We've been waiting for this day!

The big day has arrived. It was my little girl's 2nd ballet recital last night!  This year is more exciting because they performed "The Sound of Music" which is a very popular musical. She has been watching the movie regularly and has already memorized most of the songs. She's been working so hard during rehearsals for the past five months! And we're all very excited to watch her performance. We were even seated in the first row with the proud grandparents. Unfortunately, CCP does not allow anyone to take pictures and videos during the show so we just have to wait for the DVD and official photos.

I am really happy that Belle is enjoying ballet.  Discipline, gracefulness, perseverance, punctuality, patience, self-confidence are just some of the admirable qualities that ballet has taught her for the past two years.  I hope she will not get tired of dancing because not all children are endowed with this talent.

Here are some of the pictures taken before and after the show.

11:45am Lunch time

3:30pm Snack time with Nanay Lita

Needs to retouch make-up! They were made-up since 11am but the show is still at 5pm

4pm all set for their performance

Still managed to take pics using my I-Phone (kahit bawal!)

Now, I can not identify where Belle is!!!

This is the closest shot that I have

Curtain call

So proud of you, Anak! Right after the show we rushed at the backstage and gave flowers to Belle and her friends. 

with Bff Joeke

with Ruru

with Daddy and Mommy

with Daddy, Lolo Dolfo, Lola Maring and Nanay Lita

A dozen roses from Daddy

Flowers from Joeke

Belle specifically requested for us to eat at Yakimix (MOA) but the waiting list was so long! We can't wait because we're already very hungry!  She still got to eat Japanese food at Tempura.

Very good na with her chopsticks :)

Full to the max :)

Congratulations and we look forward to your next recital Belle! We love you very much!

Christmas is the time for sharing

I feel so tired today, my body is aching all over!  I baked 5 dozens of red velvet cupcakes yesterday and decorated all of them with fondant today.  (That's an achievement for a beginner ha!) I am very pleased with my latest creation. It was indeed a labor of love for special people close to our family.  I would love to do some more but I ran out of cake flour and cocoa powder. 

I'm sure a lot of our friends (who did not receive my cupcakes) will get jealous so I'm sorry you received a different gift from us.  I really ran out of time!  Next year, I will hopefully be able to bake more efficiently when my KitchenAid mixer arrives.

I made this for a very special lady who is craving for my RVC!  Enjoy them Jane but please share with the 4 J's in your life! Ikaw lang ang may candy ha :) You're really special!

Isang tulog nalang Noche Buena na! I still have a lot of cooking and baking to do tomorrow. Merry Christmas everyone!

All I want for Christmas!

Mixing... whisking... baking... bonding... topping.... frosting... folding... loving!  I've been waiting for you!

My Birthday and Christmas gift

I've already seen you in Facetime and I can't wait to hold you in my hands! I'm sure you'll look good in my kitchen. Thank you, Daddy!

Matt turned 12!

How time flies! My son is no longer a baby, Matt just turned 12 yesterday!

I've been very very busy last week! I was reviewing him for his 3rd quarterly exams, shopping and wrapping Christmas gifts and preparing for his birthday celebrations in school and at home. It was very special this year simply because I did not buy a cake from Goldilocks or Red Ribbon. I personally made his birthday cakes! A bit ambitious but I took the challenge of making my very first fondant Angry Birds cake and cupcakes for his party in school. 

Let me just share the highlights...

Dec 13. It was already 10pm when I started preparing the fondant and gumpaste mixture for the cupcake topper.  It's almost midnight when I finished my first red bird!

Dec 14. 1 am. I'm getting better!  4 red birds and a black bird :)

4:30am  Done with 16 birds and 4 pigs!  My fingers were already numb but I was so pleased with my creation.  Time to sleep, the kids will be waking up at 6am!

3pm.  Started baking the chocolate pound cake followed by the chocolate cupcakes.  I was not able to take pictures as I was running out of time. I only have less than 20 hours to finish everything!

Here's the big red angry bird cake

11:30pm.  Finally done baking the cupcakes!  It's time to rest my back.  Have to wake up early the following day.

Dec 15. 7:30 am After the kids went off to school. I started to make the chocolate frosting for the cupcakes and immediately assembled them.  Have to move faster... the party is at 10:30am!!!!  We're also cooking Spaghetti, Fried Chicken and Hotdogs all at the same time!  Thanks to my very dependable cook and Matt's yaya, Ate Fe. Our kitchen was extremely busy!

10 am. All set but I have to pick up Belle first. She doesn't want to miss Kuya's party so I asked permission if she can leave early (her classes usually ends at 1:30pm)

Group picture first!

10:55am They were already playing games when we arrived in school. I anticipated that we will be little late that's why I already sent the balloons and prizes earlier so they can start on time.  

The cakes looked so nice in my new cupcake holder/tower!

Kids were so trilled when they saw the cupcakes! Everybody loves Angry Birds games, holding them in their hands is just as exciting :) 

"Kuya Matt, make a wish and blow your 12 little candles"

They were all excited to take home their cupcakes and it was so heartwarming to see big smiles on their faces. I didn't feel tired anymore :)

Dec 19. Day before his actual birthday.  It was the first time we invited his teachers, therapists and the families of his closest friends Kyle, Gino and Sean.  Matt kept on mentioning how happy he was to see them all gathered at home.

Trails family

Optimal family

The 3 talls boys at the back are Sean, Gino and Kyle

Of course, Mommy had to bake another cake again.  This time it was Chocolate Cream Cheese cake with Chocolate ganache.

It was indeed a joy to be with very special people who contributed to Matt's physical, social, emotional and mental development through the years. We really appreciate that you have spent a few hours to celebrate with us despite your busy schedules. Big thanks to all of you!!!

Matt's previous teachers and a classmate who are now based out of the country (plus three celebrities c/o Auntie Ruth and Tita Anna Bautista) also sent their birthday greetings on video via email.  Daddy Louie lovingly compiled them to make his birthday more extra special.

Next year you'll be a teenager already! I promise it will be another great year worth celebrating. We love you so much, Matt! 

Happiness is...

"Happiness" is a song performed by Lea and Gerard Salonga in one of Lea's concerts years ago.  I love the melody and the lyrics too... It's a very heartwarming song and it reminds me of childhood. Click here to watch their performance.

"HAPPINESS"

Lea:
You know some kids ask us what happiness really is.
Well, to me happiness is a hamburger, going to the movies, new clothes.
Well, what's your happiness, Gerard?

Gerard:
My happiness is a hotdog sandwich, new rubber shoes, new t-shirts,
New jeans and also my favorite part of happiness is love.

Lea:
Happiness is two kinds of ice cream
Finding your skate key, telling the time
Happiness is learning to whistle
Tying your shoe for the very first time
Happiness is playing the drum in your own school band
And happiness is walking hand in hand

Gerard:
Happiness is five different crayons
Knowing a secret, climbing a tree
Happiness is finding a nickel
Catching a firefly, setting him free
Happiness is being alone every now and then
And happiness is coming home again

Lea:
Happiness is morning and evening

Gerard:
Daytime and nighttime, too

Both:
For happiness is anyone and anything at all
That's loved by you

Gerard:
Happiness is having a sister

Lea:
Sharing a sandwich

Both:
Getting along
Happiness is singing together when day is through
And happiness is those who sing with you

Happiness is morning and evening
Daytime and nighttime, too
For happiness is anyone and anything at all
That's loved by you

It was 2006 when I let Matt listened to this song from the concert's soundtrack. We changed the lyrics and he easily memorized it. Matt sang it to his baby sister, Belle when she's only 5 months old.  Here's Kuya Matt's version of the song "Happiness."  It always make me smile whenever I watch this video.

Happiness is having a sister

Her name is Ysabelle, I'm Kuya Matt

Happiness is kissing my brother (supposedly Belle's part)

Hugging each other, All the time.

Happiness is playing together 

And sharing toys

And happiness is reading Nursery Rhymes.

Happiness is being with Mommy 

Texting my Daddy to come home early.

Happiness is eating french fries

Singing together, drinking milk.

Happiness is playing together 

And sharing toys

And happiness is reading Nursery Rhymes.

Happiness is morning and evening

Daytime and night time too

For happiness with Kuya Matt, with Ysabelle, Mommy and Daddy

That's love... by... you!

I always pray that my kids will grow up loving each other no matter what.  They will meet lots of friends but I hope their love and concern for each other will last a lifetime!

Cake Pops!

I've been wanting to make cake pops when my friend Jinky (now based in Chicago) introduced me to the cute cakes on sticks early this year.  She's my idol in baking since our high school days. She has created so many beautiful cakes for everyone.  The "in" now is cake pops or lollicakes so maybe I should also give it a try.

Jinky's Lady bug pops

Gift from Jinky when I visited her last May

I am running out of ideas for Christmas giveaways for my kids' classmates so I thought of making simple Christmas cake pops.  It looks so simple but not so true for first timer like me!

To make pops, you will need:

1 Package of any boxed cake mix  (Baked as directed or you can bake from scratch)
Any of your favorite frosting (Canned or homemade)

Candy melts
Popsicle sticks 

Sprinkles or any edible decorations
Wax paper

Procedure:

1. Bake cake (I used Brownie mix) and allow to cool completely.
2. Crumble the cake in a bowl then add frosting. Mix thoroughly.
3. Shape dough into balls and place on a tray with wax or parchment paper
4. Refrigerate for 30 minutes
5. Melt candy coating (I used my left over ganache from Matt's cake last night) 
6. Gently insert a stick (I used a small bbq stick) into the ball to create a small hole. Dip end of Popsicle stick in candy melts and insert into cake ball. 
7. If you find the cake too soft you can put them back in the ref for about 10 mins to help the cake stay on the stick.
8. After taking the pops out of the ref allow 5 mins before dipping the ball into the candy melts. 
9. Add sprinkles

Here's what I created for Belle's classmate....

It would have been easier if I had styro so I can just stick the pops

Just wrapped in plastic and ready to go!

Made 23 of these

I was so tired because of many sleepness nights of baking and preparing for Kuya Matt's birthday.  But I felt so happy and fulfilled when I saw the excitement of Belle's classmates when they got her Christmas giveaway.

Belle enjoying her colorful cake pop!

I will definitely do this again and again!

Hi Jena, you can also refer to this site. It has step by step procedure and pictures for you to follow. Have fun and enjoy baking pops!

Thank you Nikki!

It all started when my sister Ruth covered Jollibee's Kids Who Can Concert at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium last year.  Nikki Gil was the host of  the show.  My sister knows very well that Matt loves MYX and Nikki is one of his favorite VJs so she took the chance of requesting for a short birthday greetings for Matt who will soon be turning 11 .  Nikki was so sweet and kind to accommodate her.  Matt was so shocked when I showed him this video during his birthday. He felt so shy as if Nikki was in front of him!

When I posted the video in my FB account, I learned that one of my friends, Anna Bautista knew Nikki's aunt.  I kept that information at the back of my mind :)

Last month, we started planning for Matt's 12th birthday. We usually give him a small party in school to celebrate with his classmates.  I thought of getting video messages from his favorite teachers and classmates in his previous school. Most of them are now based out of the country and readily promised to send their greetings via email.

I remembered Nikki, maybe I can get her message for Matt again this year through Anna.  With the help of Tita Geri Gil, Nikki (despite her very busy schedule) recorded and emailed her special greetings for Matt. When we showed this during his party last Thursday, he was so overwhelmed! 

Hopefully, Nikki will be able to read this post.  From the bottom of our hearts, thank you so much for being a wonderful person inside and out.  You're truly an inspiration to a lot of your fans especially my son. God bless you even more in the coming years!

Matt has a complete collection of MYX magazine. His day will not be complete without watching MYX :)

Special thanks to Ms. Geri Gil, Anna Bautista and Joyce Ferrer.  I haven't downloaded the pictures and videos during his party but I will post his reaction video when I get the chance.

Thank you very much also to my sister Ruth Floresca for the special greetings of Ms. Judy Ann Santos (Host of Junior MasterChef - Matt's favorite cooking show) and Mr. Champ Lui-Pio (Matt's favorite vocalist.) Full videos will be uploaded soon.

From my Kitchen: Christmas Tree Cookies

This is the first time I tried making Roll-Out Cookies.  I've been seeing lots of ideas from magazines and internet so I think this is the best time to do it using my Wilton Christmas Tree cookie cutter from my good friend Jinky.

I used the recipe at the back of the label. I like it because there's no need to chill the dough and you can bake the cookies right away.

Roll-Out Cookie Recipe

Ingredients:

• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
• 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon no-color almond extract
• 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt

* Makes about 3 dozen 3-in. cookies.

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350ºF. 

2. In large bowl, beat butter and sugar with electric mixer until light and fluffy. Beat in egg and extracts. Mix flour, baking powder and salt; add to butter mixture 1 cup at a time, mixing after each addition. Do not chill dough. Divide dough into 2 balls.

3. On floured surface, roll each ball into a circle approximately 12 in. diameter x 1/8 in. thick. Dip cookie cutter in flour before each use. Bake cookies on ungreased cookie sheet 8-11 minutes or until cookies are lightly browned. 

 

Sorry I was not able to take pictures when I was baking. It's so hard to hold a camera when your hands are full of flour!

After preparing the icing using Wilton Color Flow Mix (I just added Confectioners' sugar and water), we are now ready to decorate our cookies. Royal icing can also be used.

 

First pipe the borders and let it dry first (Medyo sunog ang cookies!)

Belle and her friend Sophie "flooding" the cookies with thinned icing

Seriously decorating her tree

Toothpick can be used to drag red dots to make stars. Just noticed that it looks like Tink is holding the cookie :)

Sophie's cookies with sprinkles

Who wants our cookies?

Need to wait for at least 8 hours for the icing to dry

More cookies to decorate!!!

It was such an enjoyable activity for the kids and the moms as well. We'll definitely do this more often!