MrsC | Patricia Cuyugan

The Food Coma That Was This Weekend

November 20, 2011 by MrsC | Patricia Cuyugan 2 Comments

I’m supposed to be on a diet, but it’s really hard to do that when the de Castro family is celebrating. Birthdays in our family have always been treated as week-long occasions, a cause for prolonged partying, wating, drinking and all-out merriment. This weekend, we celebrated 3 birthdays and a death anniversary in true de Castro fashion – with great food and family.

Friday Night – Dinner in Sanlo
November is a big month for my dad’s side of the family. He and his three siblings celebrate their birthdays this month, and we also get together for my grandfather’s death anniversary. Each year at around this time, we have dinner in my grandparents’ house in Makati. For this year’s potluck, we had a huge spread consisting of a tossed salad, a nice turkey with bread and apple stuffing and cranberry jelly, meat and cheese lasagna, vegetarian lasagna, chicken and garlic sotanghon, and a mango pavlova for dessert. The food was lovingly prepared by my mom, Tita Nini and Tita Chiqui. I was actually pretty tired that night and didn’t really move much, so I was pleasantly surprised to discover that Mr C took photos of the all the food. I think I’m starting to rub off on him.

Saturday Night – Dad’s Birthday Dinner at Dampa

My friends Gina and Salie from Frontrunner Productions always make sure that I didn’t go hungry when I do events with them. Last Saturday, I did the script and live continuity for my a project with them at Cuneta Astrodome. I was treated to styro packed prod meals prepared by Salie’s mom. Styro meals bring back memories of fun times with good friends from the events agency I used to work for, and so I enjoyed my lunch and meryenda oh so much. To think I wasn’t all that hungry since Mr C and I had a drive thru Mc Donald’s breakfast meal on our way to the event. After the show, we grabbed some coffee at Starbucks on our way home. I was actually pretty stuffed from all the eating, but then dad announced that he wanted to have dinner at Dampa for his birthday. And who can say no to chili garlic shrimp?

Sunday Morning – Breakfast with the Boys at Starbucks

I was hoping to visit Soderno this morning, but since schedules were a bit tight, I’m gonna have to postpone that visit for another day. Instead, because I was so excited to get my 2012 planner already, I treated the boys to a late breakfast at Starbucks Madrigal. Got to eat my fave sandwiches, have yummy Christmas coffee, and take home my new planner. Totally a great start to my Sunday! I thought today would be the start of my detox but I was completely wrong. After our big breakfast, we had leftover lasagna and homemade lemon merengue pie for lunch, then Chicboy takeout and chocolate cake for dinner.

Starbs Madrigal – still my fave branch in Alabang

I ordered the Spam classic, egg and cheese on cornmeal bread

The kiddo had a Belgian waffle with strawberry syrup

Toffee Nut Latte for me, Double Espresso for Mr C

Mr C’s choice was the Spinach and Artichoke, Mushroom and Mozzarella on Rye

It’s been a fun, calorie-filled weekend. Diet and detox starts tomorrow for real. Tomorrow marks the start of my 12-month membership at Gold’s Gym and the first day of my Zumba Fitness class. Gotta get ready for the calorie fest that Christmas is certain to be.

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Aling Tonya’s

Seaside, Daang Hari Road
Brgy Almanza Uno, Las Pinas
(02) 846-9699

Starbucks Madrigal

Molito Commercial Complex, Madrigal Ave,
Ayala Alabang, Muntinlupa
(02) 772-3533

Happy Birthday Daddy

November 19, 2011 by MrsC | Patricia Cuyugan Leave a Comment

If there’s one valuable life lesson I learned from my dad that I don’t think I will ever forget, it’s that your parents will take care of you while you grow up, and in turn you must care for your parents until they grow old.

Forever Daddy’s Firstborn Girl
At my wedding, 09.10.11

Happy 55th birthday to the best Daddy in the world. You always make sure that we have everything we need, and in return you only ask for all the love in the world. Don’t worry, you will never run out. Love you forever Dada!

And This Is Why I Don’t Like Guns

November 18, 2011 by MrsC | Patricia Cuyugan Leave a Comment

My mom picked me up from work yesterday. On our way home from the mall, she told me about how our next door neighbor had recently died. I honestly don’t remember him because he and his family moved abroad a few years ago, when I was too young to really care about the people in my neighborhood. I remember he had a bulldog named Sammy who liked to lie down on our driveway whenever his yaya would take him out for walks. His name was Desi, but I don’t have a face to tie the name to. Thinking about it now, it’s probably a good thing I don’t remember what he looks like. At least I won’t imagine seeing him walking down the street at dawn or anything like that.

According to my mom, he died of a freak accident a few weeks ago. Apparently this man carried a gun around, and I am assuming based on the story that he took that gun with him wherever he went. He apparently came from a childrens’ party with his family, and had his wife and kids in the car. He dropped off his wife at the grocery store, and sat in the driver’s seat waiting, with the children in the backseat. In true freak accident fashion, the gun holstered to his waist went off and the bullet struck some arterial vein near his thigh. The story gets all fuzzy from there. I really don’t know if he bled out or if he died instantly, and what happened to the children afterwards. One thing’s for sure, I bet they were scared, and it’s certain to have been an extremely traumatic experience for them. My mom says the kids are young, the eldest being only about 10-years old.

This story alone should be enough to discourage people from carrying guns. Seriously, who would take a gun to a children’s party? What for? And I honestly don’t get how anyone could be comfortable holding on to a gun around their own children. Many feel safer when they have that piece of metal on them, believing that it can protect them against nasty people. But what they fail to see is that sometimes the tables turn and that so-called protective weapon can prove to be your worst enemy.

To my next door neighbor, may you rest in peace. I sincerely hope the family you left behind is doing ok, wherever they may be.

Buttons, Sewing Not Pushing.

November 17, 2011 by MrsC | Patricia Cuyugan Leave a Comment

Mr C’s uniform has these raised single hole buttons, typically found in barong-type office uniforms. Thing is these buttons keep popping off, which means I need to keep sewing them back on. I’m not complaining, don’t get me wrong. I’m just trying to figure out why this keeps happening.

At first I thought it might have been because the original stitching wasn’t strong enough. Then recently, I noticed that I’m re-sewing buttons I had already sewn back on. In fact, some of the original buttons already got lost somewhere between Makati and Alabang, and fortunately we found almost identical replacements at our friendly neighborhood sewing needs shop. Now the thing is, I’d at least like to think that my sewing skills are slightly above average, and I use good quality thread. So why are these buttons still popping off?

Maybe it’s because we machine wash the uniforms, and since the buttons are raised, the stitching gets a massive beating from the spinning? It could be the way Mr C removes his uniform, tugging on the buttons. Or maybe the buttons get caught on the edge of his desk or on his ID lanyard, and he yanks on his shirt to pull it loose? I honestly don’t think I have the answer. Maybe someone out there good shed some light on how I can make the stitching stronger so I don’t have to sew buttons back on as often?

Please help. I’m starting to see buttons in my sleep.

Covered buttons from Craftin’ Cafe as seen at the Zonta Muntinlupa Bazaar

Go For The Gold(‘s Gym)

November 16, 2011 by MrsC | Patricia Cuyugan 2 Comments

My six month membership at Slimmers World Alabang ended a few days ago, and I honestly don’t think I’ll be renewing. Ever. It’s not that I have anything against the center, I just didnt enjoy my time there. It was cramped, crowded, and limited in terms of equipment and classes.

Since my mother in law speaks so fondly of Zumba, I decided to find out where I could take classes too. Lo and behold, Gold’s Alabang offers them, and the schedule suits my daily routine perfectly. The best part about Gold’s is it’s near the house, and I enjoyed being a member there when I was still with Smart. Too bad my schedule back then was not so friendly, and I didn’t really get to maximize the amazingly low corporate rate we used to get.

Anyhow, today I was offered a promo rate that was actually too good to resist. I start on Monday. Wish me luck!

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Proud Pre-shooler’s Mama

November 15, 2011 by MrsC | Patricia Cuyugan 1 Comment

Proud pre-shooler’s mama.That would be me. Nothing makes me happier than the fact that my five-year old is doing well in class and enjoying school. I’m so proud of him for being well-rounded, friendly, quick to learn and eager to participate.

Homework has become a daily family activity, and MrC and I enjoy looking through the seatworks, projects, activity sheets and exam papers that the teachers send us. Yesterday’s batch of accomplished school works included this:

I love how he tried to spell out the words, writing them out based on how the strewn together letters sound to him. We made sure to let him know that we are proud of his effort, and that he should always keep trying because that is the best way to learn.

I’m so proud of my kiddo, and I’m glad we decided to really invest in his schooling. I always tell soon to be parents, and soon to be parents of preschoolers that this is one thing they should really consider spending on. Education should be a priority, and I’m happy that we made it one of ours.