Michi Photostory

25 GB

$2.49 / Month

25 GB for Drive and Picasa

Bonus: Your Gmail storage will be upgraded to 25 GB.

100 GB

$4.99 / Month

100 GB for Drive and Picasa

Bonus: Your Gmail storage will be upgraded to 25 GB.

$2.49 per month is quite expensive for me because I’m a full-time mom. If I will upgrade my storage, I have to pay $29.88 a year + $10 for my domain; it is $39.88 a year. This is not my only blog; I have three blogs so if I will buy new storage this will be an expensive hobby and I guess blogging is not free.

I know there are still other options and buying new storage is my last resort. I searched the net for possible options and thanks to my dear readers for all the suggestions.

1. According to Ning of Nurse’s Diary I can use Photobucket. - I’m not used to Photobucket because I feel that it’s too complicated so I chose Picasa because I’m not techy. Picasa is user friendly and I can easily edit and watermark my photos. But this is a good option to upload photos on my blog.

2. It also happened to Joy of Joy’s Notepad so she bought new storage for $2.50 per month.

3. Jo of Sapphire Mommy suggested “asking my hubby to sponsor my hobby”. 

4. Tin of The Average Jane informed me to contact one blogger because it also happened to him.

I know I can’t just stop blogging because like I’ve said before this is my “me time” and blogging is already part of my life. I’ve been thinking about it and I guess I need to pay $2.49 per month just to continue my hobby but God is so good because I’ve found the answer.

Now, I’m busy resizing my photos and deleting unnecessary photos in my blog. It was an arduous task because I have 500+ posts but I’m willing to do it than paying $2.49 per month. Now, I’m down to 89% so I can post photos again. I know time will come that I will need to buy new storage but not now and not anytime soon. From now on, I will resize my photos before uploading it.

I’m creating a post and uploading pictures and all of a sudden, I saw this notice

Whoops! You're out of space. You are currently using 100% of your 1 GB quota for photos. Upgrade storage

Photos are stored in your Picasa Web Albums account and are included in your 1 GB free quota for photos. Additional storage you purchase is shared between several Google products and is in addition to your free quota.

The only option I know is buying new storage which is $2.49 per month. It is quite steep for me. Any suggestions?

Last weekend, I bought this wreath for P139, I don’t know if it is cheap or expensive. I did not buy any decors because I will reuse my old Christmas ornaments. I’m not very creative so I just put flowers, balls and Santa Claus. I use 3M hooks to hang our Christmas wreath so I don’t have to drill anymore.


This is the first Christmas wreath at home because I usually put Christmas Stockings.

According to Wikipedia, “Wreaths are used as household ornaments or Christmas decorations to celebrate the birth of Christ. They are usually made from evergreens and symbolize strength, as evergreens last even throughout the harshest winters.”

One of the challenges of having a school boy is preparing his school snacks. It is not easy because you have to consider some factors. I can’t just give him foods that I’ve cooked for lunch and dinner especially food with butter, tomato sauce and even soup. Most of the times I prepare food that he will eat even it is a store brought food like hotdog, ham and nuggets. Before you judge me, my son also eat chicken and pork adobo, fish fillet, steamed fish or shrimp, homemade meatloaf and many more in school.

One of my mommy friend in school suggested Crisp’n Juciy Drummets so I bought one pack for P69 (6 pcs). We’ve tried it and we really like it. It is crispy, juicy and flavorful. It is now a new favorite in our house. 

One more thing, it is so easy to prepare. I just put it in the oven toaster for less than 10 minutes and after that I have crispy and juicy drummets. It is also healthy because I don't use any oil to cook this. 

Have you tried other flavors?

You will pass Taal Vista hotel, Shell Station, and Petron Station. The branch is quite far from Tagaytay Rotonda so it is not surprising that the place is almost empty on Saturday night.

We ordered pecho P92, paa P88, baticulon P40, rice P20 and kansi broth P30. Rice is not included if you order chicken just like in Manokan Country in Bacolod but Manokan is much cheaper. 

My husband loves JT’s Manukan chicken because it is tender and juicy. My son and I like their baticulon (chicken gizzard). Now, you don’t have to go to Bacolod to taste chicken inasal because we have JT’s Manukan Grille here.

P.S. free wifi inside the restaurant. =)

Monday

Ethan: Mommy, after school, let’s go to mountain

Me: No, we can’t go there we don’t have a car.

Ethan: Let’s wait for daddy. Ok?

Me: Ok

**after three days of waiting**

Ethan: Mommy, after school, let’s go to mountain

Me: No, we can’t go there we don’t have a car.

Ethan: Let’s ride tricycle. (parang taxi lang?)

Me: No, we can’t ride tricycle. It’s too far. You ask daddy.

Saturday Morning

Ethan: Mommy, let’s go to mountain.

Me: Why?

Ethan: let’s go to mountain…its cold there…there’s snow (kelan pa nagkasnow sa Tagaytay?)

Me: You ask daddy.

My son was consistent so his daddy gave in and we went to Tagaytay last Saturday for joy ride. We dropped by at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish Church. Aside from Caleruega my husband always visits this church. There’s  a Candle Chapel here near the grotto.

P5 per candle, my husband bought pink, blue and green candle. Pink is for health, blue is for harmonious relationship and green is for success. He did this also when we went to Liliw, Laguna. Then off we went to JT’s Manukan for dinner.

P.S. malamig na sa Tagaytay. =)

FYI: “125 million people worldwide have psoriasis, yet psoriasis remains a largely hidden disease”

If you have psoriasis or if you know someone who have psoriasis, click here and enter your name and location. Be counted and share your story to raise awareness. 

***School***

October 29, was supposed to be my son’s Trick or Treat but they moved it last Tuesday because of the semestral break. It was a simple trick or treat for the kids, parents need to bring two packs of cookies, candies or chocolates but I decided to bring 16 packs of goodies. Click here to learn my DIY.

We have the option to wear costume or not but of course I wanted my son to wear costume. As I mentioned in my other post we just borrowed his Halloween costume, if you answer Peter Pan and Astronaut your guess is right. He used his old pumpkin basket and I just replaced the handle. 

My son wore peter pan costume during his trick or treat in school.

After trick of treat, my son happily went home with his goodies.

***Office***

Day before the event I packed another set of goodies, I have no idea how many kids would be present so I just packed 35 pieces. My son wore astronaut costume last Thursday and we have no idea that the theme was recycle costume, my husband checked the email again and there was no note about it. Most of the kids wear costume made of carton, flour sack, garlic sack, plastic and many more.

Anyway, because it was raining cats and dogs last Thursday we were not able to roam around. My son just enjoyed drawing and coloring in this illustration board. There was poster making contest but my son did not join the contest because he was only 4 years old. The contest is open for 5-12 yrs old.

The theme is “earth day” and this is the finish product of my son. I know it is abstract! Hehe!

He went home with his goodies. Konti lang compared last year. Hehe!

We have another trick or treat today in our subdivision but I decided not join anymore because I don’t want to pack any more goodies and I think two trick or treat events are enough. 

I was told to bring 2 packs of cookies, candies or chocolates but I realized that not all packs of candies, cookies and chocolates have the same quantity. Some are packed by 20, 24, 50 etc. so I decided to pack all my goodies so each kids will receive the same stuff and the teacher can easily distribute it. My son has 15 classmates now; there was an additional of two classmates after his birthday so I prepared 16 Halloween goodies including my son.

What do I need?

Cookies, candies and chocolates

Printed Halloween stuff

Black Cartolina

Ice plastic bag

Stapler

Scotch tape

Double sided tape

I put the stuff inside the plastic bags, two milk chococate, 4 choco-choco, 2 tootsie roll and 2 wafers. I used scotch tape to bind each goodies before placing it inside the plastic bag so they will stay in its place.

Then staple the plastic bag.

Use scotch tape to connect the paper and plastic bag.

Then I use double sided tape to seal the paper.

Finished product. 

A repost from my old blog Michi's Home Sweet Home

So what happened to my oatmeal cupcake….the top and bottom were over bake and the middle was under bake and it has no taste. Honestly, I can’t explain the taste, I asked my husband to taste it and the same reaction but because he was guilty, he said: “I will eat it for you”. 

I checked the recipe again and there was no sugar but there is 3 tbsp of chocolate chips which I did not include in the recipe. Epic failure! I will never try this recipe again. Hehe! 

World Psoriasis Day is a yearly event for those people who have psoriasis like me so last Sunday we went to Maysilo Circle in Mandaluyong City to join the Funwalk and Fungames of PsorPhil. Actually, not only psoriasis patients were present because even doctors, sponsors, supporters, and other volunteers joined us to promote the global theme “Put Psoriasis on The Agenda Now” and of course to tell the whole world that psoriasis is not contagious.

I became a member last 2010 and this was my second time joining the funwalk. I was happy because my husband and my son always accompany me even if it is more than an hour of walking. 

Photo from PsorPhil group

After the fun walk we had parlor games and we were lucky to win the sack race game. Go Asian PsorClub!

Click here if you want to know more about psoriasis. 

If you have psoriasis, join our group here and register here.

I was able to attend the Basic Web Designing and Basic PC troubleshooting training at Hope Christian High School in Sta. Cruz, Manila last Oct. 13 and Oct. 20, 2012. It was a half-day training so don’t expect that I can do web design or troubleshoot computers already but at least I’ve learned the basics. I know and understand some html and css terminology and have tried to assemble and disassemble computers. I just hope there’s a continuation of this training.

If you have psoriasis, join our group here and register here.

Photos from PsorPhil group. 

Ricky Teo, a top-ranking executive of LEO Pharma-Asia will grace this year’s celebration of the National Psoriasis Awareness Week at the Kaban ng Hiyas of the Mandaluyong City Hall.

The annual event, a testament to the importance of Presidential Proclamation No. 179 declaring every last week of October as the National Psoriasis Week, will carry the global theme “Put Psoriasis on The Agenda Now” for this year’s celebration.

Despite his hectic schedule, Teo, Leo Pharma-Asia’s Area Director for South Asia, will join the national events as a show of support for the region. Teo is responsible for Leo Pharma’s markets in the Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand, Taiwan, Singapore, Hongkong, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Sri Lanka.

Teo will discuss the topic of the stigma of psoriasis why a great number living with it take their own lives to escape the suffering that it entails and why is this the only solution they see. He will also post the question of why in a world where beautiful and clear skin is the benchmark of beauty, psoriasis patients are being treated negatively because of the inflamed, thick red scaly lesions found in their skin.

Most people think that the physical symptoms of psoriasis patients are contagious and people tend to ostracize patients with psoriasis. These instances lower the self-esteem of the patients and they shy away from the public, hiding from the judging eyes of the outside world. They hide in their homes and most patients fall into depression.

About 30% of Psoriasis patients develop painful and debilitating psoriatic Arthritis. Their quality of life is lessened and can’t do some of the simple things that most people take for granted in their daily lives. Recent global studies also show that psoriasis patients are at higher risk of developing other co-morbid conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, Crohn’s Disease, and other chronic conditions.

Psoriasis Philippines, along with Leo Pharma and Teo, advocates for the Filipinos with psoriasis who are estimated to be between 1 to 2 million. Every year Psorphil celebrates World Psoriasis Day together with 64 other countries.

This year's Psoriasis Awareness Week is also supported by Pfizer Phils, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, and Galderma Phils. and Pascual Laboratories.

I baked it yesterday and I just told my husband that we have brownies inside the fridge if he wants to bring some in the office. My son and I ate this during our breakfast and then few minutes ago I received a text from my husband and he said “sarap ng brownies”. I hate to admit but this triple chocolate instant mix is better than the two brownies recipe that I baked from scratch. This brownie is so rich, dense, chewy and chocolate-y. It is a balance of semi-sweet, milk and bittersweet chocolate chips.

I’m not a fan of ready mixes but after tasting these brownies, I will definitely buy this again. It is starting to convince me that I will not bake brownies from scratch again. Hehe! Another thing is it is so easy to make, I just need to add water, oil, and egg. 

Update: July 2019


It's been a while since the last time I bought Ghirardelli Triple Chocolate Brownies so I was really surprised when I saw the packaging, bago na pala ang packaging and 5 packs of brownie mix na lang per box. The price is almost P800 so mahal na siya but this is the favorite of my son so no choice kundi bumili. hehehe!

I will put the recipe here so I don't have to keep the box. I'll just refer to this post if I will bake brownies.

How to Prepare Ghirardelli Triple Chocolate Brownies

For 16 Brownies using 8x8, 9x9 or 11x7 pan

1 Pouch Mix
1/3 Cup Water
1/3 Cup Vegetable Oil
1 Egg

1. Preheat oven to 325F. Prepare baking pan by lightly greasing or spraying with non-stick cooking spray.
2. Place water, oil, and egg in mixing bowl and stir until fully mixed.
3. Bake for 45-50 minutes. For glass pan, add 5 minutes to the bake time.
4. Cool completely in pan before cutting.

…after 7 days

…and on the 8^th day, monggo plant withered. 

And because of this project, my son doesn't like to eat monggo because it will grow on his tummy daw. Hehehe!

Crust:

1 1/2 cups oreo cookie crumbs

1/2 cup (approx. 100g) softened butter

Cheesecake filling:

1 cup (1 brick) cream cheese

1 cup (1 brick) all purpose cream

1/2 cup sugar

3 tablespoons liquid milk

1 tablespoon unflavored gelatin (1 sachet of Knox)

Few pieces of chopped oreo cookies

To prepare crust:

Mix oreo cookie crumbs and add butter to bind. Mash well.

*Crust mixture should be close to texture of moist sand; add a bit more butter if too dry.

Transfer and press evenly on bottom of ungreased springform pan (or any pie dish you prefer).

Place in the freezer to harden crust while you make the filling.

To prepare filling:

Using a mixer, whip chilled cream with 2 tablespoon sugar until stiff. Set aside.

In a separate bowl, gradually mix remaining sugar into softened cream cheese. Beat until fluffy and set aside.

In a small sauce pan, combine milk and gelatine powder. Heat until completely dissolved (don't boil, use a wire whisk while heating to remove lumps). Remove from heat, pour and beat into cream cheese mixture.

Fold in cheese mixture to the whipped cream and beat on medium to high.

Add few pieces of chopped oreo cookie.

To assemble:

Bring out pan from freezer and pour in the cheesecake filling. Spread evenly with spatula and tap pan lightly to set and release some air bubbles.

Cover pan and chill for a few hours.

.

It was a sure hit to my son but hubby and I still prefer the no-bake blueberry cheesecake because eating oreo cheesecake is like eating cookies and cream ice cream. Hehe!