Tater Tots Day

Emil found an event on Facebook about the Tater tots day happening in SoMa yesterday so we decided that will be our weekend thing after donating blood at church.

I was so proud of Emil bec if you didn't know, he easily gets queasy with just the thought of blood OR needles and donating blood involved the two! I suggested that he think of the people he can help when he will do it and after a few back and forth, he agreed. It was a success!

We were so hungry so right after the blood donation, we went straight to SoMa from Pacifica. It was a really packed event and was so crowded but we will persist anything in the name of tater tots! and any other 'potato food' in my case.  

I looked up a food truck on Yelp in advance to check out what they had and got really excited and when we got there, the line was suuuuppppeeeerrrr long but we decided we will try it anyway. When we got to the front, they told us it's going to be another half an hour wait, added to the fact that half of their menu is sold out by the time we got there.

30 Days of Happy: Day 25-27

Day 25: (Tuesday) Had an opportunity to serve and plan the ward FHE with E. One of my favorite things to do is to plan and organize events and I am so glad there are lots of opportunities to do this at church.

Day 26: (Wed) Grateful for a delicious lunch! As much as possible, I try not to eat out for lunch (I am kuripot this way) so I can splurge on other stuff. haha But last night, I didn't have the chance to cook our baon so I have no choice but to buy food today. Conveniently, this truck parks right in front of our office. 20 steps out the door and my lunch is served. :)

Day 27: (Thurs) Every time I go to a doctor, I feel like I am robbed! Dropping money for advice like "Don't use your right hand for a week" or "Yes, it is overused" drives me so mad because I already know those things and I want to hear something else that can help me relieve the pain! Ugh.

Photo from sanfranciscodays.com

Anyway, the doc's office was located in the Noe Valley neighborhood so I got to roam around by myself. I know now that I am an introvert; something that I didn't want to label myself until I knew for sure but I as I've observed these past couple of years, it is unquestionable. haha So I really do value my alone times like this one: walking around and thinking to myself. I was strolling for almost an hour and it was nice to get to know the city where I live even more. There are just so many things too see! I can't believe we've been here for almost two years now. Oh, how times passes you by so fast; even faster than Joey Tribbiani's relationships, if you would call it that. haha

Are you an introvert too? Check out this article from Buzzfeed. It may not be applicable to everybody but it pretty much sums up what goes through our heads when placed in situations stated:

1. You find small talk incredibly cumbersome. I thought it was just me!!!

2. You go to parties - but not to meet people. I wont even go if I don't know anyone.

3. You often feel alone in a crowd. Yes!

4. Networking makes you feel like a phony. Yes! Yes! Yes! So when I heard the saying "It's not what you know but who you know," I thought, patay na ako. haha

5. You've been called "too intense." I haven't been told this. Or maybe just not to my face yet.

6. You're easily distracted. Not really.

7. Downtime doesn't feel unproductive to you. Downtime all weekend long!

EMIL'S 25TH BIRTHDAY

We've been 'surprising' each other for a long time now but I'm glad I still managed to keep this a secret from Emil until the end of the day. The night before, he was asking me what we will do on his birthday so I was trying to be nonchalant when in fact, in my mind I was already panicking on how I will pull the birthday party surprise the next day! I just told him that we are going to a restaurant in the city that he will love but he can't know until the hour of.

As I was so confused on what to do, the gang (aka the twins, Lowell, Will and Brit) volunteered to sleepover so that they can help me the next day. I was kinda nervous of this idea coz Emil might know what's going on so I texted him pretending to ask his permission if they can come, and he said, yes bec its almost his birthday anyway. We sang for him at midnight and then watched some movies. When it was time for him to go to work, I started cooking for the surprise party which wont start til 5:30pm because that's usually the time he gets off work. He texted me at 3pm saying that he can go home early so imagine my panic when I haven't prepared anything yet! I wasn't even at home because I was buying food for the party! He wanted to meet me where he works so we can go to the restaurant earlier but I told him that I haven't showered yet and the reservation wasn't until 7pm so he should just hang around in the city while he waits for me. I wasn't sure if he is getting suspicious already bec what kind of wife would let her husband hang around in the city alone on his birthday?! but still I had to say it! I was running out of lies! Thankfully our landlord wanted to meet us at 5:30pm so he needed to go home instead of I going to the city. At 4pm, he said he was still at work bec his boss needed to talk to him. Whew! One hour down! I came home to prepare and call people to come earlier because he was coming home early but only Lowell arrived before him so it was only me and Lowell who screamed surprise when he got home. Imagine how lame that was?! hahaha I was too tired to worry about it so I just laughed it off. I thought by this time he knew all along but he said he really believed me that we were going to a restaurant so that part of the surprise worked I guess. We waited with the birthday boy an hour until other people came so we could start the party. Despite the failed surprise, he said he enjoyed his birthday. :)

Giant Kit Kat for the Kit Kat boy

Kit Kat cake

BACK FROM THE GRAVE!

It's been so long (4.5 months!) since I wrote here. I was kind of giving up on blogging until I opened one of the posts and it made me smile to remember all those memories that's why I've decided to keep this. I want to keep smiling as I remember the things we've done throughout the years.

What happened since I last posted:

1. 2nd Year Anniversary was spent in Las Vegas from May 9-12, 2014.

at Gordon Ramsay's BurGR

being tourists at Gondola ride

Bellagio Lobby

POST VALENTINES DAY: Sushi Lunch

After our successful boiling crab night, we decided to have a sushi lunch the day after. We went to Nijiya Market in the morning to get our ingredients then Laren taught Emil how to make some sushi. They made a lot enough for 6-8 people. Ate Sheilla made cucumber salad and I made Miso soup. Yup, straight from the packet. haha. Emil and Laren was so busy so I didn't dare disturb and plus, I was documenting the whole thing. :p

sushi chef Emil

which ones did Laren make and which ones did Emil make?

my plate :)

miso soup I made straight from the packet. hahaha

SAN FRANCISCO: Japan Town Nijiya Market

We were shopping for our sushi weekend when they announced that there will be a show inside the grocery store about to begin. There were lots of people already gathered around the blue fin tuna weighing 89 lbs. that they shipped from Japan that morning. I took a video just to see how they cut it but too bad it was taking to long and we needed to go.

Nijiya Market is located at Japantown, Lower Pacific Heights, 1737 Post St,. San Francisco, CA 94115

Phone number

VALENTINES DAY 2014

This Valentines day, we decided to just stay at home and cook one of our favorites: Boiling Crab! It was a success and (I think) even better because of course, we were able to adjust the recipe to our liking. Master Chef Emil did a great job! Only down side about this is cleaning up after cooking. But overall, it was a great experience to cook and experiment together in the kitchen.

Emil also gave me a fancy bouquet of roses and Ferrero. sosyal. I gave him socks (because he said he needed it) and a tie. haha Now that I am typing this, my gift wasn't romantic at all but just too practical. hahaha.

Side note: This day also marked the day when I wore my first eye glasses!

We cooked two dungeness crab that we got for around $23+ total. We didn't even touch the second one so the price wasn't bad for two meals for two people. 

One was enough for both of us with a bunch of shrimp.

Masterchef Emil about to clean the crab.

Enjoying my delicious dungeness crab with my new glasses 

I didn't even know that I needed one for my right eye (yes only for the right) 

until I went to get my license and failed the vision exam!

Cupcakes by Sonja

This not-so-little adorable shop at Greenhills really caught my eye when we got there. Not only was the interior greatly designed but the name of the cupcakes were so clever. It doesn't end there! The cupcakes that we each got was so good. Some are plain looking and some looked extravagant but all tasted soooo sooo great equally. I am really fond of uniquely designed boutiques especially in the Philippines. I love how they get creative with simple pieces like chairs, tables and lighting to make a well designed store.

Trixie's: Banana monkey cream pie (top left)

Zani's: Choco cream cheese (top right)

Mine: Elvis (bottom left)

April's: Pistachio berries and cream (bottom right)

Family Fun Hike at Mt. Manabu

Last Dec. 30-31, our family, friends and relatives hiked Mt. Manabu in Batangas. Hiking is definitely my father's no. 1 hobby and because of that, he was able to bring our whole ward up the mountains when I was young and now, even my 78 year old lola joined us! The hike was supposed to be an hour and a half long one way but because we have our lola with us, it took us 3 hours to hike. Despite that, it was definitely fun since our lola set the record to be the oldest in the family to have hiked not one, not two but 3 mountains at an old age! Kudos to her!

When we reached the peak, it was soooo cold and Emil and I weren't even prepared. We just brought clothes because I thought my parents were so used to climbing up the mountains and they will take care of us. I was wrong! haha We we're supposed to bring our own blankets which we didn't have so both of us couldn't sleep that night because of the cold. Imagine San Francisco cold outdoors! Or may be I'm exaggerating but it was too cold even though I have a jacket! My whole body was shivering so I needed to go to the next tent and steal their blankets, with permission. haha. I am now a big fan of fleece. Such a light weight material but keeps you so warm.

After hiking, we wanted to eat at this place called Calda in Lipa, Batangas because my parents said they have cheap but huge (up to 36 in) and delicious pizza. When we got there at 1pm, they told us that they can only serve us at 6pm because they have so many orders. Maybe their pizzas are that good. Last resort was Shakey's.

on the way to the foot of the mountain

kain muna ng Jollibee bago sumabak sa bundok

lola with her tungkod

Station 2: Rest stop

we reached the peak at around 3pm

our tent behind us that I didn't even help set up because I was so tired. 

I didn't move from this spot for about 20mins. haha 

The Parentals

the next morning

picture taking before uwian

at Shakey's

Food Adventure: Makino Chaya

Ever since we started dating, I've been wanting to bring Emil to Makino Chaya because I had a great time eating there when I was new in Hawaii. I went to the Aloha Tower branch probably almost 3 years ago and I couldn't believe it was only $20+ for a buffet that has plenty of choices. It was a Saturday lunch that's why it was priced like so but I heard that during weekday lunch, it was only ~$12 which was even better! I brought him to Aloha Tower when we started dating but when we got there, it was already closed!

We yelped it and saw that there was another branch in Aiea but it was so far from where we lived. Good thing this day, we were tasked to send the donations for Haiyan victims at LBC so we took the opportunity to go to Makino Chaya Aiea.

I was so excited because Emil will get to try it now but was disappointed when we got there. Almost all the food was fried and there wasn't much to choose from. Good thing we only paid $12 each for an all you can eat buffet. I liked the desserts and the beef with teriyaki sauce though. Emil said it was okay but he's never gonna come back. haha

Date Night with TVA friends

Last November 15 was our school's Fall Ball. Balls are usually held twice a year during Winter and Fall semesters for students to have fun and date. haha. It was quite expensive this year so we thought we would just go out have dinner and games after like we would always do when we get together at home. We were so excited to bring out friends to Kalapawai since Emil and I really loved that place. There were 12 of us so it was also hard to come up with one place that would please everybody so we thought of Kalapawai because they serve different varieties of food that everybody would like. On the way, I called them to let them know we are coming since there were 12 of us because I called earlier that week and was informed that we couldn't reserve. When I informed them we were coming, they said that they couldn't handle a party of 12 and seat us altogether. I was bummed out but we still decided to show up and maybe show our poor hungry selves so they would seat us together. haha It was a futile attempt. They said the same thing, that they can only seat 6 people max together so we decided to leave.

It was a Friday night and we didn't realize restaurants would be busy. We called a couple of restaurants nearby if they could seat us and most can't or we would have to wait for more than an hour. We couldn't wait any longer because we were soooo hungry! Emil called a place called Prima and they said they could seat us right away so we decided to go there. We checked them on Yelp too and it didn't look so bad. Most of us wanted Italian anyway so it was a go. When we went inside, the menu was very limited and the food didn't look familiar from the Yelp photos. Even so, we tried what sounded familiar and when the food came, I think everybody gasped silently! LOL It was the most disappointing octopus dish I have ever seen it my life!

The only one I liked was the brussel sprouts because it has prosciutto with it. The pizza was thin crust but it was very thin! I like thin crust but this was soooo thin and spicy (wasn't in the menu). Emil got upset and even called the place pretentious.  hahaha. Imagine him not eating even though there was food in front of him just bec he was really upset. By the way, these dishes we needed to split for 6 mouths because they were pricey. Octopus in the middle was around $20. On the good side, the spaghetti was good. It was different and flavorful. Service was okay too.

happy people despite the unfortunate experience. haha

(photo courtesy of Patricia Hernando)

Grain Free Peanut Butter Cookie Dough Bites

Well, that's a very long name for a food isn't it? This is the second recipe we've tried for our healthy dessert bandwagon. Emil kept cooking last Sunday after church and he was the one who made this. Instagram has been very helpful as to providing healthy recipes that are easy to make when we're trying to lose weight. Yes, social media can be helpful. It's just how you use it. Emil actually already lost almost 10 lbs. just from the time he came home last August. As for me, my weight still fluctuates but I've been feeling lighter and better since we improved our eating habits. Here's the recipe. We got it from @romi_fit on IG.

1 1/4 cup of canned chickpeas

2 tsp. vanilla extract

2 tbsp. natural PB

1/4 cup honey

1 tsp. baking powder

1/2 cup low fat chocolate chips

Directions:

Pre-heat oven to 375F. Combine all ingredients in food processor or blender until smooth. Put in chocolate chips and either stir or pulse once or twice. The mixture should be very thick and sticky. With wet hands, form balls and place on parchment paper. Bake for 10 mins. It won't set like normal cookies.

The end product was really good for my taste though of course you can still taste the chickpeas. It was also soft for my liking so I guess next time I can add a little oat flour just to thicken it a little bit more. I don't know. I need to experiment on this until I come up with something that will satisfy me. haha. Enjoy eating healthy!