Easiest (and cheapest) Spaghetti Aglio Olio Recipe

Hey did I mention that Conching is on vacation leave for 8 days? (Conching is our ever trusty and reliable kasambahay.)

Naka VL ang aking yaya until July 04. On Thursday, I have to present my Six Sigma Project to my sponsor. Plus it's month end (so that means reports, reports and more reports). Plus it's Orchid last week. (Orchid is a real person.) She's my team's knowledge coach.) She got promoted (sigh!). And it's the last 6 days of my one month unlimited Bikram yoga sessions (I only lost 4 lbs. - malamang Belo na talaga ang kasagutan sa aking pangarap!).

Need I say it?

I am going to have a hell hectic week! Just thinking about it gives me headache already.

I told my husband this morning. I am not cooking breakfast for you. Too many pots and pans involved. Instead I will cook an awesome brunch nalang para tipid. K? K? He said 'okay' back.

So may I present to you the easiest (and cheapest) Spaghetti Aglio Olio Recipe (eeeevvvarrr!).

The ingredients will depend on whatever stuff you have in your pantry or ref.

Basic ingredients should be pasta, olive oil, garlic and a can of tuna. Kahit yan lang mga buhay na ang recipe. In my case these are the ingredients I was able to rummage from our pantry:

spaghetti, tuna, mushroom, capers, olive oil, garlic, onion, tomato

*note: capers, tomato, mushroom and onion are all optional

1) Boil the pasta according to the packet instructions. Remove when al dente. Do not overcook as it will continue cooking in the pan later. Drain.

2)  Sautee garlic, onion and tomato in olive oil. It should look like this. (Tip: Do not burn the garlic or else the whole dish will taste bitter. Echosz. True yan!)

3) Add the capers, tuna and mushroom. Add salt and pepper. (Tip: Drain the oil of the canned tuna. Excess oil from the tuna will make the pasta soggy.)

4) Put back the pasta into the saucepan. I added a few sprinkles of parmesan cheese before removing it from the heat.

Finished product. Best served with garlic bread on the side or chicken piccata as another entree. Shushal!

Ayan! I might have to say goodbye to facebook, twitter and the blogging world until Conching returns. Sniff. Because you gotta to what you gotta do, right? Domesticated/working mom ang drama ko this week. Sniff. I'll live. 

I hope one of you tries the recipe out. I asked my husband: How much will you pay for this dish? (We play this game a lot whenever I cook. Haha!). He said P800 daw. Winner! (Either masarap yung pasta talaga or he wants to make me happy lang. Either which, happy parin ako haha.) :)

Happy Sunday. Now back to household chores.

The 30 day blog challenge will resume until such time na may time na ko. Hehe.

XOXO.

30 Day Blog Challenge - Day 13

Something you want to buy

We have an old laptop. It is like an old man slowly dying and withering before my eyes. It can still function yes, although sometimes its quirks (translation: topak) scares me. I am one of those who would only buy something new until the old one crashes. Especially techy stuff. Heck, something new is always coming out so why bother? But this laptop I must replace soon. (Side note: What happens to deleted files? Do they go into oblivion? If yes, what does this oblivion look like? In the vast infinity of space is there a vortex somewhere where all deleted and unused digital files go?)

I babble a lot. Sorry. Where was I? Oh yea, one of these days I'm buying this.

Photo source here

For Eli (ginawa pang dahilan ang anak?!) I want to buy an iPad. Cute lang to see him play with it.

Photo source here

For my husband, I want to give him this. I'll get the high end one (yung may kasamang payong and air-con). Dahil obsessed sya sa mga swiss knife.




Photo source here


And lastly walang katpusang satchel (in "whore"-ish RED). Babaw lang.

Photo courtesy of Chuvaness

Guess what, it's already Wednesday! Middle of the week. Where did all the time go? Just last night I believe Eli grew 3 inches. No kidding! I woke up today and he is longer.

At the corner of my eye I can see him and his dad fighting because he doesn't like the "camote" we are feeding him this morning.

If you ask me, I wouldn't trade this life for anything, dying laptops and all.

Check out my other entries for the 30-Day Blog Challenge here.

30 Day Blog Challenge - Day 12

Something you bought recently

I recently bought this satchel bag on-line from Frances of Topaz Horizon. Genuine handmade leather satchel. I drooled. I kept on looking at it for four days. I tossed and turned in my bed. I was probably whispering in my dreams (sssssaaaaaatttcheeeelllllll). I had a case of bag envy. My husband noticed and he finally relented. On-line shopping - I love!

Photo source here

Then I bought this from Megamall (I have a hate-love relationship with this mall promise. Finding parking - I hate. Cheap shoes - I love. Sea of people during "mega" sales - I hate. Nice chapel - I love. And the list goes on.) Anyhoo, these shoes are again one of my impulse purchases. I didn't even blink. I just said I want to get thinner and so behold...



Photo source here


It's still there in my closet. I've only used it once and I didn't even jog! What the fruit! My fats are still here. This morning I said a prayer:

Dear Lord, I said I want to get thinner. I want to be healthier. I want my clothes to fit me. Why is it so hard?! Getting thin used to be so easy during high school (one week lang di mag lunch payat-ness na!). Send my fats to high school girls who can loose them easily please. Help me in this journey. Amen.

This morning I told the H, jogging naman tayo please. He said, sige pero cook  greasy cheese pancakes first. Hayst! Help me!

Check out my other entries for the 30-Day Blog Challenge here.

30 Day Blog Challenge - Day 11

Nicknames you have and why (plus Father's Day entry)


My full name is Lumila Aida Lovella


Nicknames I have:

Love: My parents gave this nickname I guess. Majority of the population of people who know me call me by this name.

Bee/Beanks/Binks/Biks: Weird names my husband call me.

Mother Love/Ms. Love: My "anaks" in the office call me this.

Soul bud: My bestfriend Jeosa calls me by this.

Dits: This is how my sister from another mother Kristen addresses me. This is short for "maldita" (translation: mean girl). I call her "maldits" too. PS: We may look like tough cookies but we are actually soft on the inside. :))

On another story, allow me to greet my super bait (except when he is hungry) husband a Happy Father's Day. I hope our baby boy grows up like you. I am so excited for Elijah to get to know you.

Here's what we had this lunch.

Autralian Beef T-bone steak and Spaghetti with chunky tomatoes and sausages

Such a hands on daddy! We love you. Stay healthy and gwapo. :)

This is our actual Happy Father's Day gift 

Happy Sunday! :)

Check out my other entries for the 30-Day Blog Challenge here.

30 Day Blog Challenge - Day 10

A photo of you taken over ten years ago

Almost everyone says Elijah looks like JP.

I say, part of him looks like me too.

That's me at approx. 4 or 5 months.

What do you guys think? :)

Check out my other entries for the 30-Day Blog Challenge here.

30 Day Blog Challenge - Day 9

Pet Peeves

Oh well, it is not a very nice topic. And since I would like to stay away (as much as I can) from posting negative thoughts in this blog (there's TV Patrol and 24 Oras for those), I will keep this one short and not so sweet. And last na, I know ma-comment ako but I rarely get pulsed about anything and anyone. You can be annoying as hell and I would not care. Ganyan ka ginawa ni Lord e! So, I might as well enjoy your quirks. :)

According to wikipedia:

A pet peeve (or pet hate) is a minor annoyance that an individual identifies as particularly annoying to him or her, to a greater degree than others may find it.

Here goes:

1) Mandarayang (cheater) taxi drivers 

•     This is not out of being stingy. I am very generous and  understanding to cab drivers (especially the manong "lolo" ones- they make my heart melt, seriously!) who are trying to make an honest living. The operative word there is honest. Once they cheat, they make my blood hurl.

2) People who blame everything (as in EVERYTHING) to the government

3) I hate it when my husband reads what I type in the computer (like what hes doing right now). I can't think when he does that. Grr

That's it pancit! Really, I mean you could be the most negative, maarte, feelingera, socialite human being and I will still be able to find something endearing about you. My heart has a special place for the loner, misunderstood, ostracized, neglected, epal, non-conformist, misjudged people. Usually, I become their number one supporter when everyone walks out on them (this is true walang joke!). I always choose to see what is good in others. Gullible na kung gullible but life is too short so I do want to burn any bridges.

Hug someone tight tonight before going to sleep okay?

To know more about the 30 day challenge, click here.

30 Day Blog Challenge - Day 8

Cravings

This word reminds me so much of food and the first trimester of my pregnancy last year.

Right now, if I really dig deep into my soul what I’m really craving for is a very long vacation with my boys.

Either here.


Disneyland Hotel, Hong Kong

 Or here.


Tokyo DisneySea Hotel MiraCosta


Long vacation meaning not less than 2 weeks the very least. I want to lounge and not care about the world. I want to sit still and not think of any next agenda, or to-do list, or responsibilities.

Vacation aside,  I am also craving to regain my youth. Not just my old physique and beauty (walang kokontra blog ko to! Jejejeje.) but I also want to get my old endurance back. When I can walk nonstop for 8 hours in Divisoria, when I was able to party till wee hours and still function like a human being the next day, or do 10,000 activities during the day and still sleep soundly that night without any body aches and pains. Sometimes I do feel like I am the oldest twenty something (fine, late twenty something) I know. But, it’s not yet too late I know.  I shall recover from this slump you’ll see. (Walang sinabi si Vina Morales at Carlos Agassi sakin by the time my Bikram yoga sessions are over. Haha!)

Of course I cannot write about cravings without discussing food. I have lots of food cravings.

If calories do not cause bloating of the hips. I shall eat this everyday:

Uncle Cheffy’s Baby Back ribs fall-off-the-bones BBQ

I can eat one pail (isang baldeng) McDo Shaker fries.

I have been craving for the best Hainanese Chicken ever since I came back from Singapore. I have eaten lots of this already here, but nothing compares to the one I had in SG. (Thanks Marvs and Resie!)

Nakakasira ng buhay ang sarap ng cake na to:

Conti’s Mango Bravo

And I pretty much love everything from this restaurant. 

Lastly, I forgot my name when I devoured tasted this buco pandan from Nathaniel’s.

My food cravings change from day to day. I also like Shakey’s pizza Bianca, Andok’s lechon manok, my mom’s inihaw na liempo, dampa seaside shrimp tempura, red velvet cupcakes from Sonja’s and Selecta Reese’s ice cream.

Grabe na this is torture. Nagdi-diet pa naman ako.

Tama na nga. I shall go back na nga in eating my carrot and celery sticks. Char! 

To know more about the 30 blog challenge, click here.

30 Day Blog Challenge - Day 7

The meaning behind your blog name


Note: I was supposed to post this last night but my laptop died on me. So I slept nalang. Hehe.


Today is my seventh entry in the 30 day blog challenge. Today is also Elijah's 7th month birthday.

Seven.

Seven always reminds me of Jaworksi. And 7-11 stores. And being lucky. Anyhoo. Back to my topic. Kekekeke.

The blog name "The Things I Love" is pretty much self explanatory. I have said that I always have opinion on everything. Not just so-so opionions. I always have strong opinions on anything. (Kahit ano pa yan: taho, movie, philosophical concepts, people I know, people I don't know, etc... Tagalog translation: epal. Haha!) I am an extrimist. I am a fan of polarities. No such thing as neutral or in-between for me. Either I love you or... I love to hate you. Hence, the name.

I think that applies to me as well. People always either hate my guts or love me for what I am. I am the most transparent person I know. I squeal with delight when I love you and I am happy for you. I make faces if I don't like you. And this is not because I want to be mean. I just don't have the power to hide my emotions. I am just so out there. I make huge gestures. I talk loudly. This is the reason why some people see me and there's an instant dislike. I don't blame them. And I don't really care. I have an awesome family. I have very close friends whom I treasure and because of them I am really contented na. I have no intentions of running naman for President so carry lang. :)

Now to another story. Eli's 7th. It is both funny and amazing how your little traits and quirks can creep their way into your child. At 7 months, I am beginning to see some of my and JP's characteristics kay Eli. Oh my! Kakaaliw. Haha. Trouble. :)

Some picture of our handa today. I am a sucker for celebrations talaga. I am corny and sentimental like that.

Safari Cake by Sweet Home Bakeshop

Tinamad na ko mag effort so I asked my mom to cook sotanghon with canton. Yummy.

Beef kare-kare

Aanhin pa ang kare-kare kung walang Barrio Fiesta bagoong?

Birthday boy with daddy and mommy

Family picture (supposed to be wacky shot)

Picture with wowo and wowa (Eli is more interested sa glasses ni wowo)

Natanggal na nya ang glasses ni wowo

Picture with cake

Picture with dad

Justin Bieber watch out for your next competition! :)

I love! Happy 7!!! :D

30 Day Blog Challenge - Day 6

Favorite Songs

I judge a song the way I judge poems. If the words tug my heartstrings then it’s good enough for me. I am no connoisseur of songs and my predispositions lead me to the 'POP'-py side of the music spectrum. (In other words, I don’t care if the rest of the world says the song is corny. :D)

I was supposed to include all the lyrics of the songs however, it will make the post too long. I have, instead chosen my favorite snippets of the song.

Seasons of Love

This song’s meaning always brings a smile to my face. I listen to it whenever I get discouraged (like today).  I know in the end of my life it will all boil down to how much I’ve loved. Not my career, not approval of other people, not material things. It will be the relationships I’ve built that will define my life. Good thing, I’ve received and given so much love already. (Partida first 29 years palang yan ng buhay ko. :D)

 
Five Hundred Twenty-Five Thousand
Six Hundred Minutes
Five Hundred Twenty-Five Thousand
Moments so dear
Five Hundred Twenty-Five Thousand
Six Hundred Minutes
How Do You Measure - Measure A Year?
In Daylights - In Sunsets
In Midnights - In Cups Of Coffee
In Inches - In Miles
In Laughter - In Strife

In - Five Hundred Twenty-Five Thousand
Six Hundred Minutes
How Do You Measure
A Year In The Life?
  
Oh you got to you got to remember the love,
You know that love is a gift from up above
Share love, give love, spread love
Measure, measure your life in love.

Drops of Jupiter – Train

Loved this song during my college days. I have never forgotten the feeling when I first ‘discovered’ this song.

Tell me did you sail across the sun

Did you make it to the milky way to see the lights all faded

And that heaven is overrated

But tell me, did you fall for a shooting star

One without a permanent scar

And did you miss me while you were looking for yourself out there

Can you imagine no love, pride, deep-fried chicken

Your best friend always sticking up for you, even when I know you’re wrong

Can you imagine no first dance, freeze dried romance five-hour phone

Conversation

The best soy latte that you ever had . . . and me

Are you lonely looking for yourself out there

(cute diba?) :D

Everything – Michael Buble

This song always brings back the memory of my wedding and how much namin ni JP ‘kinarir’ ang wedding preparation. This is the song that plays in the background of our wedding website (a.k.a. ‘wedsite). You can check our wedsite here. The lyrics are both simple and sweet.

You're the swimming pool, on an August day.

And you're the perfect thing to say.

And you play it coy but it's kinda cute.

Ah, when you smile at me you know exactly what you do.

And in this crazy life, and through these crazy times

It's you, it's you, you make me sing.

You're every line, you're every word, you're everything.

Chasing Pavements – Adele

I have to include my ultimate videoke song.

Should I give up,

Or should I just keep chasin' pavements?

Even if it leads nowhere

Or would it be a waste

Even if I knew my place

Should I leave it there

Should I give up,

Or should I just keep chasin' pavements

Even if it leads nowhere

Paano – Apo Hiking Society

I also have to include hubby’s ultimate videoke song (which I’ve also come to love as well). I love almost all of Apo’s song.

Paano mo malalaman

Itong pag-ibig ko sa ‘yo

Paano mo mararamdaman

Ang tibok ng puso ko

Kung lagi kang kinakabahan

Na ika’y masasaktan

Pangako ko, ang puso mo’y

Hindi pakakawalan

Subukan mong magmahal

O giliw ko

Kakaibang ligayang matatamo

Ang magmahal ng iba’y

Di ko gagawin

Pagka’t ikaw lang

Tanging sasambahin

Huwag ka nang mangagamba

Pag-ibig ko’y ikaw

Wala nang iba

It's a cold Wednesday evening. This is my favorite weather. Stay thankful and loving everyone.

To find out more about the 30 blog challenge, you may click here.

30 Day Blog Challenge - Day 5

Favorite quotes

“The single greatest purpose of wealth is to love others.”
- Bo Sanchez

"Love is patient, love is kind.

It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.

It is not rude, it is not self-seeking,

It is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.

Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.

It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always preserves."
– 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

“Why had he obstinately clung to that dream?
So all these years--since when?--he had been seeing the light of dead stars, long extinguished, yet seemingly still in their appointed places in the heavens.”
– Paz Marquez-Benitez (from the short story Dead Stars)

”I've heard it said
That people come into our lives for a reason
Bringing something we must learn
And we are led
To those who help us most to grow
If we let them
And we help them in return
Well, I don't know if I believe that's true
But I know I'm who I am today
Because I knew you...
I have been changed for good”
– Stephen Schwartz (from the song For Good)

"To be, or not to be, that is the question."
– William Shakespeare

"Everything happens for a reason."
– Author unknown

So what are your favorite quotes? :)

To know more about the 30 Day Blog Challenge, click here.

In Pain. And Grateful.

Last Saturday, I experienced pain far greater than any pain I felt before. I went to a Medicard doctor to ask for a pain reliever because I was… in pain. She saw my expression, demeanor, my pale sweaty face and decided I was an “ER” material already. From ER, they decided to admit me.

Little little kidney stones that wrecked havoc on my perfectly planned weekend. Oh well, just like everything I go through in life, I came out of the entire experience grateful.

1) Grateful I was employed by one of the world’s leading provider of intelligent information – Thomson Reuters. Our company’s health benefit rocks and because of that I was treated like “the Queen” in Medical City.

2) Grateful to all the kind staff, nurses and doctors. I have long admitted that I do not have the stamina to work in a hospital setting, even though I am a licensed Physical Therapist (I shall expound on this in another post). That’s why I truly admire all the people who can. Your dedication is something.

3) Thankful that Medical City, has very high tech equipments. Nagsasalita ang CT scan machine! Parang robot lang. Very shushal.

4) Grateful to my in-laws. Papa, Mama, Kuya Jem, Ate Chengs, Sofia and Ben. Super nice Sunday dinner. See below.

5) Thankful for the nice view outside my room. Lush green trees. I love.

6) Grateful to my mommy and 'tita ninang' Cookie. Thank you for taking care of Elijah while I was away. Methinks na-spoil nyo sya ng konti (Ang dami na nyang bagong drama after 3 days palang. All of it endearing.) Thank you for loving Eli as much as I love him. My mommy's love for Eli is bordering on obsession na tee hee. It’s very cute. :D

7) Because you never left my side. Thank you hubby bubby.

To my kidney stones: I shall get rid of you na. I will eat healthier, avoid caffeine like the plague, and drink super lots of water.

Lastly and most important, for keeping my family healthy and safe, thank you God.

XOXO

:)

30 Day Blog Challenge - Day 4

Favorite Books

4th day of the 30 day blog challenge. :)

My love affair with books started when I was in grade 3. It was when I was old enough to remember but was still young enough to believe everything what my yaya (nanny) says.

I realized that I was not the best runner around.

(Always ako "out" sa patintero and moro-moro.)

I realized I was not the best jumper.

(Laging "dead" sa chinese garter.)

I was also the worst catcher. For quite a bit of time, I was afraid of balls.

(True story promise!)

I said if I cannot be good at sports then can I be a beauty queen nalang? But somehow, even back then I was able to deduce that I have no future in showbizness or mow-delling. (I was just self aware.)

Okay so why books? While my classmates were accumulating grime and dirt and were being sweaty under the sun I was the lone kid staying in our school’s air-conditioned library poring over books.

I was not reading classics & pang “matatalinong” books. I was reading Sweet Valley, Choose Your Own Adventure, Nancy Drew and The Adventure Tin Tin books. After lunch, my classmates are all pawis-pawis, while me super fresh! Jejeje.

Books saved me from boredom during humid summer vacation. I was a wild.. este wide reader. I would read anything and everything. I was already reading Tom Clancy during high school because it was what my daddy was reading.

I hope my son grows up loving books as well. I want him to discover the world of words. When he reads the books I used to read, then I imagine that we just shared an experience. By reading the books where thoughts are frozen in time forever, I know my happy childhood memories will always also be alive forever.

Books I love:

- The Catcher in the Rye (J.D. Salinger)

- The Count of Monte Cristo (Alexandre Dumas)

- Shang Hai Baby (Zhou Wei Hui)

- 11 Minutes (Paulo Coelho)

- All Harry Potter Books  (J.K. Rowling)

Thank God it's Friday!!!