toddler-approved recipe: nutella-dipped strawberries

Now here's another yummy way to eat strawberries - dip them in Nutella! Well, it's more like smother it with some of that chocolate hazelnut goodness.

Did you know that a tablespoon of Nutella is only 100 calories? Doesn't sound so sinful, does it? So, go ahead, indulge and let me know how you like it.

travel wardrobe staples

Do you have favorite items in your closet that you just grab and pack when you need to travel? I do! Here are some pieces I could count on to give me a lot of style mileage when I need to pack light. A mix of basic tops, flirty prints and pops of color. Add a chambray shirt and a couple of jersey dresses and I am ready to go.

As for shoes, I always bring a pair of nude flats, my trusty pair of neon yellow leather sandals, and a pair of tan wedges for dressier occasions and nights out.

What are your travel staples?

sun, sand & surf

In case you were wondering why I've been awfully silent lately, it was because we went home to Manila for a much awaited reunion with our families. Of course, no vacation in the Philippines is complete without a visit to the beach. On our first week in the homeland, we headed straight to Boracay for a 5-day getaway. It was a warm welcome to feel the sun on my skin again after months of being bundled up in winterwear. But it was the little guy who really had a blast! As soon as we got to our resort, he ran to the beach, picked up a handful of sand and jumped in the water. He was fearless. I had to keep reminding myself it was okay to be spontaneous, we were on holiday.

5 days in Boracay was not enough even if all we did was swim, lounge and eat. We didn't even have time to do any of the touristy stuff like hop from island to island, snorkle, sail or ride the flyfish. Speaking of tourist-traps, can I just say, the fruit shakes from Jonah's are highly overrated. A fruit shake is a fruit shake. You can get the same fruit shake from other establishments like Jony's (just a few doors down from Jonah's) for a few pesos less. And one more thing about the shakes - I know Philippine mangoes are sweet but not that sweet. The shakes are laced with so much sugar so I always request mine prepared with only half recipe of the syrup.

If you've never been to Boracay, you definitely must go at least once to experience the powdery white sands and the clear waters. If you're looking to stay in Station 1, Sur is a great boutique resort to try. It's located right beside Two Seasons but rooms are a fraction of the cost. The staff are friendly and rooms are clean and comfortable. Even the food was unexpectedly good.

Happy New Year

 

We welcomed 2012 with wonderful friends, good food and lots of great wine. It was different from the new year's eve tradition I grew up with back in the hometown but just as fun and festive nonetheless.

I am very grateful for all the love and countless blessings we have been showered with in 2011. Here's to more reasons to be thankful and celebrate in 2012!

Thanks to my beautiful friends, Ila and Faye, for the memorable night and the photos!

hard boiled eggs

You would think that one of the easiest things to cook is a hard boiled egg. For me, it was always hit or miss when it came to boiling eggs until I came across this helpful technique from the Barefoot Contessa.

Place the eggs in a sauce pan and add enough cold water to cover.


Bring the water to a boil and immediately turn off the heat. Let the eggs sit in the pan for 15 minutes.

Remove the eggs to a bowl and allow to rest for at least 2 minutes. When the eggs are cool enough to handle, crack the eggs on each side and then roll them back and forth with your hand, breaking up the shell. Remove and discard the shell.

I just thought it would be a good idea to share this with you especially since I boil eggs on a daily basis.The Mister loves his egg salad sandwich and never tires of eating it every single day.

Do you have other tips for boiling eggs? Please do share.

Happy Holidays!

bike rides and wine tasting

My brother recently visited and spent two full weekends with us. Since he has already been here a couple of times before, we looked for new activities to do and new place to visit with him apart from the customary shopping. I was pleasantly surprised to find out that there's so much more we haven't done and seen in the Twin Cities.

On his first weekend, we toured downtown Minneapolis on bicyles. I had a vision of myself wearing a dress while riding a vintage bicycle with the streamers hanging from the handlebars. But NO, I didn't wear a dress and we rode the Nice Ride rental bikes instead. I had dressed appropriately knowing that I haven't been on a bike for more than 15 years. You know,there is some truth in the saying "it's just like riding a bike". You really never forget how to do it. It did take me a while to get used to getting on and off the bike again without fumbling but I managed to get around and I actually quite enjoyed the experience. Now I understand why there are so many people who look forward to riding their bikes during the weekends.

Nice Ride Bike Station

The next Saturday, we visited the Alexis Bailly Vineyard in Hastings, MN for some wine tasting. I am no expert when it comes to wine but I would say most of their wines are on the sweet side which is why I really enjoyed all the bottles we tasted. The most memorable for me was the Bailly's Reserve Chocolate Port. It was bold, sweet and sexy all at the same time. We brought the little man with us too. He played with the resident dog while we sipped our wine. You could say we all had a great time.