work. Blame it on these 3-hour school days.

So anyway, I figured it’d be a good time to blog. 

I’ve been moody and slightly emotional as of late, largely due to hormones but also because the year is coming to a close. Ang bilis. One more year done.

As with the years that cam before it, 2014 has been filled with change, both good and bad, big and small. In these first three days of December alone, things have been significantly different.

This is officially the first blog post written at my new work space
This is officially the first blog post written at my new work space

 

December 1 was the first post-garage sale day, and I am still somewhat feeling the loss of all the stuff I had held on to for so many years. I finally let go, eyes closed, without looking back, and I think I’m still in shock. It’s nice that I’ve been able to clear space for a proper work area, though. Writing here has been good so far. So that’s a double yay.

On the subject of shock, I still feel disoriented at my new short hair. I keep reaching back as if to gather my hair into a ponytail. Of course, there is no more hair left to tie, and I end up just grabbing air.

So yeah, I woke up today and my hair's still short lol
So yeah, I woke up today and my hair’s still short lol

 

This time yesterday I had very long, mermaid-like hair, which I finally decided to go ahead and just cut. I had been saving it to donate for cancer in memory of a friend I recently lost (another change, a sad one). Now it’s in a ziploc bag waiting to be shipped out to Cuts for Cancer / Donate Your Hair Today.

This morning there was no milk in the fridge, and so I have been drinking my coffee black. So that’s gonna be today’s small but significant change. This is supposed to have zero calories right? Meaning if I keep doing this from now on I can have all the coffee I want and it won’t make me fat(ter). Sounds like a good idea already.

I’m not a fan of change. It makes me anxious and emotional. But it’s a constant part of life that I know I need to learn to deal with. So far, so good since Monday. I may even be looking forward to seeing more changes over the next days and months. Let’s see, let’s see.

So what’s been up with you guys lately? Any new changes in your lives?