Homage to Motherhood and Slow Time

A precious dream of a very dear friend of mine finally came true - motherhood! Her and her husband's gift is named William Tobias or Tobi for short. He has been a long time coming but now that he's here, life is never going to be the same. I got these pictures from her today and I can feel the happiness all the way across the seas.
At the same time today, Niko found an old video clip of our family Christmas back in 1999 when he was 3 and Alaia was 6. It was so precious too - they were so young! While watching it, I started thinking - how life comes at you so fast. My kids look and act a 100 times older than they were in the video, and I wonder, what happened between then and now.
All these thoughts made me want to slow down - considerably.
This post is for my friend and her new family and for us and for the spirit of slowing down and enjoying the moment. If only....

Heat and Eats

Imagine yourself cocooned under a fleece blanket outside in a 100 degree weather. It felt like that today - except it was hotter - 112 degrees more! Humid, heavy and suffocating. I am dreaming for fall to come very soon with torrential rains and 60 something degree weather. I hate summer!

I cannot wait for this kind of Monterey gray weather.

Mel came back last Sunday from the Philippines and brought back some goodies from home. So instead of doing anything aerobic - doing so being so impossible in this heat - I justifiably stayed inside with the air-condition slaving away and stuffed my face with pastillas, rice crispies - Pinoy style - and some cornik. Bliss.

The bagful of goodies.

Crunchy pinipig crispies - I ate this like candy.

The very addicting pastillas de leche - definitely candy!

And finally, the crack of all corn nuts - chichacorn!

Others Watch Paint, I Watch Cooks

I secretly long for Wednesdays to come so I can watch the new episode of Top Chef. I love this reality show. I like cooking shows in general, but I like it even more when it is a competition. This is the 3rd season of Top Chef and I think that this is the most talented bunch yet. I hate to hate Hung (the knife wonder, arrogant but elegant Vietnamese chef) but they make him out as an asshole sometimes. Tonight, he was likeable.A new favorite of mine is Giada of Food Network's Everday Italian. I used to hate her big head and "out-there" cleavage but I am starting to really like her seemingly genuine energy and her clean and yummy looking food. I just can't believe someone so pretty and dainty can cook too. I love to hate her. I love her food-travel show.

But my real favorite is Anthony Bourdain and I have not even seen him cook. It really sucks that I don't get the Travel channel and therefore cannot watch his No Reservations show but I had watched some episodes on the DVD (yeah, die-hard I tell you). I have read his books too. He is so irreverent and so anti-nice - I love him.

Mandy's Surprise

I know, I know it has been a while. I guess, I just don't have the discipline to see certain things through - like exercising, being nice to my family, planning weekly meals, and now, blogging. I don't know, I am so unreliable even with my self-imposed "to-do" lists. So unredeemable, I swear.

Anyway, while working today - yes, on a Sunday - and yes, while surfing the net (FYI, after I finished all my tasks of course!) - I stumbled upon a gem of a find: Mandy Moore doing a cover of Rihanna's Umbrella. I was doubtful at first, but I ended up loving it. I like her night-clubbish version of the song. The tone of the song was kept, but it is definitely not hip-hopish sounding. Mandy made it possible for those in their 30's to listen to this song without being disgusted with themselves. Here is the video - watch and listen.

remains of the day

Three days off are a terrible thing to waste - but I do it spectacularly - each time. I was supposed to do a lot of things - recycle clothes to the thrift shop, finish my store web site, saturate my new blog site with gripping information, get things ready for the fair this weekend like last Sunday - but alas, here came Tuesday, and work starts again tomorrow. Whatdo I have to show for these three days? Let me show thee....

Stopped by Starbucks today. Asked for Espresso Americano - got watered down coffee again - hopeless!!!

Hanging out at Ikea with Alaia while waiting for Mel to exchange a broken clothes hanger we bought over a month ago.

Had TK noodle for lunch - always makes all of us feel better - got sleepy afterwards though.

The short nap I had sort of redeemed the day, but I lost more hours than I already have. I guess I will just start being productive tomorrow.