Cold No More

Have you been noticing the temperature lately? It's a bit colder than usual, especially at night and on early mornings, and our weather bureau gives advise that we have to stay on with the cold temperature until the end of February.




Well, this is because the snow at the north pole are just beginning to melt down, and so the winds are sweeping the cold in our country.




This makes it hard to conduct parties, celebrations and other events outside your home and/or in your gardens. Just as a few weeks ago, some friends from Surigao Del Sur (Philippines) came to visit our house. We would have wanted to set the tables up outside the house so we can have a bigger space, but we decided to set up instead inside the house due to the uncomfortable cold weather outside. It makes us hope that we would have bought the Electric Heater a friend has been offering me last December.




For those not familiar with it, Outdoor Heaters are simple equipments that are installed outside the house (in patios or in the gardens) to help keep people warm during cold weather. Simple as it is, outdoor heaters are a great help, especially for parties that should be held or conducted outdoors. In fact, I have once attended a garden wedding in Tagaytay City where the event organizers installed electric heaters within the party area in order to keep the visitors warm and comfortable.




There are many types of outdoor heaters, but the most common would be the Electric Heater and Gas Heater. Outdoor heaters may be bought from hardware stores, but I believe it is most easy to purchase on the internet, since there are more choices available, according to your preference.




So the next time, you need not worry that cold weather will destruct your outdoor parties. An outdoor heater is all you need to make your guests comfortable all throughout the night.

Chicken Delight

Christmas season is here once again, and all people are going gaga buying toys and clothes for the children, gifts for grandchildren, busy preparing for parties, and of course, thinking of the best food to cook for the noche buena.

A close relative won a Fire Magic Grill from a raffle during their Christmas party in the office, so we are planning (and excited) on making a dish out of it for the midnight meal on the 24th. However, since we have been preparing pork barbecue for three years in a row, we are contemplating on cooking grilled chicken this time. Another thing is, children love chicken better than pork.

For some of you who are not very much familiar with Fire Magic Grills, they have been in the international market since the 1930s. Artistically designed and stainless-steel made, Fire Magic Grills will surely complement your garden setting. Aside from that, there are different designs and models to choose from, so you can be sure to find the one the suits your garden or your patio. Needless to say, you can also choose the one that fits your budget.

Mind you, some of their models are a bit expensive, that is why my relative was so happy upon knowing the price of the grill item that he won during the raffle.

But of course, when you really value the quality of service, the durability and the sleek design, you wouldn't feel sorry to have bought a Fire Magic Bbq Grill even if it costs a bit higher than the rest, because you can be sure that you have bought with you the best option in grills.

As we look forward to the long holiday season (Christmas and New Year), let us remember to give special quality time with our families, friends and loved ones.

Merry Christmas! Enjoy the holidays!

Cook Out

This past few months, I have learned the value of spending quality time with my family. They say that it is not actually the frequency or the amount of time that you spend together, but what you do during those quality time with them.

A great way of spending time with your partner and your children is by cooking together outside the house. Whether it be grilling barbecues or making vegetable salad or just sipping juice while eating your sandwiches, it will sure to create a wonderful experience with everybody.

Realizing the need for times such as these, manufacturers have started to conceptualize and create equipments that will cater to our needs for a wonderful and beautiful Outdoor Kitchen. Gone are the days when the only available equipments are the ones that are easily set-up but are easily damaged due to poor quality.

A very fine example would be Viking Grills; the one I saw one time at a posh restaurant in Greenbelt, Makati City in the Philippines. Viking grills may be a more expensive than the usual but they are Stainless Steel Grills that fit well with your outdoor kitchen simply because they are elegant-looking, and will surely impress your neighbors and guests. Since these types of grills are made of high-quality materials, you can be sure that they are durable and will not be easily damaged. Much more, since the material is stainless steel, they are easy to clean up.

Get your children involved! Give them chores to do when you are out cooking. You may want to ask their help in mixing the ingredients needed for your barbecues. The bigger ones can be trusted in looking after the meat to ensure that they are grilled properly and are not overcooked.

Of course, the cook out activity may not be that expensive. There are other brand of grills that are more affordable. It actually depends on how you want your Outdoor Kitchen to look like. You will definitely not want to buy a big grill if you only have a small outdoor space. Or, you may also opt to buy small grills that can also be brought to travel if you want to camp out for a Family picnic.

In the end, no matter what you and your family do, it is always the quality of time and activity that matters.

Bakit Walang Lasa Ang Queso De Bola

Kung minsan, naiisip ko, unfair naman sa Undas.

Lagi kasing nao-overshadow siya ng Pasko. Isipin mo na lang, dahil nga ang Pasko dito sa Pilipinas eh nag-uumpisa ng September 1, para bang ni hindi masyadong nabibigyan ng malaking atensiyon ang pagdating ng Undas.

Ngayon, lagi nang ina-announce sa mga television: XX days na lang, Pasko na!

Meron ba kayong naririnig na, XX days na lang, Undas na!?.

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Kahit kapag naglibut-libot ka sa mga malls, mas prominent ang mga christmas decorations kaysa mga dekorasyong pang-halloween. In fact, kung September pa lang ay nagkakabit na ng mga christmas decors at nagpapatugtog na ng mga kanta ni Jose Mari Chan, nagkakabit lang ng mga pang halloween na decorations mga two weeks bago ang undas.

At malamang sa malamang, pagdating ng November 3 eh tanggal na lahat ng halloween decorations.

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Pagpasok sa mga grocery stores at supermarkets, makakakita ka na rin ng mga hamon at queso de bola.

Ewan ko ba kung bakit ba napaka-tempting nitong tingnan.

Siguro eh dahil malayo ka pa lang, matatanaw mo na ang mapupula at makikintab na bilog na tabi-tabing naka-display sa mga groceries.

Hindi nawawalan ng ganyan sa bahay kapag pasko. Ang nakakatuwa, yung queso de bola sa bahay eh umaabot ng hanggang Pebrero sa refrigerator.

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Mabuti pa nga ang pasko noong isang taon

Sa ating hapag mayroong keso de bola’t hamon

Baka sa gipit, happy new year mapo-postpone

At ang hamon ay mauuwi sa bagoong

(Apo Hiking Society's Tuloy na Tuloy pa rin ang Pasko)

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Hindi ko gusto ang lasa ng queso de bola. Kaya siguro umaabot ng hanggang Pebrero sa ref namin, hanggang sa tuluyan ng tumigas at mapilitan ng itapon ni Mama sa basurahan. Ewan ko ba, pero mas gusto ko pa ang lasa ng ordinary cheese kesa sa queso de bola.

At kung hanggang ngayon eh nagtataka ka kung bakit walang lasa ang queso de bola, malamang eh nagkamali ka ng kinagat na parte.

The Mom Song

“Being a full-time mother is one of the highest salaried jobs... since the payment is pure love.”

May is a special month for Mothers. On this month, we remember the very important role that Mothers do to us, children.

The bible even provides a very endearing tribute. The word of God has this to say about our mothers:

Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her:
"Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all."
Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.

Give her the reward she has earned, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

May this video bring joy to all, especially to all the mothers out there:

Happy Mother's Day on May 10!

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“A mother is a person who seeing there are only four pieces of pie for five people, promptly announces she never did care for pie.”

Buboy

Kung minsan ay may partisipasyon din ang mga magulang sa pagiging binabae ng isang indibidwal.

Malaki po ang responsibilidad ng mga magulang upang sabihin sa anak kung ano ang tama at ano ang mali. Kung sa halip na pinagsasabihan at pinangangaralan ay ikinatutuwa pa ng mga magulang ang ipinakikitang indikasyon ng bata sa pagbabagong kasarian, maitutuwid pa kaya ang isang bata?