What's in my bag?

I love watching SNN’s (Showbiz New Ngayon from The Filipino Channel) “Bag Raid,” where they raid the bags of Filipino celebrities to find out what bags they’re sporting these days and see the contents of their bags. I love it! This segment brings out the Filipino chismosa in me because I get so intrigued by the brands of their bags. Sometimes you even find out how much celebrities are willing to spend for a bag. This segment also shows you the quirkiness of some celebrities, like some of them collect toothpicks or wet towels from restaurants, airplanes and hotels. So funny! So shallow, yet I find myself watching it all the time because I have a little chismosa in me. Oddly enough, I also keep track of this segment because it gives me an idea of what type of bags I should be on the lookout for and what’s trendy in Manila, etc.


Anyway, here’s my take on this segment. I wanted to share with you what’s inside my bag.

So, this is a Coach bag that I used as my office bag and laptop bag when I was still working. Nowadays, since I am unemployed the last time I used this bag was when I went on an interview. But I always keep this bag on standby for future interviews.


I bought this bag early this year, when I started to work in the city. I needed a bag that was sturdy and big enough to carry my office laptop, walking shoes and all of my basic stuff (meaning my entire house). It wasn’t really my first choice bag but I decided to buy it because it wasn’t as expensive (as the other bags that I wanted) and it looked professional compared to the other “girly” bags that I had. Plus, it had the room to store all of my stuff. Was it sturdy enough? Yes, to the point that I think it was breaking my shoulder because this damn bag is freaking heavy! My husband tried carrying it once and was shocked how the hell I could carry such a heavy bag? He always wonders why I have so much stuff in my bag. Well, I guess that’s my inner Girl Scout in me talking always wanting to make sure I’m prepared for everything (basta Girl Scout laging handa!).

When I was still living in Manila and was still single, I think most of my bags were teeny and I didn’t really have a problem making do with only a few things in my bag: like face powder, blush on, lip balm, driver’s license, cash, tissue paper, mini-perfume and an ATM card. But I always loved using oversized bags because I always had more room to put my stuff in.

So anyway, here’s what’s inside my bag:

-Keys
-wallet
-umbrella
-compact mirror
-Tic Tacs
-hand sanitizer
-tube of hand lotion
-brush with hair scrunchies
-oil blotters
-panty liners and tampons
-iPod
-mobile phone
-reading glasses
-map of NYC
-toothbrush and toothpaste in a ziploc bag
-make-up kit/grooming kit (kikay kit)
-lipstick palette, lip balms and other lip products
-MetroCard
-Advil
-Dramamine (for biya-hilo)
-Band-Aids
-Mini-Tide to Go
-Small bottle of perfume
-pen
-bag of cough drops
-bag of chewy caramels (I love snacking!)
-tissue paper, baby wipes and wet towels
-notebook
-folder with resumes

So there, that’s what’s in my bag.

What about you? What’s in your bag?

Just a little note to introduce myself...

I guess I never really had the chance to introduce myself. It should have been the first blog that I've written. Well, enough of the "should've," "could've" or "would've." Here's a little note of introduction from me to you...

I am a happily married Filipina or in colloquial terms a “Pinay” who is married to an Italian-American residing in North Jersey. Almost four years ago, I was uprooted from my motherland, the beautiful Philippine Islands, where Filipinos smile their sorrows away. I moved here to follow my heart. I am settled and yet quite unsettled living in the Garden State. Living here in the US has been quite a humbling experience. I have learned a lot and yet still have a long way to go.


No matter where I go, nothing beats life in the Philippines where people always wear a smile on their faces as if it was a fashionable item that went well with their daily wear. Although, the weather is very humid, it kinda sets the tone of how overly warm Filipinos are.

My husband and I were both not born with a silver-spoon. We worked very hard to get everything that we have with little or no help from anyone. We are your typical family that is starting out with little to no money saved in the bank yet we have big dreams and hopes for ourselves and for our future brood. We want to enjoy life’s little pleasures and luxuries before our last breath.

I love to cook and bake. I love taking pictures most especially pictures of meals or food that I’ve enjoyed. I am also very obsessive compulsive and a perfectionist to a fault.

Please enjoy viewing my blogs as they are an expression of who I am, who we are, the experiences and challenges of living in the US and having an inter-racial marriage. I hope you find my blogs useful and inspiring to your lives.

Birthday Wish

So this year, sometime late next month I will officially turn into my early 30’s. How sad! What to expect as a new chapter of my life unfolds? Perhaps, a new, stable, everlasting and promising career? Perhaps, the first member of the fantastic brood of Pinay and Mr. L’s legacy to humanity (lol)? Perhaps, the castle of our dreams with white picket fences and a backyard so we can officially buy a grill to host our first barbecue ever?


What to expect? What to expect? What will happen? What is meant for us for next year? What’s in store for us next year? What will God bestow us? Which of our wishes and dreams will be bequeathed? So many questions, so many prayers and so many hopeful aspirations that are yet to be answered leaving me excited and hopeful that the best is indeed yet to come.

Living in the “land of milk and honey,” “land of opportunities,” or “land of dreams” I have been left not to expect anymore. When I first came here it seemed that everything is indeed within your reach. Don’t get me wrong honey; it is within your reach if you have the monetary funds within your reach as well. I always used to tell my husband that whenever I willed something in my head or yearned for something to happen nothing or no one will stand in my way. Don’t get me wrong I haven’t murdered anyone nor have I lied, cheated or stolen to get where I was. Yes, I didn’t make a mistake that is correct to get where I was.

I am a firm believer that I am a go getter but recent events in my life just don’t seem to go my way. It has been a mind f*** to be without a job. How unfortunate it is for me to feel that I am nothing without a job --- or better yet that I have defined myself that I think I am someone if I have a job. I really believe it. The world is in the palm of your hands if you do have a job.

I have been asking myself over and over again was it my fault that I am where I am? There really is no one to blame you know. We are basically the authors of the stories of our lives since we decide what happens next in our lives.

Yesterday, a former co-worker of mine who I thought was a true friend of mine failed to pass my true friend test. Here she was working for a great company (I’m sure she had the whole works: great salary, great hours, 401K, sick days, vacation days and personal days and so much more). We did our normal catching ups and I have expressed to her that it has been a freaking struggle to find a decent job and to go on interviews without anyone conning you. She freaking said everything that needed to be said, like we should hang out soon and don’t be a stranger, yadda yadda… But one thing that I was hoping for her to say was “why don’t you check out our career section and let me know if you find something in our corporate website?” Nothing! She didn’t offer any of that. I guess once again I hoped better yet expected so much again which I honestly should quit already. Quite frankly, I don’t want to hang out or have coffee, etc! I want I need a job! You’ve been jobless too before you got this recent job of yours so I’m sure you know what it feels. Oh don’t get me wrong she expressed false humility alright, when I asked her about her job she nonchalantly said, “She didn’t want to talk about it because of my current situation because she really loves her job and here I am feeling the way I am feeling…” I don’t really want to harvest ill feelings towards anyone so I just started to think that the reason why she has that job is because she needed it more than I do. She has so many bills to take care of (like student loans, car payment and a recent $600 ticket); she has more responsibilities (like taking care of her adorable niece) and she someday would like to live on her own.

I am starting to believe that our prayers, dreams and aspirations don’t necessarily go unanswered…they are just shelved until the perfect time to receive them comes our way.

For my upcoming birthday next month, what I want and need the most is a JOB --- a job that I love and will love me back. A position for a company that I can happily settle in that doesn’t offer empty promises. A place where my heart will happily sing the words --- contentment, satisfaction, love and everlasting. A place where I can say “I am home.”

I will choose to forego the usual birthday wine and dining in a fancy restaurant with Mr. L…for a JOB.

I would like to get a job and receive either of the following bags lol only of course if Mr. L’s budget permits to do so. If not, I am more than happy and obliged to have this gift shelved as well just when the perfect time is bestowed on us.

or

Again, more than ever what I am truly wishing, and hoping, and thinking, and praying, planning and dreaming each night to receive as my birthday gift for 2009 --- is a JOB!

4th of July Cupcakes

I'm sorry to be sounding like a broken record...but yet again...here is another long overdue photo that I took of the cupcakes that we brought to the Cabreras' 4th of July bbq this year.

Isn't it cutie cute-cute? Don't get fooled they're actually cupcakes. We bought them from a local Italian bakery from our neighborhood. They are just tooo cute for words lol :) I just couldn't resist them lol we had t get them.

Easter Sunday Treats

Here's another round of long overdue photos of treats that I made for Easter Sunday 2009 to bring to my in-laws down the shore...

food for the gods:


sugar cookies:




white chocolate biggies and sugar cookies:


Hay, I used to always tell my mom and Mr. L that I think I would end up dying of diabetes...because I love eating sweets.  I don't think I have a sweet tooth, I think I have a set of sweet teeth. :) lol

Celebrating 4th of July at Dim Sum Dynasty

These are super long over due photos from my phone of what we ate to celebrate 4th of July this year. We are so "nationalistic" most especially my husband who really is an American (unlike me I was recently a naturalized American citizen) that we are celebrating 4th of July the second time around eating asian cuisine. This year we had Cantonese Cuisine at our favorite intimate restaurant Dim Sum Dynasty at Ridgewood, NJ. Last year, we had Japanese food in the city. How bad, no? Oh well, I woke up that day lol we just woke up that day craving Chinese food. How sad! How patriotic?

Here's what we had:

Treasure Platter for 2: 2 honey ribs, 2 money bags, 2 crab claws & 2 satay chicken.


Dim Sum Club for 2:


Yang Chow Fried Rice:


Mr. L's Orange Chicken (I think?):


My Jumbo Shrimp with Spicy Sauce:


Oh my, all I can say is Food...Glorious Food!

Indigo Smoke

A couple of weeks ago, the Cabreras invited us to have dinner at Indigo Smoke in Montclair, NJ. It's actually a fast food but the place was designed tastefully that you wouldn't even think that the place is actually a fast food. You only realize this because you actually have to order your food from a cashier and wait for them to call you to get your food. The place is very quiet (except for the kids that were running like crazy that evening lol) and they were playing easy-listening/jazz music. The decor of the restaurant is very home-y and comfy. I can definitely say it's not your usual fast food place. The only thing that was lacking in this restaurant was a live band playing lol :) Also, the place is BYOB so that's definitely a big plus that you can bring your own beer (for this occassion hubby and I had San Mig light beer) or  a bottle of wine.

The food was very affordable and yummy!

For appetizers, we ordered honey blossom bbq which was my favorite because it kinda tasted like Pinoy style bbq (sweet!):


We also had bbq wings:


Our side dishes were: mac and cheese (which was really good considering I'm not a fan of mac and cheese theirs was really good); corn on the cob and bbq baked beans (which was also very good better than Hunt's Pork and Beans lol):


And of course the finale was the Baby Back Ribs which was very moist and flavorful:


This is definitely a good find. Thanks Jeff for inviting us to Indigo Smoke :)

Website: http://www.indigosmoke.com/homepage.php