MY UNFORGETTABLE BIRTHDAY!

​My advanced birthday celebration wouldn’t have been a million-fold happier were it for the presence of my walking friends, the Sweet Magnolias. 

I was surprised that they went out of their way to come up with a gift I’d truly love. It took them half the night to decide which design I’d like best out of all the beautiful collection of dinner set from:   At Home With Maria. 

At least they did not go far since one of us,Maria Claire markets all those exquisite, colorful and beautiful wares that a good homemaker who knows quality home wares would love to add to her a collection. 

To compliment the dinner set for 12, Claire gave me 12 of those modern transparent chargers and colorful placemats. 

I received other equally interesting gifts but I’d like to tell everyone that the At Home With Maria collection is worth acquiring. 

Wait, there’s more!  This 3-tiers cake with a garden theme of the most decadently moist chocolate; fully decorated with edible plants was a surprise. 

Im happy that my sister and niece drove all the way from the other side of town to grace my party. It turned out that they easily mingled with my friends before i knew it they were exchanging contact numbers.  

Me with my sister and niece 

It was a happy event. I thank Jim who entertained the husbands. It was his idea to hold this party and he made it happen. 

Thank you everyone for coming, I had a great time. 

FEELING GREAT AT 78

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What an incredible gift to be alive! It’s a wondrous feeling  to be lucid with all my mental and physical faculties intact. Moreover, isn’t it awesome that I can still walk 7 kms everyday sans any pain. 

                      Wonderful blessings

I draw inspiration from past experiences and my present circumstances to appreciate my life better. 

Professionally fulfilled in an institution educating children for 30 years; 

Happily married to a gorgeous, dependable and supportive husband who sings love songs to me everyday.  

For bringing into this world three wonderful, generous and thoughtful children with whom I'm beyond proud to tell the whole world about them and what they have made of themselves. 

I gained 3 professionally accomplished children in law;  an amazingly stunning daughter and two handsome, responsible and family-oriented sons. 

Add there our treasures;  two beautiful and loving grandchildren who keep us current in this fast-paced digital world. 

Grateful as well to find myself finally embedded in a community of like-minded and supportive friends. 

       WHAT MORE CAN I ASK FOR

 Do the above photos say exactly how I feel: “What more can I ask for”?

                THE REAL SCORE

Having lived more than three quarters of a century, I know that there were more years before and less years ahead to my life.  Time is running out. Oh my! Where did the time go?  It flew like a tornado. 

I need a plan to make the most of my remaining days; I can’t just let life pass me by.  In Costa Rica, a Blue Zone country, they call it “plan de vida”, a lifestyle aligned with a purpose; one that is totally opposed to a stressful fast-phased lifestyle; like “getting things done as much as possible and as soon as possible”. 

I feel inclined to follow the lifestyle of people in the Blue Zones; the five regions of the world where the longest- living people reside.  It is said that they  integrate “healthy natural foods, social connection and natural movement”. 

They say that the Japanese concept of finding one’s “ikigai” is directly link to longevity; ikigai being the motivation or inspiration in one’s day.  Walking with my friends first thing in the morning is my ikigai for it gets me out of bed and makes me look forward to each new day. 

What else shall I do then but enjoy life’s simple pleasures; walking, gardening; socializing, laughing, making new friends, and engaging more with my family, my friends and my community. I must savor the small pieces of heaven that each day brings. 

Have you heard of Mildred Kirschenboum, the most instagrammed centenarian?  This is one recipe of living active and healthy at her age. She said: 

“I focus on what I have, not on what I don’t have and be grateful for all of them.”. 

I’ll continue learning new things; prepare healthy cuisine  for me and my husband and for the occasional visits of my children.  And  I’ll do the most wonderful thing that old folks do; 

“JUST LIVING!”. 

As I celebrate my 78th birthday, I am so grateful for the countless life lessons I learned,  the good days with all the blessings, all the opportunities to live my best; maybe much more than I deserve.  I won’t change anything even if I can. 

FEELING GREATAT 78

What an incredible gift to be alive! It's a wondrous feeling to be lucid with all my mental and physical faculties intact moreover,isn't

THE STORY BEHIND THE VIETNAMESE PHO

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A WONDERFUL BREAKFAST WITH FRIENDS

​We had a sumptuous and joyous breakfast yesterday! Thanks to our gracious and generous  host,  Carol who prepared this delicious breakfast. 

Thank you as well for this elegant table setting. 

Welcome back Cheska and Claire! We are happy that almost all the Sweet Magmolias are home now except Tess who is pressntly touring Vienna with her better half. 

Claire, from the photos you shared, your Jacoboys indeed had a blast in Singapore and Legoland in Malaysia. 

Likewise, Cheska’s family had a great time bonding with the elders and cousins in India. 

Her teenage son even celebrated his birthday there. Look how tall he is and still growing taller. 

              

                  Back to our breskfast

As usual, Carol’s breakfast fare was over-the-top. At first I didn’t know where to begin but Carol handed me this delicious buko still in its husk, the juice is sweet and fresh. 

There were fruits galore! Mango, apple, pear, dragon fruit, papaya, orange wedges, sweet sampaloc and banana. 

This ceviche in my bowl eaten with crispy papadams from India was amazingly fresh and crunchy.  

Here’s where you can have a refill. 

          And on to the main course

What to choose?  What to eat first? Shall I eat them with rice or bread?  I enjoyed them more with rice, like the majority did. 

            

             But wait,  there’s more!

I could’t pass up on my favorite, the suman sa lihya with a yummy white sauce. 

And there’s that soft and fleshy macapuno in very light syrup. Yummmm! 

Of course we always finish off with the most delicious cooffee that all of us serve in our own homes. Great coffee is a must, i guess we all expect it.  At Carol’s there’s monk fruit powder with stevia but I only put cream in my coffee, nothing else. 

Wait, i need to include this. Jim and I went out to see Carol’s dipping pool and jacuzzi at the back. We had our photo taken 

We thank Claire for these chocolates from Singspore. 

Thank you Carol for this wonderful breakfast. You really outdid yourself again with your over-flowing spread, beats some hoteks in town. 

We had a lot of fun ! 

WISHING CLAIRE AND FAMILY GREAT ADVENTURES IN SINGAPORE

​When one of us Sweet Magnolias embarks on a trip abroad, we are happy for her as she sets out to see new places and gain new experiences. 

With Claire, it could be bittersweet since she is the youngest bubbly one who always make everything light and happy. 

Today we wish Claire the best of adventures and enjoyable moments as she makes happy memories with her family. 

This is just the right time to bring her Jacoboys along; Caleb is 5 and Karl is 7. At this age, they will surely appreciate and remember every adventure that they will cherish forever. 

Here are Caleb and Karl: 

Singapore is a tourist-friendly country, very safe with many places to see for the young and the young at heart.  Since they are bringing the Jacoboys, they planned to visit the Universal Studious, and other interesting adventures in Sentosa. Then they will cross the border to Kuala Lumpur to Legoland Malaysia Resort. 

Today, Mel hosted the sendoff breakfast. 

This box of cookies is a souvenir from King Charles’ coronation in May brought by Carol for our host. 

The husbands had their breakfast in the veranda. 

Thanks a lot for the sumptuous breakfast Mel. For starters we had fruit compote and the charcuterie board of cheeses, grapes and nuts. 

Followed by Muesli of oats, nuts and dried fruits with yogurt dressing. There’s this yummy lychee juice along with it. 

This was followed by grilled cheese sandwich, sunny side up and chips. 

As if that wasn’t enough, there’s macaroni salad which I failed to take a photo. Of course we finished off with coffee, lots of laughter and interesting stories. 

Our get together always culminate with a group photo. 

We are missing Cheska who will be back soon from India. I’m sure she is having a great time with her family. 

And Tess is still in Rotterdam, busy now training for another 10-km run early next month.  We are proud of her for having finished a marathon earlier. 

Claire, we are sending you well wishes for happy times with your family. We hope you will carry them in your mental backpack and make the most of your vacation. 

May your flight be smooth, your journey be safe, your experience be rich and your memories be great. 

Send us lots of photos and come back safe. 

SOMETIMES WE JUST WANT TO PARTY

​Tonight was another “blockbuster” dinner in our own little way.  Indeed, it was hearty and satisfying; like any dinner of the Sweet Magnolias who are always ready and willing to get together on the spur of the moment. 

This dinner was conceived during an impromptu breakfast the day before. Dolly, who gave the breakfast; mentioned that Vener,(her significant other)  planned to cook pork blood stew (dinuguan).   Claire, our bubbly and enthusiastic youngest in the group picked up on that and suggested dinner. I guess she felt like partying. 

“Let’s have dinner then; we already have pork blood stew”, she messaged us all. “I asked Dolly and she confirmed that all of us are welcome. You can bring a dish if you like but no pressure. Let’s invite our partners. Please give me a headcount so I can order crabs and lapu lapu. 

Who can resist such enthusiasm? 

Thanks for this nice table setting, Dolly. 

So we had dinner. 

Upon learning about the dinner; Tess who is enjoying family time in Rotterdam and Cheska visiting her in laws in India said that they are in serious FOMO. “FOMO IS REAL, they both messaged in our group chat. 

“There will definitely be a repeat of this”, Dolly assured. 

As usual there were so much food. 

Salad for stater and the pinakbet beside it

There’s the pork blood stew 

And the kilawen; grilled pork liempo and pork liver, thinly sliced and dressed with calamansi, onions, salt and pepper

Then the star of the dinner.,,,the crabs sautéd in oyster sauce and leeks. 

There’s sweet and sour lapu lapu 

Steamed shrimps

Daing na bangus topped with tomatoes and onions. 

There’s puto 

and it’s female counterpart, the kutsinta

For dessert there’s leche flan

And lychees with nata de coco 

Fruits: Bangkok santol, dragon fruit and siniguelas. Sorry I failed to take photos of those. 

Since we are walking at 5 AM tomorrow, Dolly gave us the most delicious coffee as our nightcap.

These guys lingered for more bonding while the seniors went home. 

Once again, Vener and Dolly, thanks a lot for a wonderful dinner.