Lique's Antics: Food and Fashion

I'm a frustrated chef and baker. There, I said it! I watch Cupcake Wars, Giada at Home, Barefoot Contessa, just to name a few... and I just enjoy watching them cook and bake!

I even included enrolling in a cooking and baking class in my Life List... Thinking that, someday, I'm going to have an amazing kitchen, so I better have the skills :)

So last Saturday, Kiel and I attended a baking class together. Yes! It was a Parent and Child workshop arranged by the celebrity mommy-slash-baker-slash-entrepreneur Bettinna Carlos.

I have been her avid follower on Instagram, and we she announced that she was going to have a baking class, I immediately signed up!

A photo posted by Lique Dimayuga (@liquesantics) on Dec 31, 2015 at 9:18am PST

I wasn't going to miss the chance to learn how to bake, have some bonding time with my child, plus be able to meet Bettinna herself and her daughter, Gummy!

And what made it even more exciting and impressive, was that mommy Bettinna and Gummy personally prepared everything, from the buying of ingredients and materials, making the hand-outs and certificates, and prepping the class kitchen and everything else!

A photo posted by Lique Dimayuga (@liquesantics) on Dec 31, 2015 at 9:18am PST

Another thing I admire about Bettinna is her strong Faith, that's why she has all that energy and perseverance to prepare all this (“I can do all things through him who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13”). She mentioned that she has been praying for this before she finally decided to teach and share her love of baking, which I'm glad she did :) Thank God!

We woke up early Saturday morning because the class starts at 9AM. The little boy was excited to learn to bake too, so he woke up extra early for this.

The Venue, CCF Center, is right beside Fun Ranch. The Entrance is at the back, near Avilon Zoo.

When we got to the kitchen, we were given our handouts and hairnets.

Bettinna was very down-to-earth, that's how I describe her... Parang hindi artista yung kaharap ko, because I can tell that she is very passionate about what she teaches and she was very humble. We said a short prayer before the class started, and then she proceeded to sharing about why and how she planned this workshop, by the Lord's grace.

After that, she taught us the basics of baking, some terminology, which were all in her handouts by the way. Gummy helped of course, she even had her own visual aids, so that the kids present can understand too :)

A photo posted by Lique Dimayuga (@liquesantics) on Dec 31, 2015 at 9:18am PST

Mommy Bettinna then made a demonstration of the 4 goodies we were about to bake, and she was very hands on, walang kyeme kyeme. She was really a teacher to us that day.

Needless to say, we enjoyed our day baking, plus we learned a lot! And we're very happy to bake such yummy goodies! Promise, masarap! I especially love the chocolate chip cookies and red velvet cupcakes, which Bettinna shared with us her "secret" recipes.

All participants got certificates at the end of the day, and three mom and child pairs were awarded best baking buddies and got to take home a wooden tray from Kids Furniture Hub.

That's 2 things crossed off my Life List (attend a baking class and bake cookies and cupcakes... plus banana bread and brownies pa!)

Now, next step is to get a good oven... Bettinna suggested La Germania or Elba :)

A photo posted by Lique Dimayuga (@liquesantics) on Dec 31, 2015 at 9:18am PST

If you want to learn to bake with your child too, Bettinna still has 3 upcoming classes!

Learn to bake these yummy goodies:

Moist Bananutty Bread
Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies
Red Velvet Cuppycake
Dark Fudgy Brownies

When: February 27, March12, and March 19
Time: 9:00am-2:00pm
Where: CCF Center, Frontera Verde, Pasig
Fee: 3000php (1parent and 1child) - includes hand-outs, ingredients, live-demo, hands-on work
What to Bring: Aprons, kitchen and hand towels, lots and LOTS of containers for take home goodies!

To reserve a slot or for other inquiries, text or viber 0917.861.BITE(2483)

To learn more, just search for the hashtag #BakingwithGummyBites in IG

Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established. Proverbs 16:3

Every one of us undergoes some major change at some point in our lives, and, whether if it's good or bad, we become a stronger, better person than we used to be.

For me, that major change would be becoming a mother. During pregnancy, I underwent physical and emotional changes: My hips expanded and my shoe size and cup size increased, I became picky of what I ate, I took extra care of my body, I was physically and emotionally sensitive... my whole world suddenly changed. And when I finally met my baby in person, I was determined to become a hands-on parent: I breastfed, I co-slept, I became a stay-at-home-mom.

And now, I have two little ones to look after, and Motherhood, for me, is a constant learning process.

Isn't it nice to have support throughout those stages of Motherhood? I'm not only talking about support from family or friends, but as well as personal essentials, like belly bands, nursing bras, and shape wears.

Fortunately, Urban Essentials provides just those for the modern mom.

Urban Essentials is a company formed to cater to the needs of all women at any stage in their lives. The company has a goal of providing the essentials of womanhood by giving them products that are of the highest quality and have been tried and tested. To set itself apart from competition, the primary target market of the company is moms and females in the mid-market segment and up, who are sophisticated and in tune with the latest trends in keeping themselves fit, healthy and beautiful. However, these women are also money-sensible, who would want to enjoy the best value for their money when investing in garments or accessories so they feel their purchases are more acceptable when it is more than for cosmetic or vanity purposes only. (Urban Essentials Facebook)

Urban Essentials aims to provide the modern mom's needs for Pregnancy, Post-pregnancy, Breastfeeding, and Beyond! They carry the following trusted brands:

1) Nursing bras by Ingrid & Isabel support a woman, during and after
pregnancy. You can choose between a drop cup bra, which has no back clasps, or a crossover bra, which has absolutely no clasps for a more comfortable breastfeeding experience.

Oh, isn't it wonderful to have a bra that you can use during and after pregnancy? I would want that... I had to buy bigger sized bras when I was pregnant, and since I wasn't fully aware of breastfeeding and its benefits, I didn't get nursing bras yet. So I had to buy ones when I already nursing.

The Nursing bras by Ingrid & Isabel look very comfortable and are great for support. Nursing moms now quite well how hard and painful it is when we get engorged, so better get a bra that can support well while providing easy access come nursing or pumping time :)

Go here for more information: http://urbanessentials.com.ph/nursing-bras/

2) Wink Shapewear can help women flatten their tummy, support posture, and give them a sense of returning to their pre-pregnancy body. Made from medical grade compression material, Wink Shapewear has been proven and tested to slim a woman by 2 sizes and is an ideal post C-section support garment.

It was my mom who gave me a girdle post-pregnancy, because I didn't bother to think of buying one (Thanks ma!). Shape wears help moms post-partum, not only to help get back your post-pregnancy body, but also for support for your back and C-section scar.

I've heard of Wink from friends and even celebrities before, so I know that this is a well-trusted brand. Their shape wear covers the whole abdomen, including the hip area, which expands during pregnancy. And best of all, it is seamless under clothing! Nice!

Go here for more information: http://urbanessentials.com.ph/wink/

3) Bellaband is a handy tool that allows a woman to keep wearing her
pre-pregnancy pants by simply placing a band over the pants. This means you no longer need to shop for different-sized pants at each stage of your pregnancy! You can even wear it post-pregnancy for support and transition.

Now this sounds cool and handy! And yes, I had the maternity belt, like the little garter you use to extend your pants button, and it didn't really work for me. When I was pregnant, I preferred dresses and leggings instead. If I had these before, then I probably could still wear any of my jeans easily :)

For more information on Bellaband: http://urbanessentials.com.ph/bellaband/

4) Look stunning and feel amazing while pregnant with Blanqi's maternity tanks. It helps you stay active by giving optimum back support, and alleviating pressure through the built-in belly support.

Talk about full support! This is perfect for the active moms or if you want to get that extra support and lift for your big belly. I know it can be hard to walk around with a pregnant belly. This seamless, comfy maternity tank might just be what you need :)

For more information on Blanqi: http://urbanessentials.com.ph/blanqi/

If you're interested in getting your own essentials or giving a friend or loved one some of her own, you can easily get them at the Urban Essentials website:

http://www.urbanessentials.com.ph/

Or stay connected and updated through the following social media accounts and contact details:
Facebook: Urban Essentials Inc
Instagram: @urbanessentialsinc
Mobile/Viber/Whatsapp: 09178336967
Email: ask@urbanessentials.com.ph

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Good News! You can win your own Bellaband just by sharing a Christmas photo (old or recent), or you can win it for a relative or friend. For more information about the contest, go HERE, at the AllPromos.ph facebook page.

Cheers to motherhood,

Disclosure: Lique’s Antics has been asked to help promote the Urban Essentials website by All Promos Philippines. The feedback and opinions expressed in this post are purely the writer’s own. Read more about this blog’s Disclosure Policy.

I think my kids inherited my love of sweets. They especially love ice cream and jelly ace!

But then again, we all know how kids get hyper when they get too much of sweet things. Not only that, but they can also cause cavities, and we do not want that.

But kids being kids, they all have the sweet tooth. The best thing that we can do for them is keep their sweet intakes in moderation and make sure they drink lots of water and brush their teeth. Other than that, we also make sure that they eat right and get the nutrients they need.

Now, what if i told you that there is a healthy alternative to your sugary candies? You can indulge your child to a yummy but healthy candy? Is that even possible?

Well, luckily, our friends from Rebisco have introduced a new brand of jelly candies that are packed with vitamins and minerals for energy and immunity.

We've been lucky enough to be invited to the Vita Cubes Fun Day at Fun Ranch earlier this month, with a group of other mommy bloggers, so we got to know more about the brand.

What are Vita Cubes?

Vita Cubes are yummy, cube-shaped jelly candies that come in five (5) different fruit flavors – strawberry, apple, grape, orange and mango.

Are they candy vitamins?

Not to be confused with chewable vitamins for kids, Vita Cubes is plainly just candy. But, unlike regular candy, they are packed with vitamins and minerals such as:

Lysine – Vita Cubes has 70% of the child RENI (Recommended Energy and Nutrient Intake). This aids the body in proper growth and energy production. Helps also in calcium absorption.
Zinc – 70% of the child RENI. Helps in proper functioning of the immune and digestive system, energy metabolism and in increasing the rate for healing wounds.
Vitamin A – 40% of the child RENI. Increases the body immune system to fight infection and also plays a vital role in ensuring healthy eyes and bone development.
Vitamin B – 30-70% of the child RENI. Promotes growth, strength and stimulates memory in children in the formative years. It also helps boost oxygen circulation in the body, focusing on the brain to help with concentration and also assists in converting carbohydrates and fats into energy.
Vitamin C – 30% of the child RENI. Helps form and repair red blood cells, bones and tissues, which is vital for your child’s healing, boosting their immune system and fighting infections.
Vitamin E – 45% of child RENI. Boosts the immune system to fight germs and helps the body to work together to function regularly.

How much do they cost?

Vita Cubes come in 2 pack sizes, one in 50g pack of different flavors, which costs 12 pesos SRP, and the other in Singles or individually wrapped jelly candy, which costs 1 peso per piece.

Where can I buy them?

Vita Cubes is available at all Mercury Drug outlets, SM Supermarkets, Robinsons Supermarket, Waltermart, Landmark, Puregold, Mini Stop and local grocery stores.

I don't usually write about restaurant reviews, just because it's not my thing - I am just not a food blogger, hehe.

But recently, we've tried two restaurants, on separate occasions, and we loved everything about them: the food, the ambiance, the service. I just felt the need to write about them because 1) I want to document the special time I had with my family, and 2) because I highly recommend them.

Why? Well, read on and find out :)

WOODEN SPOON
Loyola Heights, Quezon City (across Ateneo)

My husband and I have been in Quezon City for quite a while, ever since college, and we would always notice Wooden Spoon along Katipunan but never tried it before.

One typical Sunday night, after our usual grocery shopping, we decided to try it out (finally!) and I'm glad we did!

Wooden Spoon is a Filipino Restaurant by renowned Chef Sandy Daza, who I remember fondly from his Del Monte Kitchenomics TV shows, and the restaurant is supposedly named after his signature wooden spoon which he uses in his cooking shows.

So anyway, we were led to our seats upstairs a spiral staircase. The first floor had a few seats, and we were surprised to find a lot more seats at the second floor.

The ambiance was homey, rustic and I loved the details of carved out spoons on the benches. The dim lighting was relaxing, and I was drawn to the details on the ceiling which looked like egg cartons painted black, maybe for sound-proofing.

My husband ordered for us, so forgive me if I don't remember the names of the food, I'm not a food blogger remember? hehe...

We had Crispy Wings, Beef Sinigang sa Bayabas, Garlic Rice, and Wooden Spoon Iced Teas.

For appetizer, the Crispy Wings was quite a small serving, but it was delicious enough that it made up for its serving size.

My husband loves sinigang so we had to try the Beef Sinigang sa Bayabas. The beef was tender and the soup tasted mildly sweet because of the bayabas. The kids loved it! And it goes well with our garlic rice. Our Iced teas were delicious too.

The price was just right. Food good for sharing costs about 100-350php on the average.

NOTE: they only accept CASH, no credit cards.

We would love to go back here and try their other specialties. Here's a menu on MunchPunch.

SANTIAGO Kain. Kape. Kwento.
Blue Ridge, Katipunan Extension, Quezon City

We're lucky enough that our vicinity has a lot of food establishments now. I remember back in college, that there were only a number of restaurants along Katipunan that were worth trying.

We would always pass by Santiago along Blue Ridge, and we finally got to try it. We thought it was just a cafe, but it turns out that it was a restaurant too, so we had our dinner there one evening.

The ambiance is really homey, it kind of felt like a Tagaytay resto because it was so cozy, and the smell of bread and coffee lingered in the air.

We ordered Pork Humba and Classic Filipino Spaghetti, which had large servings good enough for 2-4 persons, but it was more than enough for us, we even had some to take home.

What I love about the place is the shelves of books and magazines, and you can borrow some while you wait for your order. They even have books for kids, which kept the little ones preoccupied.

They served complimentary whole wheat mamon with butter, served hot and fresh, which were delicious!

The price was also affordable, considering the large serving of food, ranging from 150-400php.

I would love to come back here, I hear their coffee and desserts are the ones to try!

Cheers,

Mother's Day is just around the corner!

Don't have a gift yet? Don't panic...moms are easy to please, trust me.

Here's a list of some unique gift ideas for the woman in your life!

Ok, ok, I might be biased with the items on this list because they are the ones I would like to receive on Mother's Day, hihi... But these are just awesome :)

Let's start with this deliciously, delightful Fruit Bouquet

Source (YouTube: Pins and Things)

You can pre-order from FruiQuet or Fruits in Blooms, or go ahead and try to make a simple one yourself. Moms dig DIY gifts :)

How about a cupcake flower basket?

Photo source

Check out Pink Sweets and her yummy creations.

Give her a well-deserved, relaxing day at the Salon or Spa

Photo source

That 1-2 hours of pampering and alone time is already a vacation for mom.

Or you can give her a cute Spa-in-a-jar instead

Source: www.evermine.com

Source: www.thegunnysack.com

Be sentimental by giving her meaningful, charm jewelry

Photo source

A charm necklace with the kids' names is a piece mom will surely love to wear. See more from Istorya Creations

Give her a break and prepare her a home-cooked meal

Photo Source

Get crafty and make a handmade card

Photo source

I used to love making cards for my parents when I was a kid. Handmade cards are always special because they are made with love. If not, a Store-Bought Greeting Card is okay too :)

Or how about giving a HUG (grandma would love this!)