No Need To Cook

"Let's go!" 

He blurted that out when he got home after work today. 

"To where?"

"To happy hour at, maybe, Thai Meric Eatery and Bar."

No way! That's a restaurant and not a beer house.

It's the eve of our wedding day anniversary, so I am off of my kitchen duties today. 

Before happy hour was over at 6:30 p.m., we ordered a Moscow Mule and a hot sake.

We were too excited for their goat Massaman. We had this last December with my little sister, Charmaine. This is, by far, one of the best goat dishes in town. 

We also had their beef hot pot. 

For our dessert, I wanted to get their Mango Sticky Rice, but I told the mister that it would be a rain check for our next happy hour at this restaurant. Instead, we had their crispy fried banana with their jackfruit coconut ice cream. 

By they way, we finished everything just in time for Jay to go back to work at 7 p.m.

I can't wait for the next happy hour. 

3/24/2026 at 12:35 p.m.

 "Some goals may take a long time to achieve. Don't give up hope!"

3/24/2026 at 11:18 a.m.

I need to finish at least 10 new listings on my online stores before noon o'clock, but I got distracted. 

I baked another batch of Hamsaymada the other night, and today, they're all gone. Jay and I had the last 2 pieces with café lattes this morning.

I surprised our friends yesterday and sent them freshly baked goodies. Jay brought them to work, and I asked my little sister (who works with the mister) to hand-deliver them. It was teamwork. 

Back to the hamsaymada, I topped them with buttercream plus freshly grated cheese.

While at work, I thought of improving the topping. I searched online for a better version of it, and we'll see. 

I'll be baking a new batch later today, and I'll be using the better buttercream topping recipe I came across.

And that, my friend, is how I got distracted at work.

To The Grocery

Jay and I agreed to go grocery shopping about 2 p.m. on Sunday. After a few minutes on the road, he suggested that we should travel elsewhere, possibly to a beerhouse outside the city limits.

While he was behind the wheel, I looked for a beerhouse that we haven't gone to. The unanimous choice was the Prospect Point Brewery. 

Here!

Sabor de Cuba food truck was there. That's just great! We've been to their restaurant in the downtown a few times already, and their food tastes closer to Filipino cuisine, in my opinion. 

We ordered the empanadas (one of each) and the Cuban sandwich. 

For our drinks, I had the hard seltzer mango slushies. Jay would always order what's on tap, whose name I forgot.

It was all perfect, from the weather to my drink down to our food. 

I can't wait to come back one of these days, maybe in the evening with some friends. It would also be perfect if we could reserve seating with a fire pit. 

Oh, about the grocery?

We checked that one after a quick stop at Sierra and then at the thrift store. 

Sabado

I worked most of yesterday, did a little drinking, and took a quick trip to the thrift store.

For our drinks, we had a cafe latte prepared by the mister in the morning. In the background is my homemade Showroom Pandesal (a savory pandesal).

 After lunch, we went to the beer house, Attaboy, downtown. Jay had a glass of beer, and I had a hard seltzer.

An hour after dinner, I warmed on the stove apple cider made locally by McCutcheon's, added cinnamon sticks, slices of oranges and ginger, a pinch of nutmeg, and a little scoop of honey. Jay spiked it with rye whiskey.

 Oh la la!

3/17/2026 at 2:10 p.m.

"Did you get the brush?" 

That's what my sister asked me during a super-duper-quick phone call at 2:10 this afternoon. I called her to ask about her friend whose family member died.

FYI, I know this friend of hers, but not personally. We're friends online, and I knew some of his family members and friends from the islands too. I was his cousin's classmate.

Now back to my topic about the brush, she told me that it was delivered yesterday afternoon and sent me proof of it. 

So, I dropped the call and asked Jay if he took it. 

In the family, I am the only one that doesn't buy on the internet. I do the opposite—I sell online and have been doing it from late 1999 to today.

I called Jay and said that there was a package he got, but it wasn't yesterday. It was the day before, and it was my magnesium cream. 

Oh no!

Packages getting stolen is probably one of my nightmares. As an online seller, I always send a little prayer with the packages I mail to my customer and that they would be delivered safe and intact. 

We had a tornado warning yesterday afternoon, and aside from the strong damaging wind gusts of over 50 mph, it also rained. We haven't had any reported stolen packages in our neighborhood, so I thought it might be just the wind.

I looked for the package, checking the right side of the house and at our neighbor Jamie's side of the house. It wasn't there.

It couldn't be in our mailbox because the delivery man already photographed it being delivered at our front door.

For my last resort, I checked the other side of the house. It wasn't there too.

As I walked back to the front door, my mind urged me to check under the bushes, but my eyes insisted that it was just dried leaves. However, when I looked closer, I saw black letters.

OMG! 

It spelled Amazon. 

I got it, and she said, "I bought 1 for me, and I want you to try it too." 

Yehey!

She got me a lymphatic brush. 

I've wanted to get this since last year, but I just kept forgetting to ask the mister to go buy it for me.

Thank you, little sister.

 

Beer House

I just arrived at the grocery store from mailing sold items from my online vintage shop at the post office. I swung there to buy some butter and dairy when Jay called me and told me that he had just left the office.

5:22 p.m., and it was still bright outside when he got in on Monday. So we decided to go somewhere for drinks—maybe in downtown. 

"To the beer house!!!"

He took me to hang out at Olde Mother Brewing Co.—a brewery in the downtown located across a fire station.

He got me a strawberry margarita, and I didn't remember what he had. 

Thankfully, the place wasn't mobbed, unlike on Fridays and weekends. 

There's a Backsplash Burger inside this place. There, "She's My Cherry Burger" is my favorite. I am salivating just thinking about it. 

FYI, back in my youth, a beer house was a dimly lit, low-end, somewhat shady drinking place where men paid women to sing, dance, or sit on their laps. 

I'm not sure if they still use that term to signify something other than what it literally means, but I use the term "beer house" to refer to a brewery.

It's Divine!

The little sister was ecstatic about the goodies I sent her via the mister last Monday. 

There were a lot of them that I picked from our pantry—4 individual packs of roasted seaweed in perilla oil and olive oil, 4 plantain bananas, a pack of lumpia wrappers, and a few cups of black glutinous rice. There were also 4 dressed Hamsaymada and the latest issue of GQ. 

This GQ issue was rip-off pre-ordered. 

((( $40!!! )))

Susmaryosep! 

We have a free subscription, so I gave her that issue.

She got the magazine and the goodies by noon, and by mid-afternoon, she sent me a text message...

"I want to eat the hamsaymada already." 

At 6:33 p.m., she sent me this photo...

"Lami kaayo!" (It's so good!)

She had it for dessert. She also bragged about it to our cousin in the Philippines while on a video call. 

"So divine!" she added.

Wow! That was an elevated rating of any delicious food. It's to the 10th power. 

"Did you send some to Rhett <3 Dinah and Esil <3 Jason too?"

I was really thinking of sending them some, but I wasn't sure yet if this new and improved recipe tasted good. 

Jay said it was a 10, but he always does that to all of my cooking. 

I will try to bake these again, but I am thinking of assembling the dough differently. 

I will improve this and send them dressed with buttercream and freshly grated cheese on top. I hope I get a 10-thumbs-up rating from our friends too. 

Hmmmsaymada

We capped our Sunday with a grocery trip. Going past the meat and deli aisle towards the dairy cooler, suddenly a memory came to mind.

I asked Jay if he liked the savory ensaymada I used to bake. Maybe it has been a year since the last batch I made.

So, instead of baking savory pandesal, I baked another savory bread on my menu list.

I made ham ensaymada, but I love calling it Hamsaymada.

I served it with buttercream and cheese on top with my pour-over coffee this morning.

Hmmm, hmmm, hmmm, saymada!

It was to die for. 

I also sent 4 pieces to my little sister via the mister. They work together at the same location on Mondays. 

Jay gave it to her before lunchtime, and she sent me a text message as soon as she received it.

"Kamsahamnida for the hamsaymada!" she said.

3/8/2026 at 3:35 p.m.

 Hi.

It's finally so warm outside that I saw people in their short pants and T-shirts, but for the past few days it has been gloomy and raining. We didn't go out for happy hour last Friday. 

We had a cafe hour at home instead. Jay made caffè latte laced with blueberry liqueur. 

It was perfect with the Utap that we bought from the Asian supermarket from our last grocery trip.

On Saturday, we also stayed home. I organized my inventories and am still not done with them. 

Ugh. There's so much work to do.

Honestly, I want to sew and finish some sewing projects on my to-do list. I will try to start the first one on Monday. First on the list is an upcycled beach tote bag.

Today is Sunday, and finally we went out of the house. The first stop is here at Attaboy for drinks. 

We also shared an order of half a pound of brisket and a side of mac and cheese from the food truck, Bub-B-Que Catering and Co.

And, oh my goodness, these were so good. 

I don't know where we're heading after, but most definitely we'll go grocery shopping later.

I just hope a trip to the thrift store goes in between Attaboy and the grocery store. 

3/5/2026 at 10:44 p.m.

How rapidly does time go! I can't believe it's already Friday in less than 2 hours.

By the way, I am still at work, but I'll be outta here in 30 minutes.

It's almost midnight and I want to eat something with my tea.

I am having Wuyi rock tea (Yan Cha.) My daughter and her husband sent us a whole box last year through my little sister on her visit to New York in May.

Back to my predicament, like I said...

I want to eat something with my tea. I am not even sure if I am indeed hungry or if my mouth is simply lonely.

Ugh! 

I guess I'll just finish this cup and maybe just hit the sack after. 

Donut Day

Jay and I got out of bed kind of late today. We're usually up at 7:30-ish to 8 in the morning. With that, the mister still has time to prepare a café latte for both of us. 

But not today. When that happens, I make a pour-over coffee. That's the only kind of Java I know how to brew.

I also prepared him a sandwich for his lunch. Usually, he'll have leftovers from the previous night, but I only prepared hotdog buns last night. 

He's all ready to go, but I didn't realize he checked his bag on his way out.

"Asa man ang sausage bun?" (Where's the sausage bun?)

On Fridays, there's free donuts for all of the employees at the mister's workplace. At the other location about 30 minutes away, on top of that, they also serve muffins and bagels. 

Good thing there were 2 left. I gave him 1.

I guess I need to bake more of these. My regular diners have been feasting and inhaling this. 

This bun rose to the most favorite ranking among all of the breads that I make at home. It used to be ensaymada at number 1.

Really, really, really, like her

I was on my way to the basement from the dining room when my phone rang. It's my daughter. The last time we talked was maybe early last week. She was on a video call with my son, and I joined them.

I totally forgot to greet her and Larry for the Chinese New Year. My son-in-law is Chinese, and they always celebrate it with his side of the family in New Jersey.

"Kumusta man? Daghan ka ug gipanghatag nga kwarta sa mga cousins ni Larry?" (How was it? Did you give so much money to Larry's cousins?) I asked.

Before they got married almost 2 years ago, Larry's grandparents, aunties and uncles, and his parents gave red envelopes to Yna too, and not just to Larry.

I also learned from them that when you're married, you won't get red envelopes anymore, but instead you'll be the one to give them.

photo credit: Michaels.com

"Ma, guess what? Ang grandparents ni Larry sa side sa iyang Papa gave me $1000 for Chinese New Year!" (Larry's fraternal grandparents gave me $1000 for Chinese New Year.)

"They also gave me money last year," she added.

So, I told our son about it when he came down for tea.

"But Kuya Larry and Ate are married already!"

I thought that too.

"Ma, I guess they really like Ate."

2/19/2026 at 1:57 p.m.

I am heating my lunch, just a leftover baked chicken lying in carrots, potatoes, garlic, onion, and mushrooms.

"There are not many vegetables left anymore, 'Ma," I heard the boy complaining from the kitchen.

They loved the food I prepared for dinner last night, especially the vegetables I added in it.

This made me think of the varieties of vegetables I'd like to grow starting this spring.

So far, I have all the seeds ready for planting, except for one—a pack or two of seeds of runner beans.

I also like to grow garbanzos but I have no idea yet on how to grow it, and if there are seeds available for me. 

We'll see. 

The mister doesn't buy me flowers, and I don't really like that too. 

He buys me seeds that I get to enjoy for years. 

Tea Break Chika

For the past few days, I switched my listening choice while at work to Frank Sinatra from the classical piano pieces of Beethoven.

Most of his songs are familiar, and some I can sing along to. There are also a few songs that are new to my ears.

Here are a few of my favorite songs popularized by the Old Blue Eyes: I Couldn't Sleep A Wink At Night, Bewitched, Young At Heart, Someone To Watch Over Me, and so many more.

For my afternoon tea break today, I wanted to know more about him.

Photo from: People.com

 
Aside from Frank being a womanizer, I read about his son's kidnapping.

Susmaryosep!

His son from his first wife, Nancy, Francis Jr., was kidnapped for ransom at 19 years old on December 8, 1963 (I wasn't born at that time yet).

Initially, Frank Sinatra offered the amateur kidnappers $1 million, but they declined. They only demanded a quarter of that. 

The ransom they asked was $240,000.

Francis Jr. was released two days later, and his kidnappers were also caught. More about it here. 

2/14/2026 at 10:59 a.m.

Hi. It's Saturday, and this is why we have café latte. It's only Jay that knows how to make it, and he doesn't work on weekends.

We're heading out of town later today to pick up an item in Rockville that Jay and Jason bought yesterday. 

We'll pick up my little sister too since we're heading that way to the town she's residing in, and hang out with her.

It's that time of year.

I was asked via Messenger today about what Jay's and my plans is for Valentine's Day.

I said we don't celebrate that day.

"You know, something special?" she asked further.

Jay and I are the type of couple that don't make a big deal over a date that has turned into a marketing ploy. We do not have to spend additional money on a date that society requires and expects you to do for your significant other.

If you follow my social media profiles, you'll know that Jay and I make every day extra special.

We do not need to spend money to make February 14 special. Celebrating Valentine's Day is just so cringy.

I am just thankful that Jay has consistently kept me warm for 36 years. 

Fondant

The mister went out to the front yard to take some trash out. He said that the weather wasn't as frigid as in the previous weeks. It was also bright outside.

So I went outside to check things out and snapped this photo.

Our front yard looked like it was covered in cake frosting. 

But Jay was very specific:

"Fondant!"

Oneida

I am taking a tea break at work at this moment while listening to Frederic Chopin's 21 Nocturnes. 

Yesterday, I was so excited to go to work in my online store when I felt dizzy by early afternoon. I really didn't know why.

My son advised I take a nap. 

However, I had to get out of bed when the mister came home at 30 minutes after 5. I needed to go food shopping, or otherwise we wouldn't have anything to eat at dinner. 

I told the mister of what happened to me earlier that day on our way out, but I assured him that the dizziness is manageable.

When we started driving to the grocery store, he asked me if it's okay to drop by at the nearest thrift store. He wanted to see if he could find a particular remote control for a vintage car radio. 

Guess what?

My dizziness magically went away. 

Hehehehe.

By the way, the "wilderness" was so generous to me last night. 

There is more not shown in the photograph.

This is the Oneida and Golden Damask Rose pattern from 1987, which was discontinued in 1997.

They look so fancy, don't they?

2/7/2026 at 10:26 p.m.

My little sister, who's here for the weekend, is still raving about the K-pop group BTS late into the night.

I couldn't keep up and couldn't even identify their names, but I kept listening to her stories about them.