I bought chocolates in the US

People think na katulad ng America, chocolate-heaven din ang Canada. I beg to disagree. In my almost 5 years of living here, feeling ko nga na-deprive ako ng chocolates na gusto ko. Ang konti ng variety sa totoo lang. Sabi ko nga bakit parang mas marami pang tinda sa Pinas?

To compare, ito ang chocolates aisle sa Walmart USA. Pasensya na kung medyo nakakahilo ang kuha ko.

Ito naman ang sa Walmart Canada.

Sobrang konti lang noh? Actually mas may variety sa Superstore (a Canadian grocery store dito na direct competition ng Walmart) pero no match pa rin sa mga chocolates sa US.

Sa totoo lang, napakasimple lang naman ng taste ko sa chocolates. Very basic lang, ayaw ko ng mga gourmet-type kasi tingnan ko pa lang eh natatamisan ako. Tatlo lang ang favorite ko talagang "imported" chocolates sa mundo, pero would you believe na wala sila sa Canada?

I truly find it weird na wala nitong Hershey's Milk Chocolate dito. Ang meron lang ay ung creamy milk chocolates with almonds.

Itong Kisses Milk Chocolate with Almonds ang super tagal ko ng kine-crave kaya I was so happy nang makakita ako ng malalaking packs. Walang ganung kalalaking packs sa dito eh.  Minsan pala may sumusulpot nyan dito sa Canada (last Christmas nakabili ako) pero on an ordinary day, wala talaga sa grocery shelves.

Ito pa! Made in USA lang naman ito pero bakit hindi pa nakaabot sa Canada? Dati nakakabili pa ako nito sa Dollar Tree eh, pero matagal ng wala. Minsan nakakita rin ako nito sa Daiso pero $3+ ang isa (small bar lang yun ha) kaya dedma na lang.

Aside from chocolates, itong Ruffles Cheddar and Sour Cream ang isa pang nabigo akong makita sa Canada. Favorite ko kasi ito.  Grabe, sa SM Hypermarket ay pakalat-kalat lang ito.

Oh well, blessing in disguise na rin siguro na wala nung mga gusto kong chocolates dito kasi nga haler... diabetic! Saka pasalamat na rin na we live near the border, we can cross anytime. Kapag nakalipat na kami sa bagong bahay namin, we'd probably do grocery shopping in Walmart and Target every month, para maiba naman sa panlasa namin.

Christmas Eve 2017

My aunt invited us to spend the Christmas eve with them but I graciously declined. I told her Nathan won't make it till 12 midnight because he's been sleeping quite early lately. While it is half true, the real reason is that I really just wanted to stay at home for noche buena. We may not have the best Christmas decors nor the most delicious food this year but I want to be comfortable with my two boys. Ok na yun.

December 24, 2017. After having lunch with friends, we spent the rest of the afternoon at Metrotown Mall killing time. We shopped a bit and left at around 3:30pm to pick up the cake that I ordered at 4pm. We went home after that and tried to make Nathan nap so he will be awake later that night. But he couldn't sleep. Ford got a call from Grandt Kitchen (a Filipino restaurant here in Surrey) and was requested to pick up the food that we ordered earlier than 6:45pm, so he did.

At around 6:15pm, he's back and complained that he's hungry. So instead of waiting for 10pm or 12mn (my original eating time plan), we had early dinner na. Mabuti na rin para bumaba na ang sugar level namin later that night at nang makakain uli.

Ang hirap mag-isip nang ihahanda for a party of three, lalo na kapag hindi pa kumakain yung isa at diabetic yung dalawa. We just ordered food sa Pinoy resto because it's practical and economical.

Our handa -- pancit canton, beef caldereta, pork sisig, and pork barbeque.

We ate in front of the TV watching news. Our plan was to watch all night.

As expected, the little boy only ate apples. I was hoping that he'll eat pancit kaso ni ayaw tikman. I'll do a review of our food on my next post.

Then at around 8pm I brought out our ultimate holiday cheat foods na. Big time cheating talaga ang plan lol.

We ordered this cake from a Filipina home-based baker. Si Jesus pa ba ang mawawalan ng birthday cake?

Nathan joyfully delivered a birthday song for Jesus.

Family groufie after.

And the little boy couldn't wait to open his gifts! Ang alam nya kasi pagkatapos magblow ng candle ng cake ay gift-opening na haha!

I am thankful that we bought several gifts for him. Enjoy na enjoy siyang magbukas.

Here are his three major gift requests -- "animals,"hugas-hugas," and "toilet." Paniwalang-paniwala talaga siya kay Santa (I don't remember believing in Santa when I was growing up. Siguro kasi poor lang kami noon haha!).

Ford and I also opened our gifts from Juris and Tess. Haha, we didn't have gifts for each other kasi nga wala naman kaming separate money/bank account. Basta I buy whatever I want and tell him gift na niya yun sakin lol.

A little past 9pm, we started watching Seven Sundays na. We rented the movie @TFC.TV for $7.99. Medyo pricey pero ayos na rin kasi I've always wanted to watch this film.

Carbs overload!

Pero mukhang mas nag-enjoy ang asawa ko sa palabas haha. Plus he kept on saying "Ang gwapo talaga ni Dingdong" kaloka!

I think we'll do this na every Christmas eve, watch Filipino-themed movies. Sana lang palaging meron.

Halfway through the movie, nakatulog na ang bagets (not that he was watching lol). Sabi na nga ba eh, hindi nga kasi nag-nap nung hapon.

Pack-up na kami around 11:30pm. I had my red day din that night kaya I wasn't feeling well. It was the husband who washed the dishes, salamat naman.

My major wish that night was for us to have our own place na (be it a condo or a townhouse) by next Christmas para mas bongga naman ang celebration. Pero kahit simple lang ang naging noche buena namin, I was happy and contented kasi kasama ko ang asawa at anak ko. Iyon naman ang pinakaimportante.

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By the way, I am glad that that morning, I was able to talk to my Mamoosh and Tita Oya via Facetime. How I wish na magkakasama kami on Christmas kaso hindi naman palaging posible. Buti na lang talaga may internet. =)

Trick-or-Treat 2017 Loots

Wanna see the result of my son's hard work and perseverance?

Here's a closer view.

Haha, my bestfriend Raxie commented na she remembered TanTan's 3 candies last Halloween 2015. Ang laking improvement daw lol!

To be honest, hindi naman namin kinarir ang trick-or-treating because of the candies. I am diabetic (also my husband) and Nathan doesn't eat chocolates. At kung tutuusin ang dali-daling bumili ng sandamukal na candies sa Walmart at Costco noh. Pero it was super fun lang talaga, ewan ko ba. Saka nakita naming nag-enjoy ang mga bata, ayaw nga nilang tumigil eh.

After our pictorial, Nathan wasn't even tempted to taste the sweets in front of him. Itong Hotwheels lang talaga (na binigay ng isang grupo ng riders) ang trip niya.

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So what to do with all the candies and chocolates? We'll bring them to Pinas this January. For sure marami kaming taong mapapasaya hehe (particularly our employees and their kids). Dadagdagan ko na lang. =)

Trick-or-Treat 2017 (2) -- Murrayville, Langley

It was already dark when we reached Juris' place in Langley at around 6pm. Maaga na kasing dumilim. I called Juris and told her we were outside already. I asked Ford to go to Costco to buy some chicken wings for our dinner later. Nag-order na raw kasi si Juris ng pizza.

Princess Zoey was ready. It was her first time to trick-or-treat, she was sick daw last year eh.

Juris' husband was about to leave na. He's going back to the mining camp where he works (one week duty, one week off). So before he left, kami muna nina Juris an Zoey ang nag-ikot sa neighborhood.

The advantage of trick-or-treating on townhouses is that you can go to one house to another very quickly. Tabi-tabi lang eh. At first, Juris thought that only homes with pumpkin/Halloween decors are giving out treats (first time niya ring magtrick-or-treat). I told her na ang alam ko basta bukas ang porch light kahit walang decor. So ganun nga pala yun. First time ko rin magbahay-bahay eh lol.

I could feel the enthusiasm of homeowners whenever trick-or-treaters buzz their bell. Lahat sila very welcoming. Sabagay, kung hindi mo naman talaga feel, magsara ka na lang ng ilaw di ba?

Enjoy na enjoy sina Zoey and Nathan. Tuwang-tuwa sila pag nadadagdagan ang candies sa basket nila. We had to bring additional bags pa pala kasi hindi kasya sa baskets nila ang treats na nakukuha nila.

One thing we learned that night -- some people who won't be home during Halloween leave their treats in their door/porch pala. Nakakatuwa at nakaka-touch. 

At mas nakakatuwa ang mga trick-or-treaters kasi they are not abusive. Talagang paisa-isa lang ang kinukuha para meron pa yung iba. Honestly, kung sa Pinas yan, na-hoard na ng mga nauna. Baka pati lalagyan kinuha na.

It was dark and not so many kids were trick-or-treating but we felt safe. 

When Juris' husband finally left, ayan kasama na namin si Jack (who is 1-year-4-months old). The more, the merrier! If only Tess (our other friend) wasn't in Pinas that time, syempre kasama rin namin sila ni Baby Marco.

It's interesting to know na talagang kinakarir ng ibang tao ang Halloween decorations. If only I have a house, kakaririn ko rin (fan din ako ng Halloween eh). Sayang ang dami kong hindi nakuhanan ng pictures.

Nathan was so tireless that night! He walked and walked without complaining (kahit naka-stroller na si Zoey with Jack). He kept on shouting "Happy Halloween!" Haha! Hilly pa naman yung lugar, akyat-baba kami sa mga houses at sa kalsada.

It was getting colder as night went on so I asked him he wants to wear a jacket like Zoey. He answered: "No... Captain America!" Kaloka, feel na feel talaga ang outfit niya. I was really so worried kasi ang nipis lang nun pero mukhang di naman siya nilalamig. Galaw naman kasi ng galaw.

Hindi lang ang mga bata ang nag-enjoy, mas lalo na siguro kami ni Juris lol! Never namin na-experience ito before so we were like kids din haha.

By the way, Ford was in Costco the whole time. Itext ko na lang daw sya kapag matatapos na kami. Sayang, di niya nakita kung gaano kasigasig ang anak niyang mangalap ng candies!

When were done with the towhomes, nagawi na rin kami sa mga big single detached houses. Dahil ginto ang bahay dito sa Metro Vancouver, expected na na "mayayaman" ang mga nakatira doon (unless matagal na nilang nabili ang bahay). As expected most of them have bigger bars of chocolates.

We finished at around 8:30pm. Whew, 2 1/2 hours kaming nagbahay-bahay! My son never complained that he's tired, talagang game na game pa siya. Tumigil na lang kami kasi kami na lang yata ang nasa kalsada saka naubos na namin ang mga bahay.

Pero yun na, pabalik sa house nina Juris, nagpakarga na si Nathan! Shaiks, ang bigat pa naman ng bags of treats na dala ko. I called Ford and asked him to pick us up. Sinakay niya sina Nathan and Zoey tapos naglakad na lang kami ni Juris (with Jack na nasa stroller) pabalik sa house nina Juris.

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Naramdaman ko lang ang gutom at uhaw nung nasa place na kami nina Juris.

I just ate a slice of pizza though (carbs!)...

But lots of chicken wings. Haha, nanginginig na kasi ako sa gutom talaga.

The little boy was still full of energy. Buti na lang nakapag-power nap siya sa kotse on our way to Langley from Guildford Town Centre. He just asked for McDonald's french fries and orange juice before we went home.

I bought this Halloween board at Daiso for $2 pero di na gaanong namaximize.We were all tired na kasi to get nice shots. Ang gulo rin ni Nathan at ayaw magpapicture.

It was indeed an uber fun night! Juris and I vowed to start on an earlier time next year. Teka, saan na nga kaya kami nakatira noon? Baka sa Langley na rin?

But inasmuch as we want to receive, ok din ang feeling ng nagbibigay (I remember, my first experience of giving treats was in 2014).  If ever may new house na kami by next year, I'll make sure na mag-iiwan din ako ng candies sa labas (unless sa condo kami mapadpad syempre).

Chocolate Cravings

It's almost 3am and I am craving for these chocolates.

For the reason I really do not know, walang ganitong Hershey's Milk Chocolate dito sa Canada. Or I maybe wrong, baka di ko lang nakikita. But I swear, since 2013 eh naghahanap na ako nito kasi paborito ko talaga ito. Weird, kasi made in USA naman ito. Hmmm, makahanap nga nito sa Seattle area pag nag-crossborder kami.

Isa pa itong Crunch na ito. Bakit ba wala? Dati meron sa Dollar Tree at Superstore (yung bite size) pero lately wala talaga. Sa Daiso (in Richmond) nakakita ako pero $3.25 (plus 5% tax) naman, kaloka! Sobrang mahal naman.

Ayoko ng fancy chocolates like Lindt or yung may kung ano-anong flavor. Simple chocolates (i.e. chocolates of my youth) lang ang gusto ko pero wala pa dito. Nakakalungkot naman.

People in Pinas may think na bumabaha ng chocolates dito sa Canada kaya talagang nage-expect sila. Pero in my experience, hindi naman din ganun karami ang variety ng chocolates na binebenta sa mga big supermarkets like Walmart or Superstore. At hindi rin mura ha (unless i-sale). Parang mas ok pang bumili sa Duty Free sa Pilipinas kesa dito eh, kasi madaming choices dun.

Our Halloween 2014

Not an exciting Halloween, I am telling you now lol!

As I have mentioned in this post, Halloween excites me. But that excitement was cut short because I am pregnant and due to give birth this November. Hence, I don't have the energy and the funds to go all the way this year.

But not to let the spirit of Halloween down, I put up a tiny spot by our console table to 'celebrate' this event.

I realized though that I only had kawaii decors and not the freaky ones haha!

And mind you, they are cheap!

• Dancing/Singing Mummy -- bought at Hallmark WEM at 50% off ($8 + 5% tax)
• Hello Kitty -- bought at Papyrus City Centre last year at 75% off ($2.60)
• Purple Bear -- bought at Dollarama for $3
• Green Witch -- bought at Dollar tree for $1.25
• Ceramic Pumpkin Key Holder -- bought at Michaels

Now that Halloween is over, I am hoping to score more discounted Halloween items in stores. Wish me luck.

Oops, I remembering buying so many Halloween paper plates, napkins, table mats, etc. but i wasn't able to use them. Di bale, next year na lang.


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Rain started to pour in the afternoon of Halloween so I was disheartened. Tsk, lalong walang pupuntang bata para magtrick-or-treat, I told myself. The location of our house is not strategic enough for trick-or-treaters, lalo na siyempre kapag umuulan at malamig.

Still, we turned our porch lights on with the hope na may maligaw na bata.

We had an early dinner and at 6:36pm, I was already willing to go up to our bedroom to rest when suddenly we heard some kids' voices.

POD -- O ayan, may mga darating na.

Then the doorbell rang.

I was so happy! I asked the husband to give treats to the kids while I excitedly unpacked the other candies that we bought.

I put the candies in a bin (bought at Dollar Tree) and placed it near our front door for the next batch of kids. I did not unbox the Mini Chips Ahoy! yet, later na lang kako kapag nagkaubusan na.

Now what to do with these?

Kaso wala ng sumunod na nagpunta kaloka!

POD -- Buti nga di ka na-zero noh.

Kaloka, I was exchanging FB messages with my friends Cecil and Joy at marami na silang napamigay. Nainggit ako! Haha, it was so pathetic of me to "beg" for the visit trick-or-treaters. Pero ang sarap kasing makakita ng kids in costume at masarap din magbigay.

In my disappointment, napakain tuloy ako ng isang mini KitKat Bar. Cheat day, tutal Halloween naman.

My original back-up plan kung wala talagang pupunta sa area namin was to stroll around our community na lang and observe the kids. But since it was a cold and wet night, hindi na rin natuloy.

I wanted to go West Edmonton Mall din sana for the "largest indoor trick or treat festival" but my in-laws are here at nakakahiya namang iwanan. Saka di pa nga ako sure kung may pupunta bang kids sa bahay namin o wala.

Oh well, at least now I know. I don't think I'd be preparing candies pa for treats next year. I'd just dress my son up at kami na lang ang magtitrick-or-treat. We'd probably join some of our kids' friends para masaya.

Treats for Trick-or-Treat

I honestly don't think that trick-or-treaters will visit us this Friday. You see, our town house is located at the very entrance of our community (imagine a subdivision) facing the main road so I doubt it if children will be allowed to come here. The real trick-or-treat action will be held at the heart (middle) of the community, of course.

But my husband insisted that we still buy treats just in case.

We didn't buy much because we'd be stuck with lots of candies if no kid comes around. We just got two packs of sweets from Dollarama ($3 each haha!) and two boxes from Walmart. Walmart is definitely the place to buy candies from!

This is my first ever experience of Halloween here in Canada and I have no idea how many candies to give per child. I am definitely clueless. After this year, I'd probably learn lol! My husband (who's lived in North America since 2001) reminded me that candies have to be individually wrapped and that we should turn our lights on to 'invite' trick-or-treaters.

Everyone's praying for a good weather this Friday so that children can enjoy their costumes outdoors. I am excited to see them (but yeah, still very much skeptic that no one will come knocking at our door haha!).

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NOTE: My cervix is still closed as of yesterday so I definitely won't be giving birth yet this Halloween! Yebaaah! 

Snippets of Our 2014 Valentine

We are living a relatively boring life here in Edmonton (haha!) so I wanted to inject a bit of spice this Valentine season. I've always had a thing for knick knacks so please let me indulge.

I wasn't really able to hoard much Vday stuff this year because my in-laws are here (I'm still 'nangangapa' in having them around). I also started working last February 1 so I got busy.

But anyways, here are some snippets of our Valentine Day 2014:

Heart-shaped pillow. I asked hubby to buy this for me at Walmart. It's perfect for my white-with-pink-themed "Me" room.

Heart-printed socks. Aren't these the cutest? I got them from Dollarama. I think I have more, I just wasn't able to take pictures.

Kisses Chocolates. Nice pink packaging noh? I bought it on sale at Target.

Heart-printed bowl. I saw this last piece of bowl at Target and grabbed it. Perfect for my chocolates.

Chocolate Bouquets. These were last-minute purchase at Dollarama. I wanted to give something for my mother-in-law and sister-in law. How I wish I had the time and money to find something better haha!

A Welcome and Vday Note for Cecille. My sister-in-law arrived on the night of Vday while I was at work so I had to do something to welcome her.

My Feb. 14 socks. This is what I wore on hearts day itself.

Ford's gift for me. Wow! Thank you, Dear! I love it!

My gift for Ford. Again, I am a proletariat wife so please excuse my Dollarama-purchased huge greeting card and XOXO Hershey's chocolates for the husband. It's the thought that counts naman, ayt?

Next year, I'll try to do better.