PAKOY AND THE WAVES

As to my previous question whether our pint-sized protagonist, Pakoy, did hit the Boracay beach waves or not, I will let the picture below answer that:

Daddy Alvin, Mommy Mcdo, Pakoy Kolokoy, and Tita Mae

Yes, you guessed it right!  Pakoy did not hesitate long to put his feet into the water.  He was exceedingly glad to be tossed by the strong waves.  He screamed for joy and was thrilled about the soaring tide.  He never allowed himself, not for a second, to be bothered by the salty water.  It was close to dusk when we took our first dip into the beach, and I, myself, had a good time swimming on the waves as the tide was slowly rising high.  What added fun to the experience were the squeals of excitement coming from the little boy each time big waves would come and toss us to the shore.  The joy of a child is simply priceless!

What do you think Pakoy did afterwards?  Had he gotten enough of the waters?  How much splash of fun could our tiny explorer handle in a day?

*********************************************************************

To find out the rest of the story, and to know more about my Philippines 2011 vacation, stay tuned to this blogserye:

THE ADVENTURES OF PAKOY-KOY

*********************************************************************

To read more of my travel stories, please click:  TUESDAY TRAVEL

*********************************************************************

My share for:  WATERY WEDNESDAY

PAKOY'S FIRST BOAT RIDE

Our family's 3-year-old rugrat, Pakoy, was not only able to experience his first plane ride during my Philippines 2011 vacation, but also his first boat ride when we went to Boracay.  The experience of traveling by air and by sea was altogether new to him so I could sense that he was just as curious as any young boy could be.  During the boat ride, I took the chance to give him a bit of a science lesson with regards to marine animals and told him that if he sees the ocean is blue, it means that the water is deep.  He had a taste of the salty seawater for the first time when at one point we got splashed on by small waves during the short boat ride.  When he realized that the sea is not the same as his previous swimming pool fun times, he requested that we not swim in the beach.  Coming from a little boy who once, without hesitation, jumped into a 4-foot deep swimming pool, I could tell that he got a tad scared of the water.

Pakoy and tita Mae carefully going up the plank to the boat 

Do you think Pakoy kept himself away from the beach when we got to Boracay?  Or was he able to overcome the deep, blue sea?  Stay tuned to find out the answers, and to know more of my vacation stories!  Until my next post, ciao for now :)

*********************************************************************

To read more of my Philippines 2011 vacation, please click:

THE ADVENTURES OF PAKOY-KOY

*********************************************************************

To read more of my travel stories, please click:  TUESDAY TRAVEL

*********************************************************************

My share for:

 

FALL APPAREL

Helloooo!!!  I'm back to once again contaminate the world a little more with my weekly dose of vanity :D

As you know, I have been on vacation mode since the first week of November, and hence, I missed on posting two Wednesday Apparel entries.  I would like to again thank my awesome blog network for the warm reception of this newly opened theme in my blog.  As I promised Rovie, being the early bird, first commenter in my launching post, I'm linking her up here today :)

For all who read my first Wednesday Apparel post, you already know the drill, but for the sake of those who haven't, it's my pleasure to reiterate that:

"Before you call the fashion police and have me arrested, please keep in mind that:

1.  Katie Holmes has had her fashion faux pas moments.
2.  HRH Duchess of Cambridge, Catherine, so as her sister, Pippa Middleton, has recycled wardrobes.

So, if they can, why can't I??? :D"

Today's outfit is just another ordinary fall get-up.  I thought it's weird how the words "fall" and "get-up" came one after the other, and made perfect sense in this context.  Hehe!

Blue top from H&M.

Denim mini-skirt from Kohl's.

Brown belt from Kohl's.

Brown suede boots from Payless Shoe Source.

Blue wristwatch from Swatch.

I wore this outfit one fine fall day, when Vince and I went shopping at the King of Prussia Mall, the largest shopping mall on the East Coast of the United States.  When we got to one of the high-end stores there, a georgeous blonde sales associate was sporting a similar get-up.  She approached me and complimented, guess what, not my outfit but my hair.  LOL.  Oh well!

Okay, I don't want to poison anybody with too much of me, so I'm cutting this short now.  As always, comments, suggestions, reactions and constructive criticisms are very much welcome :)  Anything negative to say?  Bring them on!  I get to moderate them first anyway :p  Ciao!

***************************************************************

For a sneak peek of what's inside my wardrobe, please visit:

WEDNESDAY APPAREL

And nope, they're not for sale :D

***************************************************************


My share for:

WHAT I WORE WEDNESDAY |

BORACAY VACATION TEASER

The photo above was taken by my youngest sibling, Pipoy, using the hand-me-down N95 16GB phone he got from me as pasalubong.  This, for me, is the best landscape picture we took from our Boracay trip.  Kudos to him for being able to capture a serene view of the beach considering how busy Station 2 is.  I was actually pretty surprised that the used-to-be-mine-now-Pipoy's 5 megapixel cam phone could actually produce a quality picture like this.  With that in mind, just imagine how much more if a top-of-the-line DSLR camera was used to digitally capture this sight to behold.

I will share more of my Boracay stories/pictures in future posts, so just hang in there and you're very much welcome to follow.  For now, let me leave you the photo above for a teaser :)  Ciao! 

*********************************************************************

To read more of my Philippines 2011 vacation, please click:

THE ADVENTURES OF PAKOY-KOY

*********************************************************************

To read more of my travel stories, please click:  TUESDAY TRAVEL

*********************************************************************

My share for:

SKYWATCH FRIDAY



WATERY WEDNESDAY

WELCOME DINNER IN CARAMOAN, CAMARINES SUR

My Bicol trip was very memorable in so many levels.  I don't even know where and how to begin to blog about the experience - honestly, I'm having a hard time finding the right adjectives to describe it.  I guess I'm going to have to expand my vocabulary by seeking Mr. Thesaurus' and Ms. Merriam Webster's combined help so that I can supply captions to pictures as well as words to form sentences accurate enough to encapsulate into my blog an epic vacation.

WELCOME DINNER IN CARAMOAN, CAMARINES SUR

I came to Bicol to meet Vince's relatives for the first time, and tagged along with me my six other family members including our rugrat, Pakoy.  I was glad to have finally met Vince's lola who cared for him until he was about 7 years of age, as well as his uncles, aunts, cousins, and the rest of his extended family there.  We stayed at their ancestral abode - the same house where Vince spent his childhood days in Bicol.

The dinner that welcomed us wiped off the long, exhilarating and tiresome journey from Manila to Ili, Caramoan.

The classic wooden round table held a succulent feast which included crabs, dinuguan (pork blood stew), ginataang sitaw at kalabasa (string beans and squash with coconut milk), caldereta (a form of beef stew with tomato sauce), fish stew, home-made gelatins, and suman (native rice cake wrapped in banana leaves).

A seafood lover's delight!

 

These purple yam-flavored rice cakes wrapped in banana leaves are called Suman Arroyo.
With all the scandal that ex-President Gloria Arroyo (GMA) is currently facing,
I bet, if only the suman could speak, it would desperately beg for a name change.

The warm reception did not end at the dinner table but extended to every space we occupied and throughout the rest of our stay.  I am very thankful for my husband's family's hospitality towards me and my family during our Caramoan vacation.  I really appreciate them treating us as guests, and at the same time, making us feel at home and that we belong :)

Photo credits to my father-in-law who is a photography afficionado

*********************************************************************

To read more of my Philippines 2011 vacation, please click:

THE ADVENTURES OF PAKOY-KOY

*********************************************************************

To read more of my travel stories, please click:  TUESDAY TRAVEL

*********************************************************************

To read more foodie adventures, please click:  GASTRONOMY MONDAY

*********************************************************************

My share for:

PAKOY'S FIRST PLANE RIDE

Pakoy and the rest of my family (except my brother-in-law) rode an airplane for the first time when we flew to Boracay via Kalibo, Aklan last week.  If the adults were very much excited, how much more the very curious 3-year-old tot, right?   It was interesting to hear each one's reactions and comments after going through the checking in and screening process at the airport.   I thought it was really cute that little Pakoy had to pass through scanners/detectors, remove his shoes, and step his tiny feet onto the small platform to be frisked by security officers.  *Aaaawwww :)

While waiting for our plane to arrive, I explained to Pakoy the whatabouts of riding a plane including how to board, fastening your seatbelt, turbulence, etc.   He was attentive and playful at the same time you wouldn't think he was paying attention to what I was saying, and actually retaining them.  He watched planes flew and landed from and on the runway, and when the time came for us to board our plane, he was giddy giddy happy as can be.  He sat by the window and had a great view of buildings and structures getting smaller as our plane was ascending.   We pointed to him clouds of various shapes and sizes as we traversed the blue sky.   He kept his seatbelt on when required.   He was a very good boy throughout his first flight.  Manila to Kalibo is just about a 40-minute fly time, and Pakoy was awake for the whole duration of the ride.

Being the smart boy Pakoy is, our subsequent flights turned out to be boring for him.   He most likely got tired listening to all my plane ride stories.  We even went over the safety measures more than a couple of times just to keep himself entertained during taxi and while waiting for the fasten seatbelt sign to go off.   He perfectly understood the illustrations in the safety guide pamphlet, and with the way his eyes lit up as he blurted out in joyous tone, "Wow, slide!", I swear he must have secretly wished for an emergency landing.   Sooner than later, he probably realized that plane rides are overrated and generally uneventful, so when I asked him to take a nap, he obliged without batting an eyelash.  He was sucking away his index finger and tickling his nose to dreamland long before the fasten seatbelt sign went off.  Hehe!

Pakoy chose to sit with Tita Mae on our Manila to Naga flight :)

***********************************************************************

To read more of my Philippines 2011 vacation, please click:

THE ADVENTURES OF PAKOY-KOY

***********************************************************************

To read more of my travel stories, please click:  TUESDAY TRAVEL

***********************************************************************

THE ADVENTURES OF PAKOY-KOY

I had been away from my native land for more than six years and today is my 12th day of being back home.  Currently, I'm spending my Saturday alone for the most part (Vince already left today for the States) having a down time, and guess what, I'm blogging.   I haven't bloghopped much yet but I was able to read a handful of blogs and visited those blogs who left comments and messages in my shoutbox.   I'm taking it easy, so if I haven't visited you back yet, please understand that I'm still on vacation mode, but I promise to return full swing once my holiday is over.

Speaking of my vacation, needless to say, I'm having a blast.  It will take me I-don't-know-how-many-posts to fully share the details, and I'm afraid there will not be enough words to express the experience.  Despite that, I will try my best to retell the story the most accurate and vivid way I can for posterity's sake, although I really doubt my writing prowess (or the lack of it) is sufficient to capture my homecoming tales.  So, ready or not, here goes the beginning of a series of nothing.

Before I embark on the daunting task of blogging my ultimate balikbayan stories, I would like to dedicate this series to my precocious, 3-year-old nephew, Pakoy.  He's the first grandchild/nephew in our family, and so just imagine the attention he lavishingly has been getting from each member including her Tita Mae and Tito Vince.  His extraordinary gabbing skills and quips of wits have been the source of amusement (and at times, annoyance) of our family.  Previously, Vince and I would regularly Skype with him or talk to him on the phone long distance, and so when we finally saw our charming little nephew, Pakoy, in the flesh, we couldn't contain our gigil.

Tita Mae, Pakoy and Tito Vince

Pakoy and family

bonding time with Tito Vince

And so expect to see a lot of Pakoy's kulit faces and trademark poses beginning today.   I am so dearly fond of this exceptionally smart boy I may have to create another theme in my blog solely for Pakoy.  I am thinking of Friday Pakoy maybe ... but that will have to wait until I complete my task of retelling my homecoming tales in my un-numbered series (yet) entitled, "The Adventures of Pakoy-Koy."  I hope you follow me in this story telling :)  Ciao for now !  Until the next adventure ^^

**********************************************************************

To read more of my travel stories, please click:  TUESDAY TRAVEL

**********************************************************************

My share for:

WATERY WEDNESDAY

MORE THAN SEXY IS NOW PR2!

...and I almost did a cartwheel when I found that out (only I didn't know how to)!

Thanks to all my blogging buddies who regularly visit here and for keeping the traffic alive and your comments coming. You, guys, are simply great! I really appreciate you all taking time to hop on my blog during my absence.

As you know, I am still on vacation, and yes, I am loving every single moment of it! I'm eager and tempted to spill the details and share photos right now but I will have to hold off until i get some ample blogging time again ;) Also, I'm using my Iphone latched onto the hotel's wi-fi, and the battery will soon die on me. LOL.

Anyway, I just wanted to quickly give an update, and let you know as well that I haven't vanished and that I shall return pretty soon ;) Once again, thanks for remembering to drop by here! Promise, I'll visit you all back when I get a chance to sit in front of my laptop and concentrate with blogging ;) Till then, please keep on supporting more than seXy, my little corner in this vast blogosphere! Take care and talk to all of you soon :) Hugs!

I'M LEAVING SOON FOR THE PHILIPPINES !!!

...and hence, I won't be able to visit your blogs, my dear blogging buddies, as often as I have been doing in the past recent weeks.  But worry not, I'm only going to be away for a month.  The first two weeks of vacation will be my busiest but the ensuing two weeks, I'll be working from home, so the chances of me being back in the blogosphere spreading silliness are high - oh well, depending on how reliable the Internet connection  we have in the Philippines :)  Once I come back to the States in December - that is if I don't change my mind and decide to extend my vacation - expect me to be raiding your blogs, bouncing off and on your comment walls, and flooding your shout boxes and chat boxes!

Thank you for all the "bon voyage" and "happy trip" greetings!  Please do keep in touch.  Don't leave my blog deserted, lonely, and unwanted :'(  Her author is just going to savor a long overdue grand vacation she deserves, so please continue to visit More Than Sexy, and continue to leave some love in the form of comments, messages, awards, credits, prizes, etc.  Any love marks you leave will be truly appreciated and will be reciprocated once I return to full swing blogging ♥

I will miss my regular "ka-comment-uhan" here:

1. Algene
2. Krizza
3. Lainy
4. Marie
5. Rovie
6. Reese

...and of course, my regular "ka-pindut-an," (alam nyo na!):

1. Christian
2. Enteng
3. Ian
4. Jake
5. Lyn
6. Midnight Driver 
7. Mumay
8. Mau
9. Mama G

...and all those blogs I follow, I've exchanged links with, and regularly hop to...

...and remember, if you're looking for a weekly meme to join, you know where to find one... right at the bottom of my blog is a whole section of meme badges!  If ever and whenever you run out of idea to blog about, memes are always there to run to :D

I'm planning to write another post before I step on the plane tomorrow but just in case I won't be able to, let me leave you today with this line, which I'm sure you'd figure out which song I got it from:

♪♫ "Twenty minutes before take off, Sitting here at the airport lounge..." ♪♫

(Akala nyo "Leaving on a Jetplane" kakantahin ko, no? Hehe!)

Ciao for now, guys!  Blog on...  at abangan ang pagbabalik ni Karenina ;)

*************************************************************************

WEDNESDAY APPAREL

My Norma Jean Polka Dotted Dress would like to say thank you to my blog pals who left her some compliments ;)  In that regard, and as inspired by Lainybellez, The Certified Fashionable Chic, I'm opening a new theme in my blog called, Wednesday Apparel.  Yes, as if the world doesn't have enough vain people, once a week I get to contaminate it more by spreading my share of vanity in the blogosphere :D  I just have to ask a little favor though.  Before you call the fashion police and have me arrested, please keep in mind that:

1.  Katie Holmes has had her fashion faux pas moments.
2.  HRH Duchess of Cambridge, Catherine, so as her sister, Pippa Middleton, has recycled wardrobes.

So, if they can, why can't I??? :D

Moving on, here's my first entry for Wednesday Apparel:

Dress from H&M.
Sandals from Aldo.

What I love about the dress is its frilly style that brings out the girly girl in me :)  The color complements well my "morena" complexion.  The fabric is appropriate for warm summer weather.  To match the dress, I chose to wear a pair of olive green espadrille ankle-strap wedge sandals, which  I think not only added a touch of hue as well as summery effect to the ensemble.

Okay, that's enough for my weekly dose of vanity.  Comments, suggestions, reactions and constructive criticisms are very much welcome :)  Anything negative to say?  Bring them on!  I get to moderate them first anyway :p  Ciao!

***************************************************************

For a sneak peek of what's inside my wardrobe, please visit:

WEDNESDAY APPAREL

And nope, they're not for sale :D

***************************************************************


My share for:

WHAT I WORE WEDNESDAY | 366 BLOG PHOTO CHALLENGE |

PORK CHOP ORANGE SKILLET DINNER

Believe it or not, I know how to cook.  Vince can attest to that.  Okay, that doesn't sound fair.  LOL.  Seriously, I may not look domesticated enough but I can do things in the kitchen that go beyond turning the oven on ;)

My latest concoction is Pork Chop Orange Skillet Dinner.  I got the original recipe from a Campbell's can label but I did modifications to add more flavor and better suit me and my husband's taste ;)  Usually when I modify a recipe or come up with my own, Vince would remind me to take note of the measurements so I can share it, but I tend to be lazy to use actual measuring cups and spoons much more record them one by one, so I just "buhos buhos" the ingredients and "tantya tantya" the "timpla" until it turns out great or disaster.  Hence, the term "pacham" for pachamba or "nilafaz" for nilafaztangan depending on the level of edibility of the dish.  Haha!

Anyway, in case anybody's interested to try my version of Pork Chop Orange Skillet Dinner, here's what I came up with:

4 pieces of pork chop bone-in 3/4-inch thick
1 cup of uncooked rice
4 cups of orange juice
1 can of Campbell's condensed chicken broth (10.5 ounce)
3 tablespoons chopped parsley
2 tablespoons olive oil or cooking oil
1 orange, sliced
1 medium onion, chopped
salt
ground black pepper
red chili powder
sugar

1.  Season pork chops with salt, ground black pepper and red chili pepper powder.
2.  Marinate seasoned pork chops with 2 cups of orange juice for 10 to 15 minutes.
3.  Heat oil in skillet (or wok) over medium-high meat.
4.  Add pork chops and cook until well browned on both sides.
5.  Add marinade into skillet and simmer until reduced.
6.  Add onion and rice to skillet and cook and stir until rice is browned.
7.  Stir in chicken broth, orange juice, and parsley and heat to boil.
8.  Reduce heat to medium-low.
7.  Add salt and sugar to taste.  May also add water and/or more orange juice as desired for flavor and consistency.
8.  Cover and cook for 20 minutes or until pork is cooked through and rice is tender.
9.  Top with orange slices and sprinkle with parsley.

10.  Serve with a smile :)

There you go!   Vince and I really liked this dish, so I encourage you to try this.   I passed on this recipe to my ex-coworker and she told me hers turned out great and that her husband loved it too ;)

*******************************************************************

For more foodie stuff, please visit:  GASTRONOMY MONDAY

*******************************************************************

My share for:

*******************************************************************