Beef tips in Oyster sauce with Sitsaro

Hello, Mommies! ❤

It's a daily struggle to prepare meals for the family on day to day basis. Yung mag-isip kung anong ulam iluluto is what stresses us out. I know everybody can relate to that. What to prepare that the kids will eat and at the same time dapat healthy, right? There are times (well, most of the time for me) we're a bit drained because we already run out of ideas and recipes so the tendency is we invent. Whatever is available and viable in the fridge goes out and voila! It's a new ulam na! That is the typical diskarte of mommies in the house. We make all things work out, hindi pwedeng hindi! Haha! And speaking of that, here's a healthy meal that I made because I was a bit lazy to think what to prepare and I promise this is satisfaction guaranteed masarap. Please don't judge me when I say I'm lazy ha. Haha! By the way, this recipe is super easy to prepare and it would only take less than thirty minutes of your life. So, here it goes.

Ingredients

• Garlic
• Onion
• Beef tenderloin tips
• Oyster sauce
• Kikkoman Soysauce
• Sitsaro or Pea pod
• Sugar (optional)

Honey Butter Fried Chicken

Hello Mommies! ❤

I'm super excited to share to you my recent ulam discovery courtesy of THE famous home chef Maangchi. Actually, hubby prepared and cooked it because I was a bit lazy that moment and since he's always bragging that he's more masarap magluto than me, eh di sige, push! He did all the work and effort. Of course, it's super super masarap naman talaga. It has been my favorite fried chicken recipe since then. It's close to Bonchon's chicken but of course making this at home is way cost efficient and special. 

So much thanks and praises to Maangchi for sharing this recipe for everyone!😄

Anyway, enough of my blah blahs... Here's the recipe!

Ingredients

• 2 pounds of chicken wings (or chunks of chicken)
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
• 2 eggs
• ¼ cup potato starch
• ¼ cup all purpose flour
• ½ teaspoon baking powder
• ¼ cup pumpkin seeds (optional)
• 4 cups cooking oil (corn or vegetable oil)

For honey butter sauce:

• 4 tablespoons butter
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• ¼ cup white or brown sugar
• 2 teaspoons soy sauce
• 2 teaspoons honey

How to apply for PWD ID in Manila

Here's how to get your PWD ID:

1. Secure a Medical Certificate or Abstract from your doctor. You may also get this from a licensed physician at any government clinics and hospitals.
2. Barangay Certificate for your proof of residency
3. Bring 2 pieces 1x1 ID pictures
4. Go to MWSD at the Manila City Hall to fill out a PWD Registration Form.

4. Submit your medical certificate and ID pictures together with the completed form. 

The whole process should only take a few minutes if your requirements are complete. The PWD ID comes with a booklet which will serve as a track record of your medicine and basic goods purchases.

Balancing Life and Work

Success takes hard work, and your life & family should not suffer in order for you to be successful. 

Many people believe that you need to sacrifice some thing in order for you to get ahead of "the" other thing. That may be true, but of course any aspect or your personal life must not be compromised. 

Like for Health, it is said that "Health is Wealth" and I couldn't agree more. When I was in tip top shape I always maximize my energy for the whole day, I sometimes abuse my self by not taking rest even when I'm super tired. I don't like to sleep much because of my personal belief that "There's plenty of time to sleep when you're dead." As hilarious as it sound, I literally applied this motto in my life. 😂  Then came back my Lupus, because of stress and non-stop abuse of my physical body it triggered my 16year old sleeping Lupus to wake up once again. So my advice? Taking care of your body should be your number one priority. Set up a healthy routine and keep it consistent! Healthy foods and regular exercise will help a lot. Plus fun and leisure time after an exhausting day at work or for the week end will help you release all the negativity that had accumulated you in mental and emotional aspect.

Then Family, the other term for life and love. We're all vulnerable when it comes to stress. And sometimes, we forget that stress from work must only remain within the four corners of our workspace and that it shouldn't be brought home. It's a mortal sin to make your family or any of your family member (at least) to have a taste of your ill-mood when you got yourself a deadline for reports and others. It's totally unfair for them, right? So, create a lining between work and home life. Once you're with your family, focus on them, reconnect, and treasure every single moment. As cliche as it may sound, it's still one of the best advice anyone can have. ❤️

The Best Silvanas by Sans Rival

"Crispy thin meringue that becomes a little chewy when on room temperature,  and the super oh-so-creamy goodness of the buttercream in between those two nutty meringue." -Silvanas

World Lupus Day

My Lupus flare is a monstrous burden on me. Since September 2016 up to now it penetrated my everyday life starting from the basic up to the mental and emotional states of it. Waking up in the morning thinking it is another Lupus day is basically giving me the "stress" all at once, and how ironic because stress is the most important thing that a Lupus patient must avoid.  

But anyway, enough of my drama! Since it's World Lupus Day, I figured I should be happy. Not because I get to celebrate WLD because of my Lupus, but because I now know that people are getting more aware of this illness, they're being active of extending the awareness, and most importantly, they're giving support and spreading love. What a happy day it really is! :)

I joined the HFL Warriors Group in hopes that I would find people whom I can talk and relate to when it comes to my illness, and it was indeed one of the best decisions I've made. Being a timid type of person, opening up myself to people I barely even know was a big big big step for me. 

Civil Service Exam 2017

I wanted to try to work in a government agency/offices, but little did  I know that it is required to have an eligibility from the Civil Service Commission in order to pre-qualify for the position you're applying for. This is aside form the academic and experience requirement (if there's any) that is listed on the job posts. So, my goal now is to take the Civil Service Exam the soonest possible schedule. Of course, crossing my fingers and claiming that I will pass! :)

Here are some (hopefully useful) infos and tips from my own experience in the process of my application.

Since I reside in Manila, I went to the Manila Branch of the CSC Office, arrived there around 3PM already. There is only one applicant on the side, maybe because it's hapon na kaya wala nang tao applying for the exam. This is just a few steps away from the LRT Central Station. But you can also apply there even if you reside in other cities, my sister is from Quezon City and she applied in the same office. The CSC has a strict guidelines for the photo you're submitting, so it's quite safe to just take you photo in one of the stall under the LRT Central Station because they already know what to do and how to edit your picture for CSC requirement. 

* PS. your picture will be a little funny, they need to hold you ear while taking the pic, you need to show a serious face also, no earrings, etc on the face. Haha!

After a few clicks and edit of of Kuya's expertise on Photoshop it will be printed out and you can now go to the CSC Office to apply. The picture costs Php70. Enough copies na for the application.

College degree or Passion?

Last year (2016), I was eagerly searching for a home based or online job that would generate an extra income for me after I quit my job as a Respiratory Therapist. Yes, I'm an RT by profession, in a 250-bed capacity hospital. The reason why I quit my job? Sadly, it's as simple as "I am not as happy and as inspired anymore." :(

But dear, please don't get me wrong here, it's not that I don't feel the fulfillment of helping others, or the challenge of helping the patient make their lungs breathe, or the adrenaline rush during code blues, it's just that I think there's another world for me where I can shine more brightly. Or should I say, I will shine bright like a diamond! ;) 

Hospital work is an exhausting yet rewarding job and, it's one of the most time consuming and mind blowing work that I know of. Just imagine yourself rushing non-stop all over the place for 8 long hours or so (longer hours of duty is always always possible, 12-16 hours shift most of the time), extracting blood from critically ill patients at wards and intensive care units, rushing in with  ventilators/breathing machines for emergency cases, and setting up pretty much everything to help with the team. When it comes to dealing with my patients, most of the time, I get affected by their situations and their pains. I always have a heart for them.There are times when I can't help myself but to cry or at least get teary-eyed whenever I see someone passed or passing away while the families are weeping. And it always leaves a mark on me the whole day. I know this is not how I supposed to act professionally but, hey I'm human! Being an RT gave me tons of privileges to witness how precious every single life is. But... Theres is also this tiny voice within me that tells me there's more to life.

Passion.

Quote 003

PS

 Full credits to the owner of the background image, I found it on Pinterest. :)

Kidneys, eyes, and Lupus

Hi!

I just got back home from my Rheumatologist this morning.

Good news is, my SGPT/ALT and SGOT/AST went Normal now.

Bad news is, my kidneys are swollen, or as what my doctor termed as "nephritis." 

And this is making me a little bit upset.

But with the goodness and grace of God, Jesus, and Mary, my Doctor told me that it was, again, an early detection so the disease won't, at least, aggravate because it's still manageable. Having said that, my Doctor escalated my meds for now, dose up of additional 5mg for the Prednisone (total of 30mg/day) and Plaquenil (HCQ) 200mg BID (or twice a day). But I still have another concern as I have been very very observant with my body since my remission, I noticed that when I started on HCQs again (November 2016) my vision changed a lot, and I mean a LOT! Aside from an existing astigmatism, I think the blurriness is now becoming worse. My doctor said that, statistically, only 5% of the patients taking HCQs are affected by the said side effect, so unfortunately, I was among those 5% people. She advised me to take only 1tab of HCQ instead of my 2tabs routine for the past months to protect my eyes. And also, she added that these side effects regarding the changes in vision is still reversible and it will get better in time so now I'm giving a double cross-finger for that and hoping it's accurate! 

Came to the beanie part again, my doctor gave me Azathioprine for medication. 

Tomorrow I will be starting taking it at 50mg, twice a day.

Here's to hoping that I will get better!!! 

PS.

I will update this story after my 30-day medication of Azathioprine regarding the effects and or side effects on me, and everything that came along with it. 

My Hair Loss and Lupus

"The immune system normally fights off dangerous infections and bacteria to keep the body healthy. An autoimmune disease occurs when the immune system attacks the body because it confuses it for something foreign. There are many autoimmune diseases, including systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).'"

I was first diagnosed with Lupus (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus) when I was 13 years old. Luckily, it was an early detection so I was treated before it even developed, it was a fast phased treatment and no problems nor complications got on my way. To cut the story short, my Lupus slept for a very very very long time after it's detection and treatment. Until... 16 years later, the present time, it woke up again. Symptoms started to fill me up like muscle pains, fatigue, occasional joint pains, hair fall, butterfly rashes, etc.

I never would have thought that a Lupus remission would be possible because my life was all perfectly doing well, even my Doctor believed that not having any maintenance medicine for long years without a flare is a miracle and like the Lupus was completely gone, but I guess life is a box full of surprises!

My major dilemma from my flare is my hair, yes, my hair! And I think I'm losing it. Shocks! Am I gonna be bald? Haha! I'm serious though. So here's the odd-juicy story, I started to notice hair falls on November 2016 (I was diagnosed with Lupus flare at October 2016), I thought it will just pass and changing my shampoo will solve the problem, but it didn't. 

I've tried using Kerasys Shampoo (the pink and white one) because it says it can make your hair stronger -- of course it's just advertising, it didn't made my hair stronger. 

I've tried using Johnson and Johnson's baby shampoo (the bright pink one) because it says it's a mild shampoo plus it has Argan oil (FYI, Lupies must use mild shampoos and soaps because they tend to have more sensitive skin during flare ups) -- and Nuuuuh! Baby shampoo didn't do the job too.

Tried the Suave Naturals Daily Clarifying Shampoo too because it's Hypoallergenic and I have a feeling that it's super mild -- I guess not.