Free baby food at Ikea

Ford and I are self-confessed Ikea addicts and we are not ashamed to admit that most of our house stuff came from this Swedish furniture retailer. We like that their items are "modern" and perfectly fit for our small town home. We also love to eat there as their meals are relatively cheap.

Now that we have a son, we are now experiencing and enjoying Ikea's "love for families" mantra (which we used to take for granted pre-Nathan times). Aside from the family parking spots and play area, I also noticed that they give free meals to children.

And then last week, we saw these Heinz baby food. Yebaah, we have another reason to visit Ikea often!

We were so thrilled! Ford and I are such shallow people (in short, mababaw lang ang kaligayahan), happy na talaga kami sa freebie na ito. We specifically like it when we get something for our baby, nakakatuwa lang talaga. We really appreciate it.

To avail of the free baby food, you just have to show them that you have a baby haha! Kailangan talaga kasama siya sa pagpila.

And then my husband thought of something:

FORD -- Next time, dalawang pila ang gawin natin. Una muna ikaw, dalin mo si Nathan. Tapos ako naman. Para dalawang baby food ang makuha natin.

CES -- Kaloka, dahil sa Heinz manggagantso tayo? Pinoy na pinoy ang diskarte ha! Haha!

Of course, the husband was just kidding.

I hope this free baby food is a permanent Ikea Restaurant offering. Nathan love the Heinz brand so masusulit namin ito. Sayang din noh, $0.80 ang worth niyan sa Walmart haha!

My first Mother's Day Pandora charm

Oh, I can't believe May is almost over! Time flies so fast!

I have to admit something. I am so tempted to abandon this blog already. I am now very busy taking care of my 6-month-old makulit na baby and I feel na ang dami ko ng na-miss isulat. Ang mga recent events ng buhay namin, sa Instagram ko na lang nado-document. To be honest, finding time to write is so difficult now.

But I realized that I was sad the past weeks that I am not blogging. Feeling ko kasi ito na lang ang private space ko talaga, iyong akin talaga. I don't care if nobody reads my entries. Masaya lang talaga ako na may "online journal" ako.

Anyway, I promise to write more for myself. Para marami akong balikan later on.

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Oops, I have a new Pandora charm nga pala. I now love the month of May -- kasi may another occasion na na dedicated for me. MOTHER'S DAY!

To commemorate my first ever Mother's Day, my husband told me to get a new charm. My husband is not the type who will personally go to the store and choose something for me. He'll ask me exactly what I want then he'll buy it. He's so afraid na ma-okray ko, wala raw kasi siyang taste. Medyo totoo naman haha! Now that we're living together (we used to be in LDR), he would just tell me to buy whatever I want (using his money, of course). Ang praktikal noh? Where did romance go? Hahaha!

I wanted a different "mom" charm pero hindi available sa Pandora West Edmonton Mall. I just settled for this one. Thank you, dear husband!

This is my 7th Pandora charm. I wonder kung kelan kaya mapupuno ang bracelet ko.

The New Empanada Convenience Store

I have to admit that we don't frequently shop at Filipino stores here in Edmonton. We get most of our Pinoy products stash in either Lucky Supermarket or T&T Supermarket because it's a lot cheaper there. Ang usual na binibili lang namin sa Filipino stores ay yung mga wala doon. But if budget is not an issue, I of course will patronize Filipino stores all the time.

I was actually surprised when I learned late last year that Empanada Convenience Store had temporarily closed down and would relocate. Sayang, I wanted to buy leche flan pa naman for media noche. Someone told me that they left their previous location because of the higher rent being imposed on them, I am just not sure how true it is.

But anyway, Empanada re-opened this year and we got to visit it again two weeks ago. Sa "likod" lang pala ng dating store nila ang bago nilang puwesto (just across McDonald's).

Business Hours

The first thing I noticed was mas maaliwalas siya than the previous store. I liked it.

I was so happy being surrounded by familiar Filipino grocery items. I've been to several Filipino stores here in Edmonton and Empanada so far is the "biggest."

Glad to have found this chicken sopas! First time kong makakita nito dito sa Edmonton. Perfect because Ford and I (and Nathan) were stricken with cough and cold.

They have lutong ulam and other pastries/desserts, too. 

I heard though that they don't sell empanada yet because they still don't have a kitchen.

Oh well, with or without empanada, I am glad that Empanada Convenience Store is back!

Nathan is now five months!

Our little boy turned five months last April 13, 2015 (Monday). Isn't he the cutest??? #biasedmom

For a change, I asked the husband if we could celebrate Nathan's fifth month somewhere other than our house. Nakakasawa na kasi hehe. Malaki na rin kasi si Cheeky Boy so we can take him out of his car seat na for the picture-taking.

I suggested that we go to Max's Restaurant. September pa nang huli kaming kumain doon (when Tito Ric, Tita Lita, and Chanitz came to visit us) kaya parang nami-miss ko na.

The little boy behaved well at the restaurant... thank goodness! The past weeks, nagkaproblema kami sa kanya when there was a crowd, sobrang umiiyak. He's not used to being with people eh, kasing kaming dalawa lang palagi ng daddy niya ang nakikita. =(

 
More picture taking while waiting for our food.

Family groufie!

Ford and I were minding our own business haha!

Anyway, I wasn't able to prepare well for this month's cake. Kasi nga kakain kami sa labas, mahirap magdala ng cake na maraming anik-anik. We just stopped at Safeway on our way to Max's to get yet another small cake. Then I bought a piggy topper at Dollarama. The candle was from Walmart (which I bought a couple of days before).

I love the pig topper because I am fond of calling Nathan "Cheeky Boy Babooooy" haha!

Here's what we ordered - fried chicken, pork sinigang, pork sisig, and spaghetti (for long life).

Ford also indulged on halo-halo.

Getting Nathan's attention is quite difficult now. Masyado na nga kasi siyang curious sa paligid.

Blow your candle, anak!

Wacky shot daw sabi ng server. The two boys looked good, ako lang ang mukhang ewan.

Yehey, another month has passed! Nathan is getting bigger and smarter every day! And look at his gorgeous skin. We always receive compliments about it. In fact, the Filipina server at Max's said that his skin is even better than skin ng mga puti... ang kinis daw kasi. At rosy cheeks talaga!

We love you, Cheeky Boy aka "Batang Daldal"! You're filling our home with your sweet noises and we couldn't be happier. You bring so much joy into our lives. Thank you for being such a good boy, always smiling. Hindi ka mahirap alagaan kaya sobrang lucky ni Mommy!

Julie's Bakeshop in Edmonton

We were at a dinner party last Friday and some friends mentioned that there is already Julie's Bakeshop in Edmonton. Really, Julie's??? Saang kuweba ba ako nagtago at hindi ko alam??? I mean, babad na babad ako sa social media, how come na-miss ko ito?

Oh well, I got so excited. A Filipino brand here in Canada (lalo na sa Edmonton) is very much welcome! Lalo tuloy akong umasa na magkaka-Jollibee rin dito soon haha! #asapa

I was not a Julie's fan way back in Pinas. There was a Julie's branch in our area (Marilao crossing) but it closed a long time ago. I found their breads "very ordinary," or mas masarap pa nga yung mga tinitinda sa local bakeries sa may amin.

Anyway, I am hopeful that this Julie's bakery will satisfy my craving for Filipino breads. We've tried buying from Filipino bakeries here in Edmonton but sadly, aside from pandesal, wala na silang masarap na tinapay. Ang layo ng lasa sa mga ensaymada at Spanish bread na hinahanap-hanap ko.

We thought bukas na ang Julie's so we went there last Saturday. It's located just across West Edmonton Mall (WEM), malapit sa clinic ng OB ko. Kaso sarado pa pala.

Still, we tried walking-in (the door was unlocked) and a very nice Caucasian lady informed us that they moved their opening date to April 27. They are still "perfecting" the breads, according to her. Nangangapa pa rin sila sa paggamit ng oven. She and her Pinoy husband went to the Philippines to train (franchise nga kasi).

There were some breads on their display shelf and she asked us kung gusto naming tikman. Ate June chose the pudding while I asked for the cheese roll (I don't know how it's called). We were so thrilled kasi ang sarap! Pinoy na pinoy ang lasa! We readily gave our seal of approval.

We are now looking forward to April 27 to taste their other breads. Sa wakas, hindi na rin kami made-deprive sa tinapay (lalo na si Ford who happens to be a 'bread person.'). I am so glad that the bakeshop is located here in the west area, kahit araw-araw makakabili kami. Sana lang affordable ang presyo.

I think this is the very first Julie's Bakeshop in Canada. Haha, nagle-level-up na talaga ang Deadmonton!

Excited for Nathan's Mickey Mouse Party

Ford and I have decided to throw a party for Nathan this coming June 13 (his 7th month "birthday") for our Edmonton friends because we (Nathan and I) are going 'home' in Pinas this coming July and will be back only after his first birthday in November.

Noong una, sina Mylene and Cecil and Joy (and their kiddos) lang naman sana ang invited pero naisip naming imbitahan na rin ang ilan pang kaibigan at kakilala namin dito. Sayang naman kasi ang preparation kung ilang tao lang.

Anyway, I am super excited. This is the very first kiddie party that I'll be organizing. Small party at home lang naman but still, I want to make it a little more special for our little boy. I have sort of planned everything na (from the menu to the decors and trimmings) in my mind, execution na lang hehe.

Yesterday, while we were at Dollar Tree, I've chosen Mickey Mouse as the theme na lang. Since we are strictly on a budget (magastos umuwi sa Pilipinas so kailangang magtipid), naisip ko na mas economical kung Mickey Mouse na lang kasi nga it's practically everywhere - mura at madaling hanapin. Eto nga at nakabili na ako ng ilang items (for just $1.25 + 5% tax each).

Plus Mickey Mouse is so adorable! Bagay na pang-baby kasi uncomplicated. When Nathan is a bit older, I am sure he would prefer different cartoon characters na. So baka ito na lang ang chance ko na magka-Mickey Mouse theme haha!

Ooops, this cap ang nagpa-final ng decision ko. It was given to Nathan yesterday by his Ninang June and it looked so cute on him!

I will try to tabulate all the expenses for this upcoming party. We'll be allocating a budget of $300 for this, sana magkasya. #goodluck

Blue Passport for Nathan

Yehey, the little boy now has a passport!

Ford and I became a little envious haha! As Philippine passport holders, we have so many travel limitations. We can't even cross the neighboring US without a visa even though we're already Canadian permanent residents. Itong anak namin, bongga! Blue passport na kaagad. He could go places without restrictions. That's what we Filipinos lack eh -- mobility.

Seriously, I was very happy to finally get hold of Nathan's passport. Our sacrifices in my pregnancy have paid off. There were times when I was still pregnant that I contemplated 'go home' and just give birth in Pinas. But my desire for my child to be a Canadian right away prevailed. Inasmuch as I love being Filipino, I would have to admit that my son will have a better chance in life if he becomes a natural born citizen of a first world country. Wala namang doubt dyan.

I will first bring Nathan in the Philippines this July (Ford will follow/fetch us in November). I am so excited as we will be staying there for more or less four months. We want our son to be acquainted well with Filipino culture -- despite him being a blue passport holder. Then in December, we are going to visit Ford's family in California.

So this is it! The start of international travel for our little boy. The world is his for the taking!