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! =)

Nathan's first check

We received yesterday Nathan's first check from the Canadian government. This benefit is called Canada Child Tax Benefit (CCTB), a tax-free monthly payment made to eligible families to help them with the cost of raising children under the age of 18.

Ford and I were so excited haha! The amount (which is for two months: December 2014 - January 2015) is not that big actually because it's computed based on the family's annual income. In fact, in can only buy a box of diapers. But it is still a benefit that we Canadian residents are entitled to nonetheless.

We are still waiting for another check, that of Universal Child Care Benefit (UCCB) which is given to families with children under the age of six years regardless of income. It is paid in installments of $100 ($160 starting January 2015) per month per child.

These child benefits are one reason why it's awesome living in Canada! =)

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POSTSCRIPT: We already received the UCCB check last January 23 (Friday)!

A simple 3rd anniversary celebration

I love it that we got married on the first month of the year. The coming of January signifies the end of holidays so at least there's another occasion that we'll look forward to.

Our anniversary this year -- January 12 -- fell on a Monday so we only had dinner time to celebrate. At first we thought of just celebrating on the 13th para sabay na sa monthly 'birthday' ni Nathan but I realized that we ought to have two different celebrations for two different occasions.

We didn't really plan anything grand but it was indeed the most special of all our anniversaries in the past (2 wedding and 11 bf-gf anniversaries) because we now have Nathan James Levin as the fruit of our union.

Here's my chubby cheeks who is daddy's mini-me!

When you have a baby with you, a fine dining restaurant is not an option. Hence I just asked Pod for a simple buffet meal at Buffet Royale Carvery. Nathan was just two months then so I was worried na baka umiyak siya nang umiyak kapag matagal na naka-steady sa car seat / basket niya. Kapag buffet, kakain na agad. No need to wait. And also, I was still pregnant the last time we ate there so my food intake was so restrained. Gusto ko namang subukang kumain doon nang walang worry about gestational diabetes haha!

And because it was a Monday, halos solo namin ang area. Walang masyadong tao.

Here's some of my plates haha!

We looked so haggard haha! Obviously the result of sleepless nights for the past two months. But then again, that was the happiest two months of our life!

Thankfully, our baby was so cooperative that night. Mom and Dad were able to eat a lot. He looked bored though haha!

Anak, you are God's perfect gift to us! We love you and we will take good care of you forever. We'll make sure that you will grow up with loving parents.

Ahh, three years na kami! I want to thank my husband for bearing with me. I am not a perfect wife. In fact, sobrang layo ko sa pagiging ideal wife. But I love Ford and Nathan more than myself. 

Thank you for everything, Dear! Cheers to our three years! =)

Our 2014 Christmas Tree

I know we're already half way of January but I still have a lot of holiday posts so please bear with me.

For now, let me show you our 2014 Christmas tree...

Because of my post-CS condition, I was only able to decorate it on December 12. "Too late" in Filipino standards, I know. I have to admit that because I was in pain, I was tempted to let go of the holiday trimmings last year (haha sounds so long ago but it was only last month!). But it was my son's first Christmas so I felt that I owe him a tree.

Our tree looked so 'feminine,' do you agree? It's because I bought the decors last December 26, 2013 pa, during boxing day. I wasn't pregnant yet that time so I visualized a sophisticated tree haha!

Most of the tree ornaments were from Michaels and Walmart. It was difficult finding the "right" tree topper so I settled muna with a star from Dollarama. The blue balls were also from that dollar store.

In addition, I put up two special palawit:

This one is for our dear Chicklet...



And this to commemorate our first Christmas here in Casa Blanco (I also bought this last 2013).

Here's the day and night time look...

I honestly loved our tree. It was my first time to have a non-traditional tree (i.e. red-and-gold theme) and I was so happy it still turned out beautiful.

But would you believe that our artificial tree only costs $11+ (or less than Php500). We chanced upon it at XS Cargo's closing sale. It was the last stock left and its box was ripped. We weren't sure if the whole set is complete but we took the risk and bought it. Sabi nga ng asawa ko: "Haler, it's only $11! Kung kulang man, hindi na masakit sa dibdib." 

I am planning for a kiddie-themed Christmas tree this year. Para bagay naman kay Chicklet. But I might use a different tree, a smaller one that we can place by the table para hindi maabot ni Nathan. Our son will already be one year old come December 2015 so for sure he's into walking and grabbing things mode na.  Haha, sana lang may budget! =)

Manila Grill Express (Edmonton) Revisited

December 27, 2014. Ford and I went to Lucky Supermarket to buy some Tilapia and shrimp that we'll contribute on our New Year's boodle fight dinner with friends. But before grocery shopping, we've decided to have dinner first at Manila Express Grill.

I was surprised because they have a nicer menu layout now.

We ordered Pancit Palabok...

And crispy pata...

And yep, they tasted good enough. My husband particularly liked the palabok. At malaki ang serving, talagang meant for sharing.

The next time we go to Lucky Supermarket, I'll drop Manila Grill Express again to try their taho naman. =)

Goodbye, Target!

I woke up yesterday morning to this very sad news.

Just last Saturday, I was very happy with their Dollar Spot bins. It's one of my simple pleasures here in Edmonton eh -- checking on the dollar bins and hoarding cute stationery stuff.

I could not believe it that Target is leaving so soon! Imagine, they only came here in Canada in 2013! I can still remember Target replacing Zellers.

Though Target's shelves are empty most of the time, I still love going there. There are so many nice items in Target that you couldn't find anywhere else. And when they put their items on clearance, bagsak presyo talaga.

So what will my life now be without Target? Next to Walmart, it's my go-to place when I feel the itch to shop and all I can afford are cheap stuff. Hay!

My heart is really breaking! I wanna go to Target now and enjoy it while it's still here. =(

Pope Francis in Pinas

Pope Francis is now in the Philippines for his 5-day visit. I am happy for my fellowmen, they are having this rare opportunity of seeing him.

I am not a 'devout' Catholic. I studied in a Catholic school from kinder to high school but that school failed to make me to at least attend a mass every Sunday now that I am an adult. I've seen so many practices among our nuns that made me question the Roman Catholic religion. My first course in UP Diliman was Philosophy (then I shifted to Sociology) so imagine how hard I fought the temptation of questioning the existence of God.

Anyway, I may not be the Catholic who attends mass on Sundays but I still am a believer. That is why I am envious now of people who were able to catch a glimpse of the Pope. I like Pope Francis (who doesn't?). I like his aura, so kind and holy. I was in only in Grade 5 when Pope John Paul came to Manila for the World Youth Day. Only a few students (the coniotic ones haha) from our school was chosen to attend the event and I was so bitter. I wanted to see the Pope too, I told myself. But what can I do, I was only an 11-year-old poor girl who wasn't 'special' enough to be chosen.

I am now 35 and had I been in the Philippines, no one could stop me in seeing the Pope. But I am not there.

Oh well, if there's any consolation, I guess we can just go to Rome someday and attend his mass. A long life for Pope Francis is what I'll be wishing so we can still have the chance to see him.