Random Chika # 6

1. Hotwheels. Nathan's always been into "broom broom." Dugong Reyes nga yata talaga. Now that he's bigger, I'd start buying him metal match boxes na. Ok pala ang Hotwheels, made in Malaysia (at
hindi sa China). Mura lang sa ang mga ito sa Walmart ($1.25) at Dollarama ($1.50). Plus tax pa syempre.

2. Goldilocks Cake. We got invited to Tito Harold's "surprise" birthday party last October 7 (Friday). There's a Goldilocks branch in Guildford Mall so we went there to get a cake.

Their cakes are not similar to what are being sold in the Philippines. Ibang-iba ang itsura, di tulad sa Red Ribbon sa US na kamukha talaga (pati ang pastries).

There weren't much choices so I ended up choosing this round choco 'something' cake. It costs $23.25 -- not cheap considering na maliit lang siya. According to the friendly staff, it's a "thaw" cake. Kailangan palipasin ng one hour bago kainin.

They asked me if I want some flower decors for the cake. I was hesitant kasi nga panlalake. But they suggested a 'blue and yellow theme' so sige. Eto ang finished product.

There were many cakes in the party but I was happy kasi yung dala namin ang ginamit for the 'blowing of the cake.' Siguro kasi personalized, saka the guests wanted to taste na rin the cake.

In fairness, masarap siya. Even Ford (who's not into sweets) liked it. Sulit na rin.

Happy birthday, Tito Harold! 

3.  Lakompake Book. This is the very first book na hahanapin/ bibilin ko sa Pinas pag-uwi ko next month. Sana may stock na by then kasi sa ngayon eh nagkakaubusan daw. Haha, tawang-tawa kasi ako talaga kay Senyora!

4. Food Trip sa Richmond Public Market. We regret buying combo meals at one of the food stalls in Richmond Public Market, hindi kasi ganun kasarap. Pero mura ha, $7.50 lang tatlong ulam na.

Pero the best talaga ang fried suid. $8.50 lang super dami na. Hay, I am craving for it now! Makabalik nga dun uli bukas.

5. Aling Mary's Kutsinta. Meron nito sa Edmonton eh, pero di ko pinapansin. Di naman kasi ako mahilig sa kutsinta. Pero dahil made in Surrey ito, sige tinikman na ng asawa ko.

Ang verdict -- hindi masarap! Sobrang artificial ng lasa, ang layo sa totoong kutsinta. I wonder kung meron ba dito talaga na me gusto nito? Oh well, siguro meron nga kasi ang tagal na nito sa market eh.

My husband tried to finish it kasi sayang, kaso di na talaga keri ng powers niya. Kaya ayan, tapon na ang tatlong piraso.

Ate June's Pasalubong

Ford's cousin, Ate June, went home in Pinas again to attend the wedding of his brother. It was a sudden vacation, we only knew that she's already in Baguio through Facebook.

Pod vibered her and asked if she could buy some mittens for Nathan. There are no baby mittens here (kung meron man, bihira o kaya kasama sa isang set ng baby clothes). One time, all of Nathan's mittens have yet to be washed so Pod had to use booties for his hands (poor Chicklet!).

Ate June brought quite a lot of pairs but too bad, hindi na masusuot ni Nathan. My cousin Jennifer told me to "free" Nathan's hands already. Mittens hinder the baby's hands' growth, her pedia said.  And so on the night of Nathan's second month (January 13), he stopped wearing mittens na.

Anyway, Ate June also brought one small pillow for the little boy. Ayos, because there are no baby pillows here.

While she was in the Philippines, I got the chance to briefly chat with her. I requested if she could bring us din some Goldilocks ensaymada and brownies. Namimiss ko talaga. Huli kong kain nito ay June last year pa, when Ford went home to Pinas for his grandmother's funeral. I asked my mother to send me some. The drawback though is that madaling ma-expire. At sa haba ba naman ng biyahe pabalik dito sa Edmonton, mga 1-2 days na lang ang itatagal.

There is also a Goldilocks brand here pero hindi masarap. Dito lang kasi gawa at hindi galing sa Philippines.

I really couldn't think of any other food na irerequest galing Pilipinas. Karamihan naman kasing gusto kong chichirya ay meron na dito. Actually ang gusto ko lang ay meat products - sisig in can at Purefoods hotdogs - kaso hindi naman puwede.

I'll try to make a list of common Filipino items na wala dito at magandang hinging pasalubong from Pinas. Sana lang magka-time ako.

Thanks for the pasalubong, Ate June! Sa uulitin! Mwah! =)