H&M in Pinas

Another reason why I "regret" (not in a deep sense ha lol!) leaving the Philippines -- may H&M na rin doon!

Photo taken from the internet (credits to the owner)

I love H&M. Ang tagal kong pinangarap na sana magkaroon na nito sa Pinas. I was happy when Forever 21 opened, but I would have been happier kung naabutan ko ang H&M. Mas type ko kasi ang mga damit dito. Mas bagay sa edad at style ko.

Before I immigrated here in Edmonton, I already knew for a fact na hindi masyadong maraming "brands" ang nandito. Nagbakasyon na kasi ako dito noong 2012 for six weeks kaya na-scout ko na lahat ng malls and outlet stores. But I was happy kasi nga may H&M.

When I left Manila last year, I felt sad leaving some of my favorite stores behind -- Uniqlo, Mango, Muji, etc. I consoled myself though, convincing na at least meron ngang H&M sa Edmonton. Pero hala, ngayon na meron na rin sila, ano pa ang "advantage" ng current city ko? Kahit nga Old Navy meron na rin sa Pinas eh! For sure next na ang IKEA? Ano pa bang meron dito na wala sila? Dollars lang siguro haha.

There are more shops and restaurants in Pinas than Edmonton. It's really more fun in the Philippines, OBJECTIVELY speaking.

I am so excited to go "home" (Philippines will always be my home). Feeling ko mas makakapag-shopping pa ako doon kesa dito kaloka!

The puto that made me happy =)

I am so happy! I finally made my first ever puto -- thanks to White King Puto Mix!

I actually bought this pack almost a month ago but it was only last night that I was able try it. I've been craving for puto for so many weeks now and I am glad I was able to satiate this yearning.

It took so long though because I had no puto molders. I searched online and the best substitute for those classic aluminum molders are the silicone ones. Silicone molds are expensive pala. I was able to buy two packs (12 molds/pack) at Winners for $5.99 (+5%) each. Bite-size lang.



Each box of White King Puto Mix contains two 200g packs. I only tried one pack first because I only have 24 small molders.

Basically, I just followed this direction. Very simple!

A puto won't be complete without cheese on top, ayt? I chose Eden Cheese instead of other "foreign" brands. Haha, I always play safe. I only want what's familiar.

Pardon the mess. It was my first time haha!

And since we don't have a steamer yet, I just used our rice cooker in steaming. I thought it would take about 15-20 minutes to steam but to my surprise, my mini puto were cooked in less than eight minutes! Siguro kasi maliliit lang sila.

Because my rice cooker-steamer is small, I made two batches.

First Batch. I put the cheese when the puto was almost cooked.

Second Batch. I included the cheese on the mix. This came out better. Next time I'll try grated cheese and quick-melt cheese naman.

POD -- Ba't hindi nag-melt ang cheese?
BIM -- Eh haler, hindi naman kasi quick-melt yan. Eden Cheese yan.

My husband is not familiar with Eden Cheese. For him, pare-parehas lang na keso yan.

The Result: 27 pieces of mini puto!

I wasn't able to eat much because I am watching my carbs-intake. After I give birth, talagang magpapakasawa ako. :)

I really find the puto delicious. Gusto ko talaga ang lasa. Even my husband liked it (although ang sabi nya lang ay "pwede na"). No need to put grated coconut (I always eat puto with niyog in Pinas), enough na talaga ang cheese.

Again, I was so thrilled because I can already make puto for merienda anytime. For a person like me who doesn't really know how to cook, an additional easy-to-do recipe is always a delight. At least may bago akong alam na "lutuin." And it's cheap. A box of White King Puto only costs $2.50 or around Php100.00.

Now my resolution is to buy a proper steamer and bigger molders. Silicone molds are okay, I realized. Madaling tanggalin ang puto at madaling linisin. Mahirap nga lang ilagay sa hot steamer kasi you need to use your hands (not tongs) kasi malambot pa bago iluto.

Our Thanksgiving Day 2014

Hurray for the long weekend! At last, I was able to spend the past three days with my husband.

Thanksgiving Day in Canada is officially on the second Monday of October (so this year it fell on October 12) but Canadians can celebrate it in any day of the long weekend. I've noticed (in my Facebook contacts haha!) that just like us, many preferred to do the special dinner thing on Sunday para walang pasok kinabukasan. Makes sense, right?

Anyway,  before I proceed, let me post this Thanksgiving "wefie" of me and Baby Chicklet . He's 35 weeks and 3 days as of yesterday (October 12).

I was actually too lazy to prepare a Thanksgiving dinner but I realized that we have to at least do something special this weekend to commemorate a special holiday. It's my first experience of Canadian Thanksgiving, after all. Also, we have so many things to be grateful for this year. Aside from finally having our own house, we are about to meet our Little Chicklet soon! Now isn't that life's greatest blessing?

I couldn't cook anymore (not that I really cook lol!) so I asked Pod if we could have some steak na lang. Celebrations mean steak for me eh hehe. Then I also instructed him to buy some vegetables and another dish at T&T para may pandagdag.

I was surprised when he came home with this turkey breast. Haha, oo nga naman. Dapat may turkey kasi Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving Day has to be celebrated with family so we invited Ate June (our only family here) a few days ago to join us. Too bad she has work yesterday.

And so it was just the two of us who feasted on this humble dinner. I regret not being able to buy autumn flowers, candles, placemats, napkins, etc. Wala tuloy kadecor-decor. Di bale, next year talaga babawi ako. I want all occasions to be special eh.

Turkey Breast, Tofu, Mixed Vegetables, Campbell Noodle Soup, Brown Rice, and Steak

Please don't look for any dessert as I am not allowed to eat sweets. Damn you, Gestational Diabetes!

It was the first time we celebrated Thanksgiving together. At extra na si Chicklet! Ang saya!

I am so thankful to this man. He may look like a hoodlum because of his long hair and beard (grrr!) but believe me, he's the kindest, gentlest husband in the world.

I am indeed a lucky wifey!

Happy Thanksgiving, Canada!

Thursday dinner at Buffet Royale Carvery

October 9, 2014. The Husband was supposed to pick me up at around 5pm (after his work) so we could go to T&T Supermarket but ended up coming home a few minutes before 7pm as he still had to finish some paper works. He was starving and we had nowhere to eat (T&T Gourmet closes at 7pm).

We first thought of eating at a Filipino restaurant but decided against it. Dining there would cost us $30-40+ and we don't think we'll be fully satisfied. Then Pod suggested Buffet Royale Carvery (West) instead because at least there will be many choices.

I was actually hesitant because I am watching my diet but I knew that he is very hungry so I gave in. I won't eat carbs na lang, I told myself.

I wanted to back out the moment I saw the dinner buffet rate haha! Just when we agreed to save because we've already spent so much the past weeks. And it was an ordinary day, for heaven's sake!

very few diners

But Ford pointed my eyes on the buffet spread. I could see that he was already salivating so sige na nga.

Yep, here in Edmonton, malaking buffet spread na ito. I bet Edmontonians will be shocked kung masusubukan nila ang Spiral Buffet (Hotel Sofitel) ng Pinas o kahit Vikings man lang sa SM MOA.

"Best Buffet Restaurant" na raw for so many years ang Buffet Royale Carvery. In fairness, pwede na rin. More choices than other buffet restos. It's a combination of Western, Chinese and Ukranian food.

They actually have an extensive salad bar if you are a salad-lover. In our case, dedma. I don't eat salad. The Husband does but given the choice, he wouldn't. He's a carnivore, too.

They have a carving station for roast beef. May pizza and sausage din.

This is the only bread they had.

Pero meron silang nachos.

And hotdogs.

As compared to other buffet restaurants we've tried, Buffet Royale Carvery has the "best" dessert section so far.

Kasi may ice cream. Tsk, had I not been pregnant with gestational diabetes, susulitin ko talaga ito. I wasn't able to resist vanilla, tinikman ko talaga.

Here were some of my plates. We were particularly happy with the barbeque ribs and mussels.

Pod loves chocolate fountains!

We ate for around one hour then went home. Haha, I told Ford that the next time we eat buffet, we have to make it sulit. I am used to dining and talking in Philippine buffets eh, kaya madami akong nakakain. We paid $54+ tapos sandali lang kami, sayang talaga.

Overall, I like Buffet Royale Carvery and I am looking forward to eating there again soon (that is, when I am no longer pregnant and can already indulge on gluttony). Hopefully we could try their weekend brunch as well.

Post-pregnancy fashion sense change?

This is the first pair of footwear that I bought since I've gotten pregnant. It really isn't my style but now that it's getting colder, I need warm shoes that won't require wearing socks. Unfortunately, I can't bend anymore due to my bulging tummy.

I wonder how my fashion sense will change after giving birth. Or will I still have time to dress up? I haven't gained much weight in this pregnancy (because I have gestational diabetes and on controlled diet) so I am hoping that I could still fit in my old clothes later on. Gosh, I miss wearing maong pants!

I want to be a well-dressed momma. I still want to look good even if in the next coming years my destiny is to become a stay-at-home wife and mother. I was never a fashionista but I take pride in being a decent dresser. Hope it remains that way.

Forever 21 in Edmonton

Would you believe that there's only one Forever 21 store here in Edmonton? It's located near the ice skating rink of West Edmonton Mall.

I am not really a Forever 21 gal (I feel that I am too old for most of the stuff their selling) but every now and then, I would visit this store to look for some cheap (mostly 'on sale') clothing and accessories. Going there reminds me of home (i.e. the Philippines) because Forever 21 was my first stop whenever I would go to SM North EDSA. Aside from having financial 'autonomy,' I used to have a lot of gift certificates back then because of credit card promos.

I was feeling blue a few weeks ago and I wanted to buy something to appease myself. After my OB check-up, I went straight to Forever 21 only to find out that it's closed for renovation. I felt really bad because it's one of the few shops in WEM where I can really get a small something that will satisfy my itch to buy.

I searched for other Forever 21 branches and that's when I learned that there is indeed only one of this store in Edmonton. How could that be possible, I asked myself. Sa Pilipinas nga ang dami ng branches eh. I became thankful tuloy that we live in the west end, Forever 21 is accessible to me anytime.

The good thing though is that they put up a temporary store near one of the food courts. I entered but of course, the experience was not the same. It lacked 'glamour,' lol.

I wonder when will the renovation be over (they didn't specify the date of re-opening eh). I hope soon. I am excited about the changes they will make. I hope they'll include a plus size section because I don't know what my size will be after giving birth.

Bought another cardigan. 

Halloween dilemma

This will be my very first Halloween here in Canada and I WAS originally very excited. You see, next to Christmas, this is one event I really look forward to every year. I don't know, but I really am drawn to everything freaky and spooky haha!

Though Trick or Treating has become a trend na rin in Pinas for the last few years, experiencing it first hand in North America will be cool, I told myself. I wanted to decorate our house a bit and prepare some candies for children in costumes who would hopefully knock on our door.

But then it caught me, what if I give birth before or during Halloween? All my preparations will be put into waste especially if I am still in the hospital.

I am due to give birth on November 14 (or 9 according to my recent ultrasound tests) but we can really never tell on when the baby chooses to come out. I am already 37 weeks (the baby is already in full term) by October 23 and he'll be ready to see the world by then.

But my greatest fear as of now is giving birth on October 31, November 1 or 2. I want my Chicklet to have his own special day and I won't forgive myself if later on he'll be teased at for having All Souls Day as his natal day. That will be so cruel so I'll do everything in my power to avoid these three dates.

Another dilemma -- just in case I give birth before Halloween, what about Chicklet's first ever costume? He's got to have one even if he's only a few days old! That's what good mommies do, dress up their children for every milestone and occasion.

I am actually tempted to buy a cute outfit for him now but I know that's not practical. Hay!

I've alteady gone into conclusion that my Halloween 2014 will not be as fun as anticipated it to be. Aside from my issues, the aches and pains that I am experiencing now that I am on my last weeks of pregnancy overwhelms my desire to celebrate this day. I also admit to not having a budget anymore for nice Halloween decors because we've already spent all our money on Chicklet lol!

Oh well, there's always the next year. Chicklet will be one year old that time so it will definitely be awesome!